**Chapter 15**

**Ethan's POV**

It had been a few weeks since our visit to Alex and Sophia's home. We started cooking more often in the week for the next one. Bring each other lunch and learn about the next one work life.

I learned Sophia had seamlessly incorporated into Julia and Emily's lives when Sophia started her intern year at the hospital where they worked.

Julia surprised me today by bringing lunch during her day off, showing off her culinary skills. The nurses couldn't resist teasing me about finally being off the market and how many moms were saddened.

It had nothing on the love-struck teasing I received. Especially given how quickly I navigated through the office to leave after they told me Julia was there. I met her outside at one of the benches, eager to see her.

"Can you believe the new season just dropped?" Julia beamed, her eyes excitedly sparkling as she set down the lunch she'd made for us.

Her hair fell in loose waves around her face, catching the sunlight streaming through the trees.

"I almost started watching it this morning," I confessed, laughing as Julia gave me a mock glare, her playful annoyance making her even more endearing.

"Don't you dare think it!" she teased, nudging me playfully with her shoulder. Her presence always made everything brighter.

After a delicious lunch, Julia and I sat at the bench, savoring our food and discussing Julia's day off. The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the building as we lingered in the warmth of the afternoon.

I couldn't help but admire Julia's ability to brighten any moment with her infectious laughter and genuine interest in our conversation. I can't wait to be back with her as my alarm went off to let me know my lunch hour was up.

"Now, hurry back to work," she said with a grin. She stood on her tiptoe to give me a quick kiss. "And don't forget to swing by after your shift."

Her eyes held a hint of anticipation, a silent plea for me to prioritize our time together. She gently squeezed my hand, the touch sending a reassuring warmth through me.

As I watched her drive off, a sense of gratitude washed over me. Julia wasn't just my girlfriend; she was my anchor. Coming straight to her after work wasn't just a promise; it was a commitment to nurture what we had, to savor every moment together.

I stood there for a moment, absorbing the tranquility of the moment before reluctantly heading back inside, the memory of Julia's smile lingering with me throughout the day.

Finally, as I finished cleaning up my surgical tool, the faint smell of antiseptic and the sound of the receptionist cleaning up signaled the end of the day in the clinic.

Dr. Patel, my senior colleague, approached me just as I was cleaning up my instruments. "Ethan, any chance you could stay until closing? We've wrapped up all our appointments," he asked, his voice calm amid the usual bustle of the dental office. I politely nodded, sensing his eagerness to leave.

"Hey, Jules," I greeted her warmly, my tiredness melting away at the sound of her voice.

"Ethan! Straight here, after work," Julia's excitement spilled through the phone, her laughter ringing clear. "I can't wait for you to come over. Only ten more minutes, right?"

"Exactly ten minutes," I assured with a smile, imagining her grin on the other end. "I'll be there before you know it." I happily said as I walked to the front of the office.

The door burst open, and Sophia came rushing in, holding a young girl tightly in her arms. Panic etched across her face, her grey eyes wide and red-rimmed from tears.

The little girl, who seemed about nine years old, clung to Sophia, her tiny body trembling as her wavy blonde curls looked soaked. Blood trickled from her mouth, and she was screaming and crying, a towel soaked in blood pressed against her lips.

I hurried over to them. My heart raced as I saw the blood trickling from the girl's mouth. "Can you please help?" Sophia's voice was raw with fear and desperation.

"Yes, I'll take care of it," I said calmly, trying to project a sense of control to help her calm down and to see why her mouth was bleeding so excessively. I knew the practice was supposed to be closed, but I couldn't turn them away. It wouldn't have been right.

I gently reached out for the girl, and she shrieked in pleading tear-filled pain. "Mama!" she cried, clutching Sophia's shirt even tighter.

Sophia hesitated, her grip tightening protectively before carefully handing the child to me. Her eyes, filled with fear, silently pleaded for me to make the girl better.

"I will do my best to handle the situation," I reassured her, giving her the best reassurance I could without knowing the full circumstances.

