An Appointment (Summer in New York Book 4) Read online

  “Trey, what are you doing?” Savannah appeared and put her hands on her hips.

  “Savannah, he’s fine,” Amy said.

  “Trey, give Dr. Cole his glasses back. I’m sure he doesn’t want you messing with them.”

  “It’s fine.” I put my glasses in my pocket while Trey put his back on. “Really.”

  “Do you like to read?” Trey asked me.

  “Yes, as a matter of fact I do.”

  He grabbed my hand and led me to the back. “What’s your favorite story?”

  We talked until we reached our table. It was in a private room in the back.

  “Sit by me! Sit by me! Please?” he begged.

  “Okay,” I chuckled. “Sure.”

  Trey pulled out a chair for me and then plopped down to my left. “Do you like to play with LEGOS?”

  “When I was your age, I did. A lot.”

  “I can build a helicopter.”

  “Wow. Really?”

  “Uh-huh.” He nodded.

  Savannah walked in the room with her mother. A tall, broad-shouldered man snuck up behind them.

  “Daddy, you scared me!” Savannah gasped, turning back in her father’s arms.

  He was a big man, but so was I. And I had nothing but honorable intentions for his daughter. So there was nothing for me to be afraid of. But I felt a little nervous to be meeting him anyway.

  “Who’s this, darlin’?” he asked.

  “Dr. Cole,” Trey answered, jumping up to greet his grandfather. “He’s my doctor!”

  “Hi.” Savannah’s father stuck his hand out. “Austin Taylor.”

  I smiled and shook it. “Preston Cole.”

  “I’ve met your father a few times,” he said. “When Savannah was much younger, of course.”

  I nodded with a grin.

  “How is your old man, by the way?”

  “He’s doing well. I took him out for dinner last night. He’s retiring soon and turning the practice over to me.”

  “Well, I’m sure you’ll have your hands full.” Austin put his hands on Amy’s shoulders. “What would everyone like to drink?”

  “Daddy, I’m the waitress. You sit down.” Savannah pushed him into the nearest chair. “Relax.”

  Amy sat beside Austin, while I took my seat across the table by Trey.

  “So what do you think of the place?” he asked me.

  Savannah rolled her eyes and left the room.

  “It’s nice,” I said.

  “Have you been here before?” he asked.

  “A few times.”

  Austin nodded.

  “My husband isn’t being very forthright with you,” Amy said.

  “What do you mean?”

  “This is Grandpa’s restaurant,” Trey said.

  “Oh.” I had no clue. “Really?”

  “Yep,” Austin said. “And I’ve got five more just like it.”

  “Wow. That’s great,” I said.

  “I might have to end up sellin’ if my only daughter doesn’t ever get fired up about it.”

  “Daddy.” Savannah walked in with glasses of ice water and a pitcher of orange juice. “Don’t talk about selling the restaurant. You know I love this place.”

  “It’s fine,” he said to me. “My niece’s husband is in the business.” He stared at Savannah. “Do you want me to sell to Carter?”

  Savannah shot him a look, and I understood that he was teasing her. It must have been a father-daughter thing.

  “And then what will you do?” Savannah gave Trey a small glass of orange juice. “Open up a bed and breakfast upstate? You’d be bored out of your mind and you know it.”

  “Well, I have considered it before. But your mother would like us to take it easy for a while.”

  “Daddy, you’re the last man on earth who would ease into retirement.”

  They smiled at each other. I loved the way they went back and forth. She really loved her family. Since they came into the room, her aura had changed. Now, she radiated warmth and light.

  If only I could get her to feel that way about me.

  We ate a hearty brunch, mostly because Austin was such a stickler about his restaurant. I respected him for that. I knew how I felt when a new patient came to Dad’s practice for the first time. It was only natural to want to make a good impression.

  “So Preston, tell me about these bruises you found on my grandson,” Austin said.

  Before that, we’d been talking and laughing. But now you could hear a pin drop.

  “Well.” I turned to Trey. “I believe someone has abused him.”

  Savannah stood up and took Trey out of the room.

  “Where are you goin’?” Austin asked.

  She guided Trey out of the room and walked right back in. “He’s just a little boy. Don’t talk like that in front of him. Don’t talk about him like he’s not sitting right there!”

  My throat hitched at the pain in her voice. Her love for Trey was admirable.

  When she stormed off, Austin cleared his throat. “Have you tried talkin’ any sense into her?”

  “We’re worried about her,” Amy said. “And Trey.”

  I took the hint and left in search of her. She was in the kitchen filling orders. Trey sat on the counter with the cook. A round man in his thirties with curly dark hair. Trey swung his legs back and forth until the cook let him stir the batter for pancakes. The cook seemed pretty laid back, not minding Trey’s company.

  Savannah brushed past me to wait tables. I stood near the kitchen, waiting for her to come back. When she did, I grabbed her arm and pulled her to the side.

  “What?” she snipped.

  “Can we talk?” I said sternly. “I left work and came all the way over here to see you.”

  She nodded and led me to a private room in the back. We were alone at last.

  “What’s going on with you?” I asked.

  “What do you mean?” She looked up at me, taking a shallow breath.

