I am sitting on the porch swing that I used to spend hours on as a kid. I am slowly rocking back and forth in an almost hypnotic motion as I watch my new wife, sitting, deep in conversation with a childhood friend whom I was close with years ago but now can't recall why. My wife is beautiful as she laughs at something he said and looks up to smile at me from the distance that we are apart. It is a shy smile, one that is almost playful and as she looks back at my friend again she takes another quick glance my way. I look at the scene before me as I slowly sip my drink. My worlds have suddenly collided in an effort to make the two women that matter to me happy. I won't lie for a second and say that I am totally ok with it but for them I will gladly shut my mouth and take it. I see Donald talking to Ed Chapman, that some how seems wrong to me, like the ex wife and the new one comparing notes. Both men have played very large parts in my medical life, both different but large nonetheless. I see Susan and Lizzie whispering about something and my new brother in law standing uncomfortably off to the side. I wonder what he thinks about all of this. Not that it would really make any difference to me but I wonder anyway. I see Max, one of the few people that have ever shocked me, playing happily with the tall man that has become my mother's caregiver. Max seems oblivious to the fact that he is playing with a man that is straight out of an Alfred Hitchcock movie; all he knows is that he is fun. I am slightly jealous of his naivety; to him the world holds no evil, no pain. He has seen the devil himself but has never hesitated to trust with him whole self. I have always considered myself pretty resilient to shock but Max came along and blew me away. I never liked kids and in turn they never cared for me much but Max changed all of that. Made me realize that this small person could become my world. This person that had nothing to give but himself wanted nothing at all from me but me. I finish my drink and stand, taking one last look at the scene before me and walk down the steps towards the person that I cannot resist.

"Mrs. Romano?" I whisper in her ear and she smiles even though I can't see it I know it is there.

"That is Dr. Carter-Romano to you sir." She says and laughs softly.

"Ok then Dr. Carter-Romano, may I have this dance?" I whisper back and she finally turns to face me.

"Always."

I lean in and kiss her lips ever so slightly and lead her to the dance floor. For her I will just shut up and take it.