The girl whimpered through her pain, her small hands gripping my shirt as I carried her to the examination room. Sophia was closely behind us, watching my every movement.

"She fell... she fell on the bed," Sophia sobbed, her voice breaking as she watched me examine her. "I was so stupid not to make sure she was safe."

I desperately wanted to comfort her as my heart cracked for her. I knew the best thing I could do was tend to her daughter.

"It's okay, Sophia. "We'll take care of her," I reassured, my heart cracking at Sophia's evident pain.

I signaled my nurse to come over and help. "But I need you to fill out this form first. I know it's hard, but it's important."

"I need to know her medical history," I said, looking at Sophia, not the woman I once knew but a worried mother fighting fear.

Sophia nodded, though her hands were shaking too much to write. I placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Take a deep breath, Sophia. She needs you to be strong right now."

She nodded again, more firmly this time, and took a shaky breath. A nurse handed her a pen and the form, and she filled it out, her hand still trembling but more controlled.

Meanwhile, I turned my attention to the little girl. "What's your name, sweetheart?" I asked gently, but she only cried harder and tried to stretch to Sophia.

She had to been scared of her Mom not being close to her. But the nurse has to get her set up for me.

"Her name is Charlie," Sophia interjected, her voice tight with worry.

I quickly assessed the situation and checked the form for every medical information. Good, no allergies in history.

Charlie had a deep laceration on her gums and a cracked tooth that needed immediate attention. It was damaged but fixable. I instructed my nurse to prepare the local anesthetic and pain relief.

"Sophia, can you hold Charlie's hand while I get started?" I asked, glancing at her.

Though uncommon, I needed them to know they had each other. Sophia quickly moved to Charlie's side, grasping her hand tightly.

"It's going to be okay, sweetheart. I know Dr. Ethan. He's a great person, and he is going to make you feel better," she whispered, her voice full of love and reassurance, though I could see the fear in her eyes as she forced a smile on her face.

I carefully administered the local anesthetic, explaining each step to Sophia with a soothing voice. "This will just pinch for a second, Charlie. You're doing great."

Charlie screamed in pain as the needle went in, her tiny body writhing on the chair. "Mama, it hurts," she cried, clutching Sophia's shirt tighter.

"I know, sweetheart, I know. You're so brave," Sophia said, her voice choked with emotion. She stroked Charlie's hair gently, her tears falling silently.

I worked quickly, performing the emergency dental surgery. The crack in Charlie's tooth had cut through her gum, causing significant pain and bleeding. I cleaned the wound and stabilized the tooth, causing Charlie to wince and cry out.

"You're doing so well, Charlie. Almost done," I reassured her, my focus entirely on alleviating her pain.

Sophia continued to whisper soothing words, her hand never leaving Charlie's. "You're my strong girl. Just a little longer."

Charlie's cries subsided to soft whimpers as I secured the cracked tooth and stitched up the laceration. I applied a numbing gel to help with the pain and gave instructions to my nurse for aftercare.

"The worst is over, Charlie. You're so brave," I said, smiling at her.

Charlie's eyes, still wet with tears, looked up at Sophia. "Mama, are we done?" she whispered, her voice hoarse from crying.

Sophia's face lit up with relief and love. "Yes, sweetheart, you're okay. Dr. Ethan fixed you all up. I am going to call your Dad to let him know."

I walked out of the room to give them space. My heart pounded as I leaned against the wall, struggling to catch my breath.

As they left the room, the little girl smiled faintly and held onto Sophia's strength from their love.

"Thank you, Ethan," Sophia said with a small smile as she looked at me. I knew she was more than anything grateful for me.

As they turned to leave, sadness etched in her eyes, Sophia paused.
"Ethan, I'm sorry," she murmured, her voice tinged with regret. I caught the words.

Her apology caught me off guard, sending a shiver down my spine. I felt a knot tighten in my stomach, my hands trembling as I processed her words.

Nodding in acknowledgment, I watched her walk away, noticing the slight tremor in her hand as she closed the door behind her.