Page 130 of My Heart's Doctor

"You want to give her books?" he asked, standing beside me.

"I think she'd like them, if we choose well. Books have many benefits, they improve concentration, stimulate imagination, enhance language skills, and besides, Aurora loves them. She really enjoys the bedtime reading and we can share that moment with her."

"If you say so, doctor."

"Are you making fun of me?" I asked, frowning.

"I wouldn't dare," he said, hiding a smile.

"What did you buy her?"

"I chose board games and paints, you know she loves to paint. I still need the princess costume she asked for, but I can't remember the name."

"Rapunzel," I indicated.

"Rapu... what? Why do they give them such strange names?"

"Rapunzel," I repeated, smiling.

"Ok, I'll go tell the saleswoman," he said, and went to look for her, though I was sure he wouldn't remember it, so mentally, I began the countdown, 3, 2, ...

“Devon.” I heard him say before I finished counting. “What did you say the princess was called?”

I couldn’t help but smile. I approached where William was standing with the saleswoman and asked for the costume.

A little while later we were leaving the toy store with several packages.

“It got very late,” I commented.

“Not too late. Perhaps we could go for a drink somewhere. What time is your appointment tomorrow?” he asked.

“It starts at ten in the morning.”

“You don’t have to get up too early, we can go for a drink.”

I nodded and when we got in the car, William joined the traffic and I turned on the music. At that moment “Separate” by the band PVRIS was playing. For a few minutes I stayed focused on the song, but although it was a beautiful track, at that moment it felt a bit sad to me. I reached out and turned off the car radio.

“Why did you turn off the song? Don’t you like it?” he asked, turning his head to look at me for a moment.

“It’s a beautiful song, but I prefer not to listen to music.”

“You seem a bit strange or worried today,” he said, looking at me with concern. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m just a little tired, but don’t mind me and let’s go have that drink.”

“Are you sure?”

“I am.”

“I’m sorry, my love, sometimes I forget that your job is exhausting. Let’s go back home.”

How could I think that this wonderful man was someone as petty as Lino had tried to make me believe? And all because of the words of a man who had once broken my heart with his coldness, lack of consideration, and selfishness. To hell with Lino!

“No, I’m the one who should apologize for not enjoying these wonderful moments with you. Let’s go for that drink and enjoy the night, even if I have to go to work tomorrow without sleep,” I stated, and turned the radio back on.

William smiled, but his expression showed that he didn’t understand what was happening to me.

“We can still enjoy ourselves at home,” he said with a mischievous smile.