When Helen came home from Napa, she made sure to spoil her granddaughter as much as she could. Ice cream for dessert, special Nana/Alexandra lunch dates, toys, and it would have kept going if John hadn't put his foot down. "Mom, you need to stop spoiling Alex. I know you feel bad because she got hurt while you were out of town, but enough is enough. I don't need her thinking she'll get special treatment every time she gets hurt."
"I'm her grandmother and it's my prerogative to spoil her," Helen protested.
"And I'm her father, I set the rules," He countered. "Spoil her all you want on her birthday and Christmas. I don't mind the occasional treat out with you, but you're over doing it."
Helen rolled her eyes and grudgingly accepted his decision before changing the subject, "I should have told you a few months ago, but you need to find Alexandra a pediatrician. She will need to go in for an annual physical, just for the sake of remembering, scheduling it around her birthday is usually the best method."
"Her birthday was nearly a month ago," John pointed out.
"Which is why I said I forgot to tell you about it a couple months ago. Going in a month or two late won't hurt her but try to keep it around the same time of year." His mother advised.
"I'll start looking into pediatricians who take our insurance," John nodded, "Is there anything particular I should be looking for?"
"Honestly, with you and Debbie, I asked other moms at every new station your father was based at." Helen shrugged, "You could ask her daycare or other parents on base who they take their kids to."
Casey grunted his acknowledgement, "I have some errands to run, can you keep an eye on Alex for a bit? I shouldn't be more than a couple hours."
"Yeah," Helen nodded, "I promise, no junk food while you're gone."
She got a smirk from her son as he walked out to the garage.
As it turned out, Doctor Clark was the most recommended pediatrician by his fellow service members and their families as well as from Alexandra's daycare. Turns out he only worked at the urgent care a couple times a week, and the rest of the time he worked with an affiliated pediatrics office. John wasn't sure if it was a good idea to have Alexandra see Doctor Clark as her pediatrician. Not because the man wasn't skilled at his craft, he was, but because John was not sure if he should be around the doctor's pretty medical resident. The man did ask if he could have the Doc sit in on the appointment at the clinic, maybe I could tell him that I don't want her there… he mused then groaned, because the fact of the matter was, he very much wanted the Doc there, wanted to be in her presence.
"Get a hold of yourself, Casey," He grumbled at himself sitting down on the couch in his living room, "She'd just a woman. An attractive one, but a woman nonetheless."
"Who's a woman?" His mother broke him from his musings.
"Uh, erm, nobody, Mom," John stammered.
"Oh really, does this nobody have a name?" Helen needled him, "Is it perhaps Ellie?"
John's head practically spun around to see his mom standing in the archway between the living room and kitchen, "How do you even know that name?"
"You forgot to empty out your pockets before tossing your pants in the laundry hamper," Helen told him, pulling out a piece of paper from her pocket and showing it to him. "Who is she?"
"Just some woman I met last Friday," John tried to appear nonchalant.
"Last Friday as in the day Alexandra broke her arm?" Helen quirked an eyebrow at her son, "What did you do, pick up one of the nurses?"
"She's actually a doctor in her residency," John sighed, "And I didn't pick her up. She gave me her number in case I had any questions or concerns about Alexandra's treatment."
"Did you not have the clinic's number?" Helen challenged, "Couldn't she have just given you the business card for her office?"
"I… um…" John stared at his mom's amused face.
"Is this Doctor Ellie pretty?" Helen pressed.
"Beautiful…" John sighed, collapsing back on the couch and laying his head back. "Amazing green eyes, long dark hair… she had to be the most beautiful thing I've ever seen… but she's probably married or engaged and wouldn't want anything to do with a grunt like me, anyhow."
"The fact she gave you, what I am sure is, her personal number speaks to the opposite," Helen pointed out, "Was she wearing a ring?"
"No, but that might not mean anything," John protested.
"Johnny, call her," Helen walked over to the couch and laid the paper on his chest, "So you can stop moping around the house like a lovesick puppy."
"I have not been moping," He grumbled, taking the paper from her.
"Jonathan Michael Casey, I have known you for 34 years," His mom gave him a knowing look, "You most definitely have been moping. Call her, see if she'd be open to meeting for coffee or lunch."
"And if she says no?" John asked.
"Then you'll know where you stand," Helen shrugged and headed back toward the kitchen, "Call her, John."
The only response his mother received was a grunt of acceptance.
Not wanting his mother to hear him make a fool of himself, John stepped outside and took a seat on the patio bench they'd bought shortly after his mother had moved in. He took a calming breath and pulled out his cell phone, dialing the number he had been given. The phone rang once, twice, and just when he thought he was going to be sent to voicemail, the call was picked up.
"Ellie's Extasy Experience, how may we pleasure you?" Came a feminine voice.
"Excuse me?" John asked, surprised, but then he heard a faint, but more familiar voice.
"Oh my God, Becca, give me my phone!" The sound of shuffling ensued, "Would you please go away?" A woman's laughter could be heard fading, "I am so sorry, my roommate thinks she's funny. How may I help you?"
"Is this Ellie Bartowski?" John asked tentatively.
"Yes, may I ask who is calling?" Her angelic voice rang out over the line.
"Casey, erm John, John Casey," He answered. "We met the other day…"
"I know who you are, John," He could hear her giggle lightly, "How is Alexandra doing adapting to her cast?"
"It's still hurting her some, but she's managing," John advised her, "Although she's not very happy with me because I can't take her swimming for a while."
"Water baby, huh?" He could hear her smile over the line.
