Page 18 of My Heart's Doctor

What if Devon Dulcet was getting close to my daughter out of self-interest?

Interest in whom, you idiot? In you?I asked myself.

To be honest, that woman hadn’t shown any interest in me; rather, it seemed that my presence annoyed her quite a bit, and I had to admit that I had given her reasons for that because I had been less charming than a mannequin with her. I was fully aware of my seductive power and the effect I had on womenand was used to it; they rarely resisted my appearance, but she seemed completely unfazed by it. In fact, most of the time she challenged me, and her disapproving looks were like daggers, not to mention how she attacked my ego.

“I’m sorry, I thought it was best for Aurora. The doctor also prefers that it not be here; it was I who asked her to come so that I wouldn’t have to take Aurora out. I’m sorry I didn’t understand that you disagreed with that very kind young woman coming to your house.”

In a second, I tried to process everything she had said.

Devon didn’t want to come to my house, and why was that? To avoid running into me? That displeased me.

On the other hand, had Alba saidvery kindto imply that I was the difficult one?

Women! All against me!

“How many times have they seen each other?” I asked, concerned, because I was also worried that Aurora would create such a close bond with her.

“Only once, and she came because I insisted. I also called her today to invite her to come tomorrow, but she can only come at eight in the evening because after that she has a complicated day at the clinic.”

“Is she going to come?”

“She is very kind and feels a lot of affection for Aurora, which is reciprocated, but she told me that it seems a bit late to pay Aurora a visit.”

That was very sensible, but I don’t know what came over me and I began to devise a plan, which started to take shape with the first words that came out of my mouth. What was my objective? I had no idea, but I had to be there.

“Insist that she come, tell her that Aurora needs to see her.”

Silence.

“Alba, did you hear what I said?” I asked after her silence, surely surprised by my request and my changes of opinion. I was going to drive that woman crazy, and she probably thought I was bipolar.

“As you wish, Mr. Cavaller.”

“Thank you, Alba. Now put my daughter on the phone, I want to talk to her.”

Chapter 6

“We wandered without looking for each other, but knowing we were wandering to find each other”

—Julio Cortázar

Devon

Iwas uneasy. Alba had called me the day before to meet again, but I didn’t know what to do. I was growing too attached to that little girl and feared it wouldn’t be good for me. I knew her father was still traveling, so that didn’t worry me, but being in the house made me think of him constantly. The problem was that Alba had been so insistent that I had no choice but to accept the invitation to have dinner with them that night. Even Aurora had spoken to me, asking me to come play princesses, and that little voice had finally convinced me. I had bought her the Disney princesses book because when I saw it, I imagined her fascinated with all the princess images, and Alba or her father could read it to her at night before bedtime.

When I arrived at my apartment, I was exhausted. It had been a grueling workday. I’d been on call from five in the morning until three in the afternoon and then had consultations for three more hours. My body was desperately begging for rest, but my mind was in“on mode”and wouldn’t stop thinking, so I was going to keep my promise to play with Aurora.

I took a shower, put on jeans and a sleeveless blouse, and headed to my little friend’s house. As I was parking in the garden, I saw her at the window waving her little hand at me, so I honked and waved back. When I got out of the car, I saw them waiting for me by the door, just like the first time I’d beenthere. This time Alba put her down, and she ran toward me. I hugged her while she wrapped her little arms around my neck and covered my face with kisses. My heart was bursting with such tenderness. No one had ever shown me such affection with such innocence and selflessness.

“Hello, little one, how are you?”

“I’m Princess Aurora.”

“You’re right, how inconsiderate of me, Princess Aurora. I beg your forgiveness. How have you been, Princess Aurora?”

She smiled and pushed to be put down.

“Let’s play,Divon.”