Patrick was between his Thursday morning extractions when he glanced at his phone and saw five text messages from Kristi. He instantly thought something had happened to one of his kids, but the schools knew to call his office number first and often did. A sick kid was the worst thing for a single parent. He couldn't just call in sick, not when his patients had arranged their schedule and planned for their surgery. Thank God for Kristi even to just check on them since the girls were old enough to stay home alone.

Opening one message, he realized it was just an over excited Kristi. The school board had made the announcement she had been fighting for. She had been on tenterhooks for weeks, waiting for this news. He instantly thought of the single mother with two small children. She wouldn't be smiling today.

He quickly sent a thumbs-up emoji as he breezed into his next extraction. He didn't favor the 'term drive through', but on Thursday and Friday mornings, he performed one extraction after another. His specialty went way beyond removal of third molars, but it was the bread and butter of his profession. He also performed highly complicated restoration and jaw correction surgeries. Those were slated at the beginning of each week and performed at the hospital.

His afternoons comprised of consultations, follow-ups and procedures with local anesthesia. Patients having extractions with bone grafts needed to be seen several times before they were ready for the titanium screw used for the implant.

His schedule also allowed for emergency patients. Korra sent over one of her patients who presented with a toothache. A crack in the tooth that went into the root had caused the excruciating pain. Unfortunately, the tooth couldn't be saved.

Patrick always felt bad for patients like her. They started their day with a toothache and ended it with one less tooth and knowledge about grafts and implants. None of it was inexpensive.

He tried to put his patient at ease, much like he did his teenage patients. Small talk was his specialty, and he learned Noelle worked for a local tech company.

"You won't feel up to working today." His voice filled with sympathy as he began injecting the novocaine. "I like to use plenty of novocaine. You shouldn't feel any pain, so let us know." She nodded. "Alright, let's give it time to take effect and then we'll get started."

He had time to see his next follow up. The bone graft looked just as he had hoped. Returning to his extraction, he was standing outside the door, when he overheard the patient talking with his assistant, Karen.

"He's nice and good looking. He's probably married, right?"

Karen replied, "I couldn't say."

"Tell me you agree..."

He opened the door and interrupted conversation. "Okay, let's do this." After testing that she couldn't feel anything, he explained what she should expect. "You'll feel pressure and tugging."

Tooth extraction was a physical task. It helped him keep in shape. Unfortunately, it was difficult to return the favor and check out his patient. No one was attractive in his chair.

Everyday ended the same. He personally called every patient to ensure there were no complications. He had over a dozen calls to make, including to his admirer.

She was surprised to hear from him, but it was not unusual. He chuckled because he was calling about her pain not to ask her on a date.

Some nights he arrived home after the kids had eaten. He was pleased to see dinner wasn't on the table. Kevin had made his new specialty, Kristi's enchiladas. The minute he stepped into the house from the garage, Hannah approached him.

"Dad, can I have your credit card? A bunch of us want to go to the movies tomorrow night. I need to reserve my ticket."

He often felt like an ATM. Gabby babysat occasionally, but neither girls worked during the winter. They both worked at the ice cream shack during the season.

Gabby said, "Dad, I'm going to hang out at Olivia's tomorrow night."

"Hannah's going out and I have plans." He looked at Kevin. He could stay alone, but he hated leaving him.

"What plans?" Hannah asked.

"Not a date?" Gabby exclaimed.

"No, it's poker night. Would it be terrible if I started dating?"

He didn't know why he said it, but he'd been noticing women and since Hawaii, he felt single again.

Kevin said, "I don't want a wicked stepmother."

Hannah added, "Mom wouldn't like it."

He wanted to correct Hannah but was too tired to waste energy on hypotheticals. "How about if I decide to date, I won't introduce you until I find one I like enough? I won't like her, if she's not nice."

Gabby said, "Guys, remember we'll be gone and Dad will be all alone."

