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“Hey, it’s nothing to be sorry about. And if anything this just proves that wecancommunicate our feelings like adults and not just kids. So I think this is going to work out splendidly.”

“See? Such a dork.”

“Shut up and kiss me again.”

Chapter 35

Ellie

Ellie’s nervous excitement was bubbling over as she followed Vera into the doctor’s office by the hospital. Vera and Stacey Jameson, another OBGYN at Taylor Memorial Hospital, had moved a majority of their work over the small office way before Ellie was born. Now most everything aside from surgeries and deliveries was taken care of in the smaller office. Which Ellie was thankful for. She so wasn’t ready to witness a birth or surgery yet.

Vera had told her they were going to start with yearly appointments and ultrasounds to see how Ellie felt about that first. Although Ellie had had her own appointment before, she’d never been on the other side of things. But her interest in going into the medical field had been around since she was a kid. She loved the fake doctor toys her parents bought her and loved when she could join Vera at work. Even if back then she was usually just coloring on old charts in her office.

There was just something about being in the office that calmed Ellie. Maybe it was the warm glow of the fluorescent lighting or the pictures of babies that hung on nearly every wall as they walked to Vera’s office. Whatever it was, Ellie loved it.

Her mama had gifted her a pair of her own scrubs, which elated Ellie to no end. They were magenta, the same color that Vera wore when she was at the hospital. Today, though, Vera was wearing a green tank top with black pants and ballet flats. She had her hair piled back, just like Ellie, and Ellie felt beyond confident walking into the office behind her.

They greeted the nurses as they walked through the office, and they all commented on how grown-up Ellie looked. Most of them had known her since she was born, so they had quite literally watched her grow up.

And Vera was like royalty there.

Ellie was always in awe of her mama, but seeing her at work always made Ellie admire her more. Vera was born to be an OBGYN. She had a heart of gold and a loving spirit that was infectious to everyone she met. Every woman in the Cove seemed to love her as their doctor. And she was so freaking smart. Ellie wondered if she could ever be half as smart as her mama.

Over the past few years, Vera had stepped back from work to spend more time with their family. Especially Everleigh. Ever since Everleigh had started being homeschooled, Vera only spent three days at the office and one weekend a month on call at the hospital. Ellie knew that part of her might have missed working full time, but Ellie also knew her mama had never looked happier.

“So,” Vera opened the door to her office and let Ellie inside, “this is where I start the day.”

“I figured,” Ellie giggled as she sat in the leather chair in front of Vera’s desk.

Although she’d been in the office a million times before, Ellie looked around the room to take it all in. There were pictures of their family all over the walls, along with Vera’s medical degrees. She smiled at the picture of a very pregnant Vera on the beach, knowing it was taken just two days before she and Brayden were born. Her mama looked stunning, and Ellie felt all warm and fuzzy inside.

A newer addition to the office was a framed photo that Molly Jaymes had taken last year when Alexis had the twins. Ellie had seen the picture before; she’d seenallthe pictures from that day before. But there was something special about seeing it displayed in Vera’s office. She knew how much delivering Alexis and Blake’s twins meant to Vera. And even if it made Ellie’s body hurt trying to imaginehowbabies actually come out, she had to admit the picture was beautiful.

Molly had done the photo in black and white, which seemed to add to its beauty. The shot was taken from behind Alexis, who was leaning onto the hospital bed. Vera was behind her, her hand on the baby’s head as he crowned. Alexis had her hand on Vera’s, and Ellie knew exactly why it had won awards.

“So,” Vera was focused on her computer, “first up is Alexis, which is great.”

“Does she know I’m here?”

“No, but she won’t mind.” Vera scrolled on the computer for a moment before continuing. “I have Molly at eleven, so you’ll be able to sit in on that too. I know she won’t mind either. Other than them, almost everything is either a checkup or annual visit, so it shouldn’t be anything too out of the blue today. Which, believe me, is a good thing.”

They chatted for a few more minutes about the day before one of the nurses stepped inside and told Vera they were opening the doors. Less than thirty minutes later, Vera knocked on the door to an exam room as Ellie stood behind her.

“How’s my beautiful daughter-in-law today?” Vera hugged Alexis, who was sitting on the bed in a paper gown.

“Good. I didn’t know it was bring your daughter to work day.” Alexis grinned at Ellie as she held out her hand for a hug. Which of course Ellie gave her willingly. “Hey, Ellie.”

“Hey, Lex.”

“Ellie is shadowing me today,” Vera was beaming with pride. “She’s thinking of going into the medical field, so I offered to give her firsthand experience.”

“Just not with births,” Ellie nervously laughed. “I’m not ready for that yet.”

Alexis laughed. “I wasn’t either when I had Harper.”

“Oh yeah,” Vera joined in laughing, “this one was crowning and asking me if we had time to fill up the inflatable pool with water.”

“Spoiler alert.”