I heard a throat clear, and I turned around to greet Dr. Smith. I froze in that instant. I couldn’t believe who I saw standing before me. In an instant, I was gripped with fear.

“Hawk?” I stammered out.

He had changed quite a bit since I last saw him, but in a lot of ways, he was still the same. His black hair was longer now, and he sported a close-cut beard. As I looked up and down the white-coated body, I noticed though it was the same frame it was also much more defined with muscles almost bursting to get out of the confines of his clothes. His penetrating green eyes were still the same however though now set in skin bronzed by time in the sun.

I shook my head remember where I was and who I was with.

“I didn’t know you were back.”

“Well, I am,” he said taking a seat on the doctor's stool and wheeling up to Emma.

I immediately stood between him and her.

“We came to see Dr. Smith.”

“Well I am Dr. Smith,” he said looking up at me as I blocked his way.

“You know I mean your father. I would rather see him if you don't mind.”

“Well,” he said a little taken aback by my refusal to let him near my daughter. “The elder Dr. Smith is out for lunch. We are booked solid all day, so it’s me or waiting till Monday. I can assure you I am well trained in,” he looked down at the notes in the file, “sore throats and coughs.”

I hesitated a moment. It was dangerous enough that Hawk had Emma's file in his hand. What if he found out. I kicked myself for making this stupid risk.

“She has a pretty high fever too,” I said and watched him jot that down in the notes.

When Hawk left six years ago without so much as a word I saw nothing wrong with settling down in this sleepy little town I had grown to love. I knew it would be the perfect place to raise my daughter after I finished college at the local state campus just a short drive away.

Sure this wasn’t the life I had dreamt for myself when I had first entered my higher education. I had always wanted to take my swimming talents to more, maybe even the Olympics. But that had all changed when I found out I had a little life inside me.

I didn’t regret my decision to have Emma nor to raise her. Yes, it had meant giving up any swimming career dreams, but she was worth all of it. Now I worked at the local high school teaching P.E. and coaching the swim teams. Maybe it wasn’t as fantastical as I had initially dreamed of myself but I was happy, and Emma was too. That was all that I cared about now.

Things were going right for the two of us. I couldn’t help but wonder how that was going to change if Hawk was back in town.

“Are you just here for a little while?” I asked trying to sound as nonchalant as I could.

“Back for good," he said giving me a weak smile.

“And you are going to be working here in this office? Like all the time?”

“That is the plan,” he said raising a questioning dark brow at me. “Is that going to be a problem?” He asked still waiting for me to move out of his way.

“It’s just. We really like Dr. Smith. Emma can be pretty particular and shy.”

“Well, Dad will still be here for the next few months, but eventually he plans to retire.”

I slumped my shoulders in disappointment.

“If you don’t feel comfortable with this,” he said motioning between the two of us, “I can recommend some pediatricians not too far away. I don’t think anyone will be able to see you today, however.”

I weighed this over in my head. I was going to need to switch doctors, maybe even move away. I couldn’t risk Hawk finding out. It made me a little angry. Why should Emma and I haul our asses out of town to run from him? He was the one that up and left, and now I had to uproot our lives just for the sake of him.

“I just didn’t know if you planned to up and disappear again, you know, since your so good at it,” I said narrowing my eyes at him.

“Jules,” he said with a heavy sigh.

“No,” I said putting my hand up to interrupt him. “I don’t want to hear it. Just check over Emma and leave.”

I stepped aside and finally gave him access to Emma praying with all my heart he didn’t connect the dots in the few seconds he was about to interact with her.