Diagnosis: Daddy (Doctors in Training 1)

Tapping on the door, she ushered them in and introduced them to Amy Chen, who looked to be barely out of her teens, but was probably in her mid-twenties, only a year or two younger than Mia. The teacher welcomed Alexis with the now-predictable enthusiasm, then introduced her to the class, who said in unison when prompted, “Hi, Alexis.”

“Alexis will see you in the morning,” Mrs. Montgomery announced. “I’m sure you’ll all be nice enough to make her feel right at home.”

“She can sit by me,” a little girl with red-orange pigtails tied with white ribbons said, motioning eagerly to the empty desk beside her. “My name’s McKenzie.”

“All right, McKenzie, we’ll all get to know each other tomorrow,” her teacher instructed, smiling wryly.

“McKenzie will take your daughter under her wing,” she added in an undertone to Mia and Connor. “She’s the most outgoing student I have. And by outgoing, I mean talkative,” she added with a laugh.

Deciding to correct the teacher later about her relationship to Alexis, Mia only smiled as the principal led them out of the room again.

Later that afternoon, Connor helped Mia and Alexis carry shopping bags into Alexis’s bedroom. Some of the bags held the school uniforms they’d stopped to buy on the way home. Mia and Alexis had selected enough of the mix-and-match pieces to make up several outfits. Enough, Mia had assured him, to last for most of the school year.

Both he and his credit card were happy to hear that.

He duly admired the bedding and accessories they showed him, telling them they’d made very nice choices.

Mia looked at the new decor items and then critically at the off-white walls. “Would you mind if I paint in here?” she asked him.

“Oh, yeah. Sure.” All the walls in his house were painted the same off-white they’d been when he bought the place. Although the neutral color had been fine with him, he supposed a child would prefer a brighter color.

Mia nodded in satisfaction. “A soft yellow would be nice in here, don’t you think, Alexis?”

“That sounds pretty,” Alexis agreed eagerly.

“I’m not sure when I’d have time to paint…”

Mia shook her head. “We wouldn’t need your help,” she assured him. “I’ve painted rooms before. It’s not that difficult.”

“I can help,” Alexis volunteered.

Mia smiled at her. “Absolutely. We girls can handle this, can’t we?”

Alexis dimpled up at her. “Absolutely,” she repeated adorably.

Looking at them grinning at each other, Connor was aware of an odd pang inside him. They seemed to be bonding very quickly. Alexis was obviously taken with Mia, and the feeling was apparently mutual.

Was he feeling a bit excluded? Maybe a little envious that this seemed to be coming so easily to Mia? If so, he should get over it, he told himself firmly. He should be extremely grateful instead that the arrangement they’d made seemed to be getting off to a good start. And he was grateful, of course. It was just…

Just nothing, he thought with a slight shake of his head. Everything was fine.

“So, if you two have everything under control here,” he said lightly, “I think I’ll join my study group for a few hours. I’m getting behind on my lecture notes.”

Mia waved a hand in a gesture of teasing dismissal. “Go. We’ll be fine. If you’re not home in time for dinner, I’ll keep a plate warm for you. Or you can call if you eat with your group.”

“I will. Thanks.”

He hesitated a moment longer. Should he kiss Alexis goodbye? Was he supposed to do that whenever he left? Did she even want him to?

Mia touched the child’s shoulder. “Why don’t you give your daddy a hug and thank him for all your new things?” she suggested in a murmur he could just hear.

Her expression shy again, Alexis approached him. “Thank you for all my new things,” she recited dutifully.

She still seemed to be avoiding calling him anything. He supposed that would come with time.

Leaning down, he gave her a quick hug. “You’re welcome, honey. I’ll see you later, okay?”

“Okay.” She was already turning back to Mia.