He smiled at his middle child. She always had a huge heart. "Thanks sweetie, but you're not leaving me yet."

Kevin said, "I'll go to Ben's tomorrow night."

"If it's okay with Kristi. Dan will be across the street with me."

It wasn't until after Erica when he was invited to play poker. It may have been a sympathy invite, but he looked forward to the monthly games.

A week later, he watched as his patient entered an exam room for her follow up. Dressed professionally in nice slacks and heels, it was obvious where her curves were.

When he entered the exam room, he smiled. "Hello Noelle. How are you feeling?"

She smiled at him. He felt an attraction to her warm smile and bright eyes. They looked hazel, or perhaps blue.

"Better now. Except for a missing tooth."

"It's a molar. You can't tell when you smile."

She smiled again. He definitely felt something, especially when he shook her hand at the end of the exam.

The rest of the afternoon, he mentally wrestled with himself. In fact, he almost walked into his friend, Paul in the hallway.

"You okay there, Patrick?"

"Yeah. Hey, do you have a second?"

"Just. What's up?"

The two went into his tiny office. "Would you take over for one of my patients? The extraction and graft were last week. She'll need an implant."

"Why? Is she difficult?"

He shook his head. "No, nothing like that. I'm thinking of asking her out."

He smiled. "You won't date my sister, but a patient."

"The difference is I'm not looking for anything serious, if you know what I mean."

"Fine. Yeah, whatever."

He slapped his back. "Thanks. I owe you."

He just had to decide if he had the guts to make the call. Taking a deep breath, as part of his end of day calls, he made one more.

She answered with a cheerful hello.

"Hi Noelle. This is um... Doctor Bennett um... Patrick. I was wondering if my colleague took over with your implant if you might like to have dinner with me sometime."

"So you are single. I asked your nurse, but she wouldn't answer. Yes, of course, I would like that."

"Okay, great. Weekends are best. What night are you free?"

"Would this Saturday be too soon?"

Would it? What would he tell the kids? "No, that works. I could text you from my phone and you could send me your address. That's if it works for you..."

"Absolutely."

He felt numb. He had just asked a woman out for the first time in over twenty years. What would Kristi think? What would his kids think?

On Saturday after his shower, he suddenly didn't know what to wear. He had a reservation at a small Italian restaurant in Portland. Paul had recommended it. He settled on Dockers and a button-down shirt.

All three kids were shocked when he had announced he was going out to dinner. "You can get pizza since I brought home Chinese last night."

"Is it a date?" Hannah asked. He shrugged, but then nodded. He couldn't lie to his kids. "Do you like her?"

"I honestly don't know. The purpose of a date is to get to know the other person."

"I think it's good. You need friends. I'll stay home with Kevin."

He smiled. "Thanks, Gabs."

Hannah added, "I'm going out. Don't be late."

He laughed. "You're the one with the curfew."

He didn't expect to walk downstairs to see Kristi waiting for him. "What do we owe this surprise?"

"You weren't going to tell me you had a date!"

"It's not a big deal. It's dinner. But since you're here, do I look okay?"

"You always look okay."

"Says the woman who hits on every married man on The Point."

"Not every."

"Every under fifty."

"Not true."

He laughed. "I'll tell you what. Come up with one name and tell me at coffee on Wednesday morning."

"I want to hear all about your date at coffee. Mike's not married yet, and Ryan Harris wasn't married two summers ago. I left him alone last summer."

Patrick laughed harder. "I meant names of men you haven't hit on, not ones you hit on who are unmarried."

"There must be someone. It's all in good fun. It doesn't bother Dan."

"That's because he's the only man who can put up with you."

"You do."

"Yeah, I do. I have to go or I'll be late. I have a reservation in town."

"The bistro?"

He shook his head. "No, because I don't want this getting around The Point. Got that!"

"Yeah. Yeah. You know you can trust me."

The funny thing was he could even though she was nosey she was trustworthy.