The Doctor's Undoing (Doctors in Training 3)

She figured Ron was no more ready than she was to go public as a potential couple…or whatever they were, even though he’d been awfully quick to announce they would be arriving together when Connor had suggested they could bring other guests. She was prepared to act that afternoon as if nothing at all had changed between them, and she assumed he would, too.

She was right…to a point.

It was a beautiful afternoon. A crisp hint of autumn in the clear air. The sky a rich blue dotted with fluffy white clouds. Brightly colored balloons hovering above the long, folding-leg table Connor had set up to hold the plates of food. A few people sat around the family’s picnic table to eat, but almost everyone sat in folding chairs, holding their well-filled plates in their laps. James hadn’t been able to make it, being on call at the hospital that afternoon, but the rest of the gang was there.

After everyone had eaten, Connor brought out a beautifully decorated cake he’d ordered from a bakery Haley had recommended. Everyone sang Happy Birthday to Mia, who accepted Alexis’s eagerly offered assistance with blowing out the candles. All the guests agreed that the cake tasted as good as it looked.

While Ron helped Connor and some of the other guys clear away the barbecue equipment, Haley was gathering trash into a large plastic bag when Drew Maples caught up with her to stuff a couple of crumpled paper napkins into the bag. “I caught these blowing across the grass.”

She smiled at him. “Thanks.”

She’d met Drew earlier. In his mid-thirties, he was of average height and appearance, but had an infectious laugh that made Haley smile when she heard it, just as it seemed to do everyone else. He was Alexis’s soccer coach, and had become quite friendly with Connor and Mia. He was a single dad; his lively eight-year-old son was romping around the outskirts of the birthday party, kicking a soccer ball with Alexis and her best friend, McKenzie, whose mother was busily stretching plastic wrap across bowls of leftovers.

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“So you’re one of Connor’s medical student friends?”

Tossing a paper plate into the bag, she nodded. “Yes, I am.”

“What kind of medicine do you want to practice?”

It was a common question when people found out she was in medical school. Most people seemed to think every medical student started training with a specific goal in mind; the ones who did enter with a plan often changed their mind sometime during their classes and rotations.

“I haven’t decided for certain yet,” she replied, as she usually did. It was too complicated to explain all the options she was currently considering.

“Connor seems pretty set on family practice.”

“Yes. He’ll be good at it.”

“I think so, too.”

“So you coach soccer,” she said, because he seemed to expect her to continue the conversation.

“Yeah. But that’s just a hobby. In my real life, I’m a heating and air-conditioning technician.”

Tying the drawstring at the top of the filled garbage bag, she glanced at the little boy now climbing on Alexis’s playground set. “Your son is very cute. He certainly plays well with Alexis and McKenzie.”

He followed her to the large garbage can on one corner of the patio, lifting the lid for her so she could deposit the bag. “Yeah, he’s a good kid. He stays with me on weekends, and with his mom during the weeks. Doesn’t give either of us any trouble. Hope that doesn’t change as he gets older.”

She smiled. “I’m sure he’ll be fine.”

“Are you from around here?”

“I grew up in Russellville.”

“Yeah? I’m from Morrilton, myself. We were practically neighbors.”

He was definitely flirting. Keeping her smile friendly but just a little distant, she motioned toward the big tub filled with melting ice and a few remaining cans of soda. “I think I’ll have a diet cola. Would you like something?”

“No, but let me get one for you. Diet, you say?”

Haley thought Ron was still occupied with the other guys, so she was a bit surprised when he appeared suddenly at her side, a diet soda in his hand. “Thought you might be thirsty,” he said, offering it to her.

“Thank you.”

Nodding cordially to Drew, Ron spoke to Haley again. “Alexis just told me that Connor and Mia are taking her and McKenzie to the state fair next weekend. She’s really excited about it.”

Remembering family outings to the state fair from her own childhood, Haley smiled. “I’m sure she is.”