I couldn’t wait to see Dan, and I practically ran tothe clinic. When I flung the door open, Dan was the only person in the clinic.
He was sitting in Rosa’s usual seat at the reception desk, reading a textbook. Suddenly, I was transported back in time to the countless times I’d walked through these doors in the past to find Dan waiting for me in that exact spot.
Dan looked up, bigger and more mature, but he beamed that same heart-throbbing smile my way. When I told him we were probably always meant to end up here, there was no doubt in my mind about it.
I ran to him and scooped him into my arms. Dan laughed and hugged me back.
“What’s this for?” he asked, his voice muffled by how his face was squished into my arms.
I breathed in his comforting scent and relaxed into him. “I love you,” I murmured.
Dan’s voice was music as he whispered he loved me, too. We kissed tenderly in the clinic where our story started, and it was far from over.
“We should go. They’re waiting for us,” Dan said, pulling back. I tried chasing his lips, but he only laughed and evaded.
I helped him close down the clinic and lock up, and then we were on the road. I held his hand the entire way there, just because I wanted to, and because I could.
I liked his nice, magical hands a lot.
Mom was already waiting for us outside when we pulled into the driveway.
“My boy,” she said, and pulled me into a hug. She held me tighter than she ever had before. I hugged her back. I hated fighting with her.
“I’m sorry for how I acted last night,” she said. “I hope you can forgive me. Both of you.” She turned to Dan and pulled him into our little hugging pile, too.
“I’m sorry for speaking to you like that, too,” I told her. “I hate when we fight.”
She laughed and kissed me on the cheek before doing the same for Dan. She herded us inside and called, “They’re here!”
Victor came from the kitchen. He looked serious as he strode to us, and I wondered if Mom had clued him in on last night, since he seemed out of the loop.
“Hi, son,” he said to Dan. Victor then surprised the hell out of me by wrapping his arms around Dan and hugging him. It wasn’t one of his awkward, loose hugs he gave on rare occasions. It was a full-on papa-bear hug that Dan just melted into.
Victor turned to me, and as if this had been pre-planned, Mom hooked her arm into Dan’s as they chatted and left us alone.
“Come to the garden with me?” Victor asked.
I nodded and followed him to the backyard. He and my mom had put a lot of work into the yard these past few years. The fish inside the koi pond poked their heads out of the water to greet us, and the air had a floral scent from all the different flowers planted around here, and there were even birds and squirrels watching uscuriously from the new birdbath. If I hadn’t known better, this place felt like we’d been transported into some kind of Snow White–type shit.
“Sit with me,” Victor instructed, and patted the chair beside him. I could imagine him and my mom spending quiet evenings sitting here and enjoying the life they’d made for themselves.
“Did you know Dan was a very quiet baby?” Victor commented.
“I didn’t,” I replied, having no clue where he was heading with this.
“He babbled and made noises, sure, but he never cried. Even if his eyes rounded with tears, he never cried out. I like to say he knew I was having a hard time as a single father and took pity on me.” Victor chuckled and looked off into the distance like he was seeing a memory. “He was always easy to coax, too. He was always laughing and smiling at me. Even as a baby, he tried his best to be considerate.”
I smiled too. I could totally see Dan being that way as a baby. He always tried his best for the people he loved. I had first-hand experience with that.
Victor looked back at me, and his expression turned serious. “He was always so considerate. I tried to raise him the best I could. I guided him to the path I thought was best for him, and he never complained. I knew he had no interest in taking over the clinic, but it was the only thing I could give him.”
“That’s not true,” I argued. “Dan loves the clinic.He’s always happy as he talks about his patients and the new challenges that he faces there.”
Victor gave me an appreciative smile. “He might like itnow, but I’m aware he once wanted to join the police force with you.”
He laughed again when I opened my mouth and tried to think of something to say.
“It’s okay. You don’t have to try to make me feel better,” he said gravely. He sighed and looked at his fish. Whatever he was feeding the koi worked, because they were the size of my forearm.
