“Wonderful, just coming to my nephew’s first doctor visit.” She points to Knox. “You remember Ridge, right?”
“Ridge, it’s good to see you. Cute little guy you have there.”
“Thanks.”
“All right, so let’s get him weighed and then the doctor will be in to check him out.”
I follow her out of the exam room and down the hall. “All right, Dad, I just need you to lay him on the scales.”
I look at the small white scale that is curved on the sides—I assume to keep kids from rolling off. There’s a blue padded strip that almost looks like a diaper covering in. “You want me to set him there? Really? What if he falls off?” I question.
“He won’t. I’ll be right beside him the entire time. We need to get his weight.”
Reagan nudges my arm, and begrudgingly, I unwrap him from his blanket and lay him on the scale. I stand right next to it, ready if I’m needed.
Kendall smiles and starts taking off his diaper.
What the hell? “What are you doing?” Why is she getting my kid naked?
“We have to get an accurate weight. It’s crucial when they are this young to ensure they’re gaining weight. He should gain steadily at each visit. We can’t have the diaper interfering with that number,” Kendall explains.
I nod, biting my lip. I watch as Kendall expertly removes his diaper, gets his weight, and has the diaper back on him. If I had blinked, I would’ve missed it. Knox’s little lip starts to quiver before he lets out a wail.
“Okay, Dad, you can pick him back up.”
Not having to be told twice, I take him back in my arms and cover him with his blanket. He calms instantly. I know it’s just the warmth, but it’s a pretty big ego boost at this point in the game that I can give him what he needs. That being my biggest fear and all.
“All right, guys, the doctor will be right in.”
“Ease up, Daddy.” Reagan grins.
I scowl at her. “Ease up, my ass. She was getting him naked.”
She laughs. “Relax, she’s just doing her job. He’s not in danger, papa bear.”
I can’t help but grin. Even though I’m exhausted and it’s only been three days, I feel like I’m starting to get the hang of this.
Ridge Beckett. He looks better than he did in high school. The ink that covers his skin, the chiseled abs that his too-tight T-shirt proudly displayed. Time has most definitely been good to him.
The whole lot of them—him, Seth, Mark, Tyler, and Kent—were every teenage girl’s dream. The entire school drooled over them. They were the unattainable. Regardless, they were easy on the eyes for sure. Just the chance that you could pass them in the halls was motivation enough to get the girls to come to school. Hell, some of the guys too.
I sit down at the computer and start entering the baby’s weight. When I click over to verify the insurance, I see a chart note. Wanting to make sure it doesn’t pertain to today’s visit, I find myself glued to the computer screen.
Once I’m finished, I just stare at the screen. My heart breaks for Ridge and Baby Knox. Apparently, Mom was in a bad accident and passed away after giving birth. I click over in the chart and verify if Mom has been listed as deceased. How embarrassing and gut-wrenching would that be for everyone, asking about her? The chart has not yet been marked, so I flag it and send a ‘before visit’ message to Dr. Harris, advising him to read the chart note prior entering the exam room. Forcing myself to keep going, I finish my charting and move on to the next patient.
Just as I’m leaving the exam room, Dr. Harris steps out of the room beside me. He was in there with Baby Knox.
“Kendall, can you get the dad in room two the first-year baby guide?”
I nod and head back to the medicine closet where we store samples and information packets. Grabbing the first-year guidebook, I see a small black diaper bag, the ones we get from pharmaceutical reps to give to new parents. The Beckett family situation still on my mind, I grab one. It already has formula, the one they’ve been using, and I throw in some baby wash samples and a few others before heading back to the exam room.
“All right, here’s a bag of goodies. We like to give these to first-time parents. Just a few samples. Dr. Harris has signed his note, so you’re good to go. It was nice seeing you both again.” I know I’m rambling and rushing them, but my heart is breaking for them and it’s hard for me to retain my professional demeanor, especially since I know them. It’s been a few years, but that doesn’t make my heart hurt any less for them.
Bending down, I gently run my finger over little Knox’s foot. “I’ll see you next time, handsome,” I coo.
“So, what exactly happens next time? He needs shots, right?” Ridge asks.
Taking a deep breath, I stand up and face him. “Yes, he will receive several vaccinations his first year of life. This packet—” I pull it out of the side of the bag I just gave him “—will address each visit. It also goes through milestones that your baby will reach at each month.”
Ridge takes a deep breath and slowly exhales. “Great. Thank you, Kendall.”
“You’re welcome. In that packet, you will also find our after-hours number. Don’t hesitate to call if you have questions or concerns. That’s what we’re here for,” I say before stepping out of the room.
I leave them to gather their things and wrap my head around the rest of my day. I try to focus, but I keep thinking about what they must be going through, how that adorable little boy will never know his mother. The exam door opens and my eyes dart to them.