“Is your mom around?”

She nods. “She went to get something to eat.” Her face changes immediately. “I’m not feeling so well.”

“Let’s see what we can do about that.”

He picks her up like he’s her knight in shiny armor. It’s hard for me to stop the tears from spilling over that well up in my eyes.

He carries her in one arm and pushes the pole with his free hand. Just as he lays her down, she tosses her cookies all over him and the bed. He doesn’t look disgusted at all. The fact is, he never even blinks, or misses a beat. He calmly reaches for a plastic basin on the side of the bed and holds her while she finishes vomiting.

Two nurses come jogging over. One has fresh linens and the other takes the girl from Andy while they remake the bed and get her cleaned up. He doesn’t leave her though. He continues to talk to her with what can only be reassuring words. I can’t hear them, but the way he looks at her is telling.

As they tuck her back in bed, he discreetly takes off his soiled lab coat and rolls it up. He unclips his ID credentials and takes everything out of his pockets before shoving the dirty thing into the linen cart someone brings in.

Then he sits in bed with the girl and talks to her until her mother comes in. The nurses have left and the mother isn’t the wiser. I have a feeling Andy won’t say anything to the mother about it in front of the little girl. I know I’ve hit the nail when I see him hold up a finger to her and walk out with the mother.

They talk quietly near the door and I feel like an intruder. Andy speaks softly, probably out of respect for patient privacy and so the little girl can’t hear him. The mother speaks a little louder, enough so I can hear part of her side of the conversation. She’s concerned that the girl can’t keep any food down and “Wasn’t the medication not supposed to make her little girl sick?”

I want to tell her there are no absolutes in medicine. I knew that first hand. Everyone is different and responds differently. I only hope Andy can give the girl the miracle it appears she needs.

He goes back in and talks to Tasha some more before he finally comes back to me.

“We can go now.”

Tasha’s situation tugs at my heart. I know I shouldn’t ask, but I do anyway. “How bad is she?”

He places a hand on my back and guides me away from the rooms. Becca and the male nurse are the only ones at the station when we walk up.

“See ya Doc,” the guy says.

Andy grabs his coat and waves. Becca says nothing.

I want to ask about her, but I find myself needing answers about Tasha.

“You know how things are, Cate. We thought we beat it and we’re doing our best for her.”

He doesn’t get into details due to patient confidentially. He trails off and I’m left feeling my heart will crush inside my chest. I need to change the subject.

“Is there something between you and Becca?”

“Jealous?” He asks turning a charming smile on me, but I don’t cave. He sighs. “I made a mistake when I first came to work here.”

I’m not sure I want to hear the rest, considering how he begins this tale.

“She had the SUV. I had some boxes shipped to me. She offered to help me pick them up. Mitch and Dave lived in DC. She was here. I accepted and offered her dinner as payment for her help. She thought maybe I was interested. I told her I didn’t date anyone where I worked. I think she’s held out hope I might change my mind. Now she knows I won’t.”

I nod at his clinical assessment. At least he realized she was still into him. Some guys act clueless. I can’t be mad at her. Not only is Andy amazing to look at, but he’s a single doctor, thus a catch. If I continue to be with him, I’ll have to curb the jealousy because he will get always hit on.

When we get to his car, I change the subject yet again. “Why don’t you have a 4 wheel drive?”

Considering his job, it seemed like a good question.

He’s buckling his seat belt when he says, “Never needed it in Charleston. And I haven’t decided if I’m staying.”

“Oh,” I say remembering he’s here temporarily.

“Hey,” he says gaining my attention.

I realize I’m picking at a chip on my nail. I need a file or it will break off. I glance up and meet his eyes.

“It looks like I might have an opportunity to stay in the area.” He pauses to let that sink in. “I want to make this work with you. I’m leaning toward staying here because of you.”

He takes my hand and kisses my knuckles. Then we are driving back to his place. We don’t talk and I think about what he says.

“I hope you’ll stay. Not only for me, but for you, too,” I say finally when he parks the car after a precarious drive back.

He smiles and leans over to kiss me. “That’s good to hear. And this is a great opportunity, so I would stay for all the right reasons.”

We stay in bed for rest of the day before Mitch shows up late. I got a text earlier that my office is closed the next day, so I snuggle in for the night.

However, Andy’s office is open the next day. Apparently DC got hit harder. In fact, I get a call from my mother that Charleston got some snow too. Andy goes into the office early, but wants to come back at lunch to take me home.

“Mitch offered me a ride,” I say into the phone.

“Yeah man, we’re both headed to DC,” Mitch calls out in the back ground.

“Tell Mitch I can take care of my girl and to get his own.”

I don’t, not yet at least. “He has a point. We’re headed in the same direction.”

“I’m almost done. Please let me do this.”

I agree but he almost regrets that decision when they call for freezing rain later in the day. He beats the next storm to roll in while the roads are clear.

“When will I see you again?”

“Saturday? I’m going out with Mandy tonight because I’ve been promising her for weeks.”

“Saturday works. I might hang out with Dave and Mitch tonight. Dave has news he wants to share. Maybe I’ll call you and I can come over for breakfast?”

He winks at our code word. “I doubt I’ll be out late with Mandy. So swing by when you’re done having fun with the boys and spend the night with me. Then I’ll make you breakfast.”

It’s my turn to wink before I kiss him hard with the need I suddenly feel. I had him in bed most of yesterday and now I must be spoiled.

“It’s killing me to leave you. You better go or I’ll have to cancel my afternoon appointments.”

I kiss him quickly and hop out the car with the biggest smile. However, the night with Mandy doesn’t exactly go as planned.

GRADUATION WAS YESTERDAY. I’M officially done. I don’t know how, but I attained two degrees and graduated summa cum laude, with Drew watching me. My shining moment is having Drew here, not getting the dual degrees or the summa cum laude designation. Funny how your priorities change when life throws a wrecking ball at your carefully constructed plans.

“I’m so proud of you,” Drew says, as we put the last box in my car. I spent the last week packing up the apartment with Jenna. The moving truck is full and my dad just left. He and Jenna’s dad are driving it back to South Carolina. Jenna and Ben are following Drew and me home. Drew has to fly back to Indy to finish his last two weeks there before he starts his fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina in July. He’ll have a month off because of our wedding. His department in Indy has been so awesome to him, I keep wondering if he should’ve stayed there for his fellowship. Too late now.

Jenna walks out and asks, “You ready?”

“Yep. Let me use the bathroom one more time.” When I come out, I take a look at our building. “You know, I’m really gonna miss this place.”

Jenna comes up to me and throws her arm over my shoulder. “Yeah, me too. It was a great apartment and we were great roomies.” We look at each other and start crying.