“Well then, Martin, I think we can resolve this matter with a few simple words. You see, I have no intention in dating Grant. I have no interest in him. The only relationship I want with him is that of being the doctor for my little girl. So you can let the entire town know that Grant Crain is very much available for ogling and pursuing.”
Martin began to laugh. Not chuckling, but gut-wrenching, belly laughing.
“I’m sorry, did I say something funny?” My impatience showed in my tone.
Martin tried very hard to compose himself. The longer he laughed, the angrier I got. “I’m so sorry, Natalie. You have to forgive me as this has brought up some memories of when my son, Morgan, was interested in Ms. Lily.” I sat quietly as he continued his trip down memory lane, his jubilance remaining. “I’ll be happy to pass along your message, but I do hope you have the opportunity to speak with Grant about this.”
My face turned serious as I fidgeted with my fingers. “Dr. Crain, I have every intention of speaking with your son. He’ll soon find out that I’m not in a position to be an active participant in a romantic relationship, nor am I interested in being a one-time fling. I may have a child, but I’m not a promiscuous person.”
Martin rose from his chair, and I stood along with him. “I have no doubt you two will have an interesting conversation, to say the least.” We shook hands and he turned to walk to my door, stopping as he opened it.
“One last thing, Natalie...my wife, Carolyn, and my daughter-in-law, Lily, were just like you. They wanted nothing to do with myself or my son. Both adamantly refused to, as you just stated, be a one-time fling. However, I must warn you that I chased after my beautiful wife for three years and Morgan took over a year to get Lily's attention. Grant was a cross country runner, still runs everyday to stay in shape. He has always chased after everything he had wanted, Natalie, especially if what he’s pursuing is worth the effort.”
I had just picked up Peyton when I called my dad’s house. Peggy answered the phone, and after having to interrupt her three times, I finally got to ask her and Dad over for dinner. She told me the best place in town for steaks was Foster’s Meat Market and said to ask for Drew, to tell him she sent me.
I pulled up to the white, one-story building, and helped Peyton out of her car seat, then entered the shop. The bell over the door announced my arrival. Conversations going on when I walked in abruptly hushed, and you could hear my shoes on the tile floor.
I walked around several men who were standing together; all were wearing the same style of clothes and hats. The walls were lined with posters announcing deer processing and instructions on how to order a whole cow or pig. A large marquee spelled out the prices of every cut of meat, announcing special prices if purchased in bulk. I excused myself as I passed and every single one of them tipped their hats and called me “Ma’am.”
At the counter, I was greeted by an older gentleman. He was dressed in a white coat with a red ball cap on his head, adorned with the business logo. His silver hair and ample chin admitted his age and experience. His big brown eyes were colored with kindness.
“Can I help you?” His accent was the thickest I had heard since my arrival.
“Yes, Sir, I was told to request a gentleman by the name of Drew. Are you he by any chance?”
“No, darlin’, that’s my boy. Let me get him for you.” I looked around the store while I waited. The men who stood behind me had resumed their conversations. I looked down on a wide-eyed Peyton, her puppy clenched in her arms.
“Can I help you, Miss?” Slightly started, I turned back around to find a tall, muscular man with large, kind, brown eyes. His brown, curly hair was covered by his ball cap, but several small pieces curved around the edges. His face was clean-shaven and his skin free of blemishes. I could see
Martin began to laugh. Not chuckling, but gut-wrenching, belly laughing.
“I’m sorry, did I say something funny?” My impatience showed in my tone.
Martin tried very hard to compose himself. The longer he laughed, the angrier I got. “I’m so sorry, Natalie. You have to forgive me as this has brought up some memories of when my son, Morgan, was interested in Ms. Lily.” I sat quietly as he continued his trip down memory lane, his jubilance remaining. “I’ll be happy to pass along your message, but I do hope you have the opportunity to speak with Grant about this.”
My face turned serious as I fidgeted with my fingers. “Dr. Crain, I have every intention of speaking with your son. He’ll soon find out that I’m not in a position to be an active participant in a romantic relationship, nor am I interested in being a one-time fling. I may have a child, but I’m not a promiscuous person.”
Martin rose from his chair, and I stood along with him. “I have no doubt you two will have an interesting conversation, to say the least.” We shook hands and he turned to walk to my door, stopping as he opened it.
“One last thing, Natalie...my wife, Carolyn, and my daughter-in-law, Lily, were just like you. They wanted nothing to do with myself or my son. Both adamantly refused to, as you just stated, be a one-time fling. However, I must warn you that I chased after my beautiful wife for three years and Morgan took over a year to get Lily's attention. Grant was a cross country runner, still runs everyday to stay in shape. He has always chased after everything he had wanted, Natalie, especially if what he’s pursuing is worth the effort.”
I had just picked up Peyton when I called my dad’s house. Peggy answered the phone, and after having to interrupt her three times, I finally got to ask her and Dad over for dinner. She told me the best place in town for steaks was Foster’s Meat Market and said to ask for Drew, to tell him she sent me.
I pulled up to the white, one-story building, and helped Peyton out of her car seat, then entered the shop. The bell over the door announced my arrival. Conversations going on when I walked in abruptly hushed, and you could hear my shoes on the tile floor.
I walked around several men who were standing together; all were wearing the same style of clothes and hats. The walls were lined with posters announcing deer processing and instructions on how to order a whole cow or pig. A large marquee spelled out the prices of every cut of meat, announcing special prices if purchased in bulk. I excused myself as I passed and every single one of them tipped their hats and called me “Ma’am.”
At the counter, I was greeted by an older gentleman. He was dressed in a white coat with a red ball cap on his head, adorned with the business logo. His silver hair and ample chin admitted his age and experience. His big brown eyes were colored with kindness.
“Can I help you?” His accent was the thickest I had heard since my arrival.
“Yes, Sir, I was told to request a gentleman by the name of Drew. Are you he by any chance?”
“No, darlin’, that’s my boy. Let me get him for you.” I looked around the store while I waited. The men who stood behind me had resumed their conversations. I looked down on a wide-eyed Peyton, her puppy clenched in her arms.
“Can I help you, Miss?” Slightly started, I turned back around to find a tall, muscular man with large, kind, brown eyes. His brown, curly hair was covered by his ball cap, but several small pieces curved around the edges. His face was clean-shaven and his skin free of blemishes. I could see
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