"You have no idea," John chuckled, "From the moment I first got her in a pool, she hasn't gone more than a couple days without swimming or being in the water, now with the summer upon us…"
"I get it," Ellie replied, "Is there, maybe, a splash pad at a park near you? You could bag up her arm like you do when she takes a bath an let her run through the fountains."
"That's not a bad idea," John agreed, "I'll have to look into that, and since it was your idea, maybe you could join us?"
"Are you asking me out, John Casey?" Ellie teased.
"I… um… well… not exactly," John hedged.
"Oh," He could hear the depth of her disappointment.
"Not that I wouldn't want to," John tried to backtrack, "I mean, a man would have to be a fool or blind for not wanting to take an amazing woman like you out."
"Amazing, huh?" Ellie's teasing tone was back, "So, um, which are you?"
"Which am I what?" John asked.
"Are you a fool or are you blind?" She asked.
John knew he'd been caught out, "Um, well, neither," He admitted, "I just think you can do better than someone like me."
"A brave an honorable man who has made the sacrifice to serve his country and, I'm hoping since you called me, a single father?" Ellie asked.
"The single father part is a bit of it," John admitted, "I mean, Alexandra is my top priority. Any woman I even considered being involved with would have to understand that. There are going to be times when I'm not going to be able to honor plans because Alex is sick, or hurt, or any number of things. Not to mention last-minute deployments and the obligations of being an officer in the Marine Corps."
"I understand that, John, I do," Ellie assured him, "I'm going to share something with you, that not many people know. My mom abandoned us when I was 13 and my brother was 9. She left for a business trip and never came back, just disappeared. My father stuck around for a little while after that but was never really there despite being physically present. So, I was essentially left with raising my younger brother and taking care of the house from then on. Dad eventually left when I was 17. I'd just been accepted to UCLA with a partial scholarship to cover my pre-med courses, and Chuck, my brother, had been awarded a merit award for being on the Middle School Honor Roll for every semester from 6th grade on. Dad said he was going to make pancakes for dinner to celebrate. He left, and we waited… and waited… until by 10pm we came to the conclusion that he wasn't coming back and had PB and J sandwiches before heading to bed. We spent the few months between then and when I turned 18 and could be legally named my brother's guardian, doing our best to not raise the suspicions of our neighbors and ducking social services."
John didn't know what to say, so he stayed quiet.
"I didn't tell you all that to gain your sympathy, but to let you know that I understand, at least in part, what you are dealing with because I have been where you are, in a way." She sighed, "I like you John, even though I know I probably shouldn't, seeing as we met when I was serving as one of Alexandra's doctors. And if you are anywhere near as attracted to me as I am to you, I would like a chance to see where it could lead. I understand that sometimes your other obligations to your family or our country may cause you to have to delay or cancel our time together. I just ask you extend me the same curtesy. I may have graduated medical school, but I am still a resident for at least another year, and after that, if I get in, it's going to be anywhere between one to three more years to complete my fellowship in pediatric neurology. So, my schedule may be restrictive as well."
"I understand," John nodded, "For the record, I find you very attractive, and to be honest I was struggling with it considering how we'd initially met." He chuckled lightly to himself, "My mother practically had to demand me to call you; said I'd been moping." This earned him a giggle from the Doc. "So, assuming we decided to move forward with… whatever this is… it's understood that the rule of thumb is to give each other a little grace due to the difficult times we both are and will face."
"Either that, or wait until, some of the insanity calms down," Ellie added, "Although, there's no knowing when that might be, and could mean we miss our chance."
John considered her words for a moment before speaking, "I've missed my fair share of chances, some of which were due to incomplete data – a story for another time – and while I'm concerned how Alexandra might react…"
"And rightfully so," Ellie interjected.
"I don't want to miss another chance for something good in my life," John finished.
"So, where does that leave us?" Ellie asked.
"Well, for starters, it means you probably shouldn't shadow Doctor Clark when I bring Alexandra in for her check-ups," John stated, "Turns out he is the most recommended physician around these parts and after discussing it with my mother, who helps me with Alex from time to time, I've decided to try to get him as Alexandra's pediatrician, and not just for emergency purposes."
"I agree," Elie replied.
"Secondly, I think before we entertain any group outings in the near or distant future, you and I should have some time one-on-one," He added, "Share a meal, get to know each other a little better?"
"I'd like that," Ellie smiled.
"Good, great, um what are you doing next Friday say around 1900?" John asked, "Sorry, I mean seven o'clock at night?"
"I'm familiar with military time, John, we use it in medicine, too," Ellie snickered good naturedly, "And in answer to your question, I would hope I'm going to be sharing a meal with you…. Getting to know each other a little better."
John grunted a laugh at her turning his words back on him, "Touché, how do you feel about Italian?"
"I love it," Ellie replied, "Do you have a pace in mind? Should I meet you there, or would you prefer that I text you my address so you can pick me up?"
"I have a place in mind," John informed her, "And if you are comfortable with it, I would like to pick you up at your door."
"I suppose I should be afraid to let you, big strong Marine that you are. You could easily take advantage of the situation, then what would I do?" Ellie teased.
"You have my word that there will be no advantage-taking," John countered, "Not for a while yet, and only if you would like me to."
Ellie couldn't help the blush that rose to her cheeks, "So, I'll text you my address then?"
"And I'll see you on Friday," John replied, "It's not a terribly fancy place, so no need to dress to the nines or anything like that."
"Thank you for the heads up," Ellie smiled, "I'll see you then. Good night, John."
"Good night, Doc," John disconnected the call and took a deep breath.A moment later his phone chimed with an incoming text message from Ellie with the address of her apartment. What have I gotten myself into?