  “I mean, you’ve been acting like you don’t want me to be here.”

  She lowered her gaze and sat down on a bench. “I’m embarrassed.”

  “What?” I watched her. “Why would you be embarrassed?”

  “What you must think of me...” She hung her head and bit her lip.

  “What is that supposed to mean?” I asked.

  “Look at you.” She gestured my way. “You’re this successful doctor. And I’m a waitress.”

  “You think I care about that?”

  “Well, most people do.” Her lower lip trembled as she started tearing up. “I had this plan for my life. And nothing has turned out the way I thought it would. I never thought I’d feel so helpless. I never thought I’d be divorced.”

  “Neither did I.”

  She furrowed her brow.

  “She left me for a plastic surgeon.”

  “Preston, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know that—”

  “I was divorced, too?” I grinned.

  “I got fired last week. The same day I took Trey in for his appointment.”

  I remembered how moody she’d been that morning. Now it made sense.

  “My husband helped me get the job. Ex-husband, I mean.” She tucked a loose lock behind her ear. “He also convinced me to drop out of college when I got pregnant with Trey. We’d just gotten married. I planned to finish school before we started a family.”

  “That sounds like my ex-wife.” I sat down beside her. “Everything was always on her terms.”

  “Yeah.” Savannah breathed. “And if something went wrong, it was always my fault.”

  “I know the feeling.” I wrapped my arm around her, hoping she would lean against me.

  “But it is my fault.” She stood up. “I’m the one who married Kevin. I’m the one who dropped out. And now I’m the one who has to figure out how to put my life back together.”

  “Savannah, stop blaming yourself. It’s not worth it. I’ve been down that road.”

  She dried her eyes
, sniffling with a nod.

  I walked towards her and touched her shoulders. “You have nothing to be ashamed of.”

  “I’ve forgiven Kevin for breaking my heart. I just don’t know how to forgive myself.”

  “You will.” I cupped her cheek in my hand. “I promise.”

  Our eyes met. She looked at my lips. But only for a second.

  Then she pulled away from me.

  “I should get back to work,” she said, smoothing out her apron. “Thank you for coming by today and talking to me. I really appreciate it.”

  “What about Trey?” I said as she turned to leave. “What are you going to do?”

  “I have a lot to think about.” She stared into my eyes. “But this is something I have to do on my own.”

  “Okay.” I hung on her every word. “I understand.”

  She smiled sadly and walked out the door.

  That quickly, it spread through me like a sickness. A disease I couldn’t eradicate.

  I had to see her again.

  Chapter 7

  Savannah

  I had time on my side. If I knew anything about Kevin, it’s that he was the biggest procrastinator I’d ever met. He never made a consistent effort to see Trey. Which meant—until he called—I had nothing to worry about.

  In the meantime, I’d be the best waitress Geraldo’s had ever seen. Daddy kept dropping hints about what would happen to all of his hard work when he was gone. But I’d never had an interest in restaurant management. Besides, I wasn’t looking for a handout. And I had zero confidence that I would be able to operate the empire Daddy had built without running it straight into the ground.

  The good news? Trey was getting to spend time with his grandparents. Something he loved.

  Maybe living with my parents was temporary. But I was enjoying it. I’d really missed them.

  I put the house on the market without consulting Kevin. He’d bought it. But I’d gotten it in the divorce. Which meant I was allowed to do whatever I wanted with it.

  Since my intimate conversation with Preston, I’d realized something.

  I had to take back control of my life.

  From the very start, I’d given Kevin so much power. Why?

  Being a doormat had left me broke and disrespected. I’d never give a man that kind of power again.

  If I really pushed myself, I could build a life for my son. I didn’t need a man.

  I just had to find a way to increase my revenue. Waiting tables wasn’t the best. But at least it was something.

  I kept applying for jobs, hoping something better might come my way. If it didn’t, I could always get a second job or even a third. Who knows where an attitude like that might lead?

  For the next two weeks, I decided that I was going to be happy. Nothing would get in my way.

  I had to appreciate the good in my life. I was still young. I had a son I loved. And my parents were the most kind, supportive people I’d ever met. Instead of being ashamed to live with them, I should be valuing the time we were getting to spend together, no matter the circumstances.

  Wasn’t that what life was all about?

  On Saturday morning, I woke up early and took Trey out for breakfast. Just the two of us.

  Afterwards, we went to the park where he could play. While he was swinging on the monkey bars, I closed my eyes and took a breath. It was the first time I felt free. Like I wasn’t bound by chains anymore.

  Nothing was going to disrupt my newfound freedom. Kevin only had power when I chose to give it away.

  “Hey,” a soft voice lilted.

  I turned around to find Preston standing in the sunlight. He had his hands in his pockets, and he was staring at me. A brooding, sexy gaze that my body couldn’t resist. After all, I was still human.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked.

  “I stopped by Geraldo’s.” He walked closer and looked into my eyes. “But you weren’t there. Your dad said you bring Trey here sometimes.”

  “Yeah. He loves this place.”

  “Dr. Cole!” Trey ran across the playground and leapt into his arms. It made me feel anxious.

