“What do you think of him getting married, Chloe?” Mia asked, looking over his shoulder at the files.
“If he wants to, then he should.” I hesitated for a second. “Trey, are you sure you don’t want to be able to do more auctions?” We all laughed.
Trey stood and walked over to look out the window. “You make a good point, Chloe.”
Chapter 39
Trey
Istood looking out the window over the city. It felt weird to be talking about getting married, and even more weird to be talking about it with Chloe. I had no real reason to feel weird, yet I still did.
“Trey, are you coming back over here?” Mia asked. “Or are you dreaming about your date with Natalie?”
“I forgot about that. Mother, do I have to go on that date with Natalie still?” I looked to my mother. “Isn’t there a way out of it?”
“Son, she already gave the charity the money. Just go out with her and be your charming self,” Mom said. “I’ll make sure your date gets interrupted so many times that she will be glad it’s over.”
“You’re a scary woman Mom, but I like the way you think.” I turned from the window and walked to the door. “I’ll be back, ladies.”
I wasn’t sure where I was going or even how I was feeling. I stopped at the nurse station to see if Sophie’s bloodwork had come in.
“Betty, can you call the lab and see what the holdup is?” I leaned my elbows on the counter. I felt someone approaching and was relieved to see my mother walking toward me.
“Trey, do you want to move forward with buying a bride? I sense some hesitation,” my mother asked, arms crossed. “Does it have something to do with Chloe?”
“Yes and no,” I blurted out.
“Yes, you want a bride, or no…?” Mom paused mid-sentence to think. “Or was it yes to a bride and no, nothing to do with Chloe?”
“The second one,” I said hesitantly. “Stop looking at me like that.”
“I’ll tell you what, Son, I’ll hold on the bride for a few days. I’ll leave the files with you to look over, then we’ll talk again.”
My thoughts were so conflicted, all I wanted right now was to not think about it. “Thanks. I think that’s a good idea.”
“Tell me what’s happening with Sophie. She seems to be resting comfortably,” Mom said. “That’s good, right?”
“Now that we have her on antibiotics and fluids, she should start improving. We don’t really have any answers for the fever though.”
“Poor baby girl.” Mom turned to go back to the room. “I know you’ll figure it out.”
“Nice job, bringing Amoeba to see her. That little pup helped,” I offered to her when she paused at the door to the room.
“I’ll be in town for a few days, so I’ll bring Amoeba back whenever she wants. Is that all right with her doctor?” Mom smiled.
I rarely had to choose between what I wanted and what a patient needed, not that there was a choice. Already, I knew Sophie would come first. I was already getting attached to her.
“As if I would be able to say no to that face in there,” I chuckled, making some notes on her file. “Bring Amoeba any time. I’ll let the head nurse, Betty, know it’s okay, but if she’s not here, just tell the nurses here that Dr. Parker Hawthorne approved it. He has more pull than me.”
“I don’t believe that for a minute, Trey. Don’t think I don’t know how good of a doctor you are,” Mom said. “I’m going to get my stuff and head back to Parker’s, but I’ll stop back in tomorrow.”
“I’m no Parker, but I love that you don’t care,” I said, walking to her and kissing her on the cheek. “Why don’t you pick a bride for me? I trust you.”
“If you’re sure,” my mother said, still standing next to me. “How about we let this settle for a day or two.”
“I see a plan stirring in that head of yours, Mom,” I said suspiciously. “What are you thinking?”
“Oh Trey, of course I have something stirring. Don’t I always?” My mother patted my cheek gently. “Let’s let it cultivate a bit longer.”