Perfectly Adequate(35)

I imagine her feeling flattered by my compliments, suggesting we be friends who share knowledge of their favorite scientific studies and tips on pleasing men. My friend list is pretty short. Accommodating Dr. Hathaway seems doable.

Dr. Hawkins: Did you fall asleep?

His text brings me out of my roleplaying.

Me: No. Going to try again now. See you tomorrow.

Dr. Hawkins: Night, Dorothy. Can’t wait to see you again.





“I don’t mind being me. No one else can do it better.”

–Dorothy Mayhem





CHAPTER THIRTEEN





Frittata Fingers


Sleep isn’t on my side, so I make the most of my Sunday morning by texting my boss—lying to her. Then I load up my bike and drive to the trailhead. Two hours later, I return to my car and check the activity app on my watch, fully intending to message Dr. Hawkins to brag about my early start to meeting my activity and exercise goals.

“What the hell?” When I look at my watch, there are notifications that Eli has already completed an eight-mile run and a weight lifting workout—exceeding all of his daily goals.

Before I can figure out a response, my watch chimes with a message from him.

Dr. Hawkins: Good job! Keep up the hard work.

That’s his response to the notification he got about the workout I just completed.

“Oh, I’m keeping it up.” I breathe a determined sigh, securing my bike to its carrier. On the way home, I stop by the gym to make sure I exceed his weight lifting workout. Then I hustle home to get a shower since the drive to his parents’ house is forty-five minutes, and I don’t want to be late.

“Hey, what are you—”

I hold up my hand to my mom as she pours coffee for herself and my dad. “No time to talk. I have to get showered.”

“Why aren’t you at work?”

“I’ll explain later.” I jump into the shower, trying my best to multitask—suds and shave while planning out the appropriate outfit. Settling on a dark eggplant skirt and a pale pink button-down blouse with matching flats, I blow out my hair, and then apply my lip balm while pulling out of the driveway.

The traffic isn’t too bad late Sunday morning. Things I wouldn’t know because I’ve always been at work by now. The guilt of not being at work continues to eat at me, but the idea of getting to spend time with Dr. Hawkins and Romeo numbs the agitation grinding against my nerves. I pull into their circle drive at 10:30. The blue Tesla is nowhere to be seen, so I wait.

A red Lexus SUV pulls up behind me ten minutes later. I know that car and the woman getting out—Dr. Hathaway. She unfastens Roman from his car seat and walks up beside my car, giving me a polite smile. I smile back and slowly open my door. If I stay inside, she might tell his parents. Then I’ll be the weird woman sitting in their driveway. There is no disputing my slightly weird personality, but I try to avoid consciously putting it on display to the whole world.

So, instead of being the weird stranger sitting in my car, I turn into the weird stranger staying five steps behind Dr. Hathaway and Roman as they walk up to the front door.

“Dorfee!” He smiles, looking back at me.

Dr. Hathaway glances back as well.

“Dorfee, why are you here?”

“I’m here to have brunch with you, Romeo.”

“Hi.” Dr. Hathaway smiles. “I’m Julie. When did you meet Roman?”

“Dorfee is a superhero!” He tugs on Julie’s hand, jumping up and down with excitement.

“Shh …” I hold a finger to my lips and wink at him. “That’s a secret. Remember?”

Julie’s smile morphs into something a little uneasy. Clearly, I don’t look familiar to her. And I shared secrets with her son. Nothing creepy about that.

“Dorothy Mayhem. I’m actually a patient transporter at your hospital … and a nursing student.” I stop. Someone needs to send me a high-five emoji for having such self-control. I want—really want—to talk about her work and studies. The million things she’s done to help kids.

“Oh, then I’ve probably seen you there.” The line along her forehead eases a bit.

“You have.”

She nods slowly, inspecting me—the woman who calls her son Romeo and is having brunch with her ex in-laws. “Sorry I didn’t recognize you. I see so many faces.”

“You don’t need to apologize.”

“So … how is it that you know Roman? Wait …” She narrows her eyes. “Dorothy the superhero. X-ray vision. Roman did mention you. He said you ate spaghetti with him and wore a bib. I thought you were an imaginary friend.”

“Oh. Ha! No. I’m real.”

“So you’re a friend of Eli’s?”

“Grandma!” Roman runs into the house when the door opens.

His grandma hugs him while her gaze ping-pongs between me and Julie. “Hi. Julie. And you must be Dorothy.”

“Hi. Yes. Nice to meet you.” I brush past Julie and hold out my hand, not that handshakes are my thing, but I want to blend in at brunch. I want his parents to like me.

“I’m Lori. It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Dorothy.”

“Bye, Roman. I love you,” Julie calls, but he’s already rushed into the house. “Okay. So, nice seeing you, Lori. And nice officially meeting you, Dorothy.”