  “Hey, little guy!” He gave him a high five. “You’re getting so big.”

  “Will you play with me? Please.” Trey pouted. It was a very effective strategy.

  “Dr. Cole is probably very busy,” I said, watching his warm brown eyes.

  “Actually, I’m off today.” He held my gaze. “I’ve got plenty of time.”

  Preston gave me a smirk and joined Trey on the jungle gym. Sighing in defeat, I sat down on a bench and watched them. Preston was great with children. But he worked with them every day, so that was to be expected. Then again, Kevin interacted with children on a daily basis as well. And I’d never seen him go about it the way Preston did. Like he was happy to be in the company of a child and make them smile.

  I felt a yearning in the pit of my stomach. The kind I’d experienced since the day we met. While I did like Preston, I was scared to let myself want him. I couldn’t risk having my heart broken again. Because if a steady man came into my life, there was the risk of Trey getting hurt too.

  Preston took a seat on the bench, resting his arm behind me. We watched Trey go down the slide. Even though Preston had only played with him for a few minutes, I saw a change in my son. He loved the fact that a man was watching him. That a man was here. That a man cared.

  “How have you been?” Preston asked. His gaze burned against my cheek.

  “Good.” I watched Trey. “Things are better.”

  “I’m glad. Seems like Trey is in good spirits.”

  “He is,” I smiled. “I think he’s enjoying the summer.”

  “I tried calling you,” he said. “Several times.”

  I averted my eyes. “I know.”

  “Why are you avoiding me?”

  I furrowed my brow. “I’m not.”

  He glared.

  “Not really. I’ve just been busy.”

  “What are you doing tonight?” he asked.

  “Are you asking me out?”

  “I might if you gave me the chance.”

  I looked at Trey and sighed. “That would be inappropriate. You’re Trey’s pediatrician.”

  “Technically, my father is.”

  I felt the warmth of his body. So close to mine. It was nice.

  “I already have plans tonight,” I said.

  “With who?”

  “A friend from college.” I batted my lashes at him. “It’s a girls’ night out. No boys allowed.”

  He chuckled, making me smile. I felt relaxed around him. That was what terrified me.

  The last time I let my guard down, I ended up married, then pregnant, then divorced.

  “Where are you having this girls’ night out?” he asked.

  “Preston.” I looked at his gorgeous face.

  “I get it,” he said, so matter-of-factly.

  “You get what?” I asked.

  He leaned in closer. “That you’re scared. I’m divorced too, remember?”

  I looked down and then focused on Trey. “I’m not scared.”

  “Yes, you are.”

  I felt his breath on my neck.

  “You’re scared of getting hurt. You’re scared of feeling that way again.”

  “So what if I am?” I looked him straight on. “It’s my life. It doesn’t concern you.”

  “Why not?” He was hovering. It made me uncomfortable. Because he was trying to push me out of my comfort zone. A place where I’d locked myself up ever since Kevin filed for divorce.

  “Because,” I huffed. “Why are you being so pushy?”

  “Okay.” He held up his hands. “Maybe I am being a little pushy. I’ll take that.”

  I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms over my chest.

  “So why don’t I cut the crap and get straight to the point?”

  My heart was pounding. Because he was about to put his on his sleeve.

  “I like you. And
I know you like me, too.”

  “Oh, really?” I made eye contact. “And what makes you so confident?”

  His eyes never left my face. “You have all the signs.” He took my hand. “Racing pulse. Red cheeks.”

  “Okay.” I yanked my hand back. “Fine. I’ll admit that I don’t mind your company.”

  “Then why won’t you go out with me?”

  I looked away.

  “Hey, I’m a real catch. I’ll take you to a fancy restaurant. I’ll compliment your beauty. I’ll spoil you with food and wine. I can be whatever you want me to be. Charming. Witty. Sensitive.”

  “I don’t know.” I shook my head. I’d been dreading the day when I had to get back out there again.

  “We can take it slow. I’m not in a rush. Please, just go out with me. One date.”

  “Preston, you seem like a really nice guy. I’m sure you would be a great date. I’m just not ready.”

  He looked disappointed.

  “Everything with Kevin and my whole life being turned upside down.” I felt a lump in my throat. “I have to focus on Trey right now. I have to take care of him. My life is already so complicated.”

  Maybe he was sad, but he was really listening. That went a long way with me.

  “If I wasn’t such a mess...”

  “You’re not a mess.” He cupped my cheek in his hand.

  I swallowed and met his hooded gaze. “I’m sorry. I just can’t.”

  I stood in a rush and grabbed my things. Then I told Trey that we had to leave.

  “But Mommy, I want to play,” Trey whined.

  “We have to go. You can play when we get home.”

  “Savannah.” Preston took my hand. “I just want to get to know you. Please, don’t push me away.”

  I felt the sting of tears. “I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I can’t do this.”

  I picked Trey up in my arms. He didn’t put up a fight, but I knew he wasn’t ready to go.

  “Goodbye, Trey,” Preston said, standing up to wave.

  It took everything in me to listen to my gut and walk away.

  “Goodbye, Dr. Cole.” Trey waved at him over my shoulder.