Chapter 12

TIME SKIP: 15 YEARS.

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"Ring! Ring! Ring!" goes the phone. My secretary picked up the phone.

"It is for you Dr. White." said my secretary as she handed the phone to me.

I held it near my ear, "Yes. This is Dr. White speaking."

"Yes, hello. My name is Natalie Spurts. I am the mother of your patient, Roberts Spurts."

"Yes, I recall. Hello. How are you doing?"

"Fine. I am calling to check up on my boy."

"Yes, he is doing fine. Excellent actually. He has improved dramatically since last months tests."

"That is wonderful! Thank you so much Dr. White."

"Your welcome Mrs. Spurts. Have a nice day."

"Yes. I will. You too. Bye."

"Thank you. Bye."

I gave the phone back to my secretary, Mrs. Charlotte. I turned to her.

"When is the next meeting with my next patient?"

"Right around afternoon. After your lunch break."

"Ok thanks."

"Your welcome."

I walked away towards my office.

I opened the heavy wooden door and walked into my musty office. I sat in my desk chair and let out a long breath out.

My eyes automatically shifted towards the frame. The picture held Scarlet sleeping in that oak tree. She never showed up to that graduation.

My phone suddenly vibrated. I picked it up and saw my wife calling. I answered.

"Hey honey?"

"When are you coming home from the office?"

"I am about to leave around 4 pm. Do you want me to pick anything up on my way home?"

"Hmmmm...Not anything I can think of right now. I will call you if something comes up."

"Okay. That is fine. How is our baby girl doing?"

"She is kicking alright. I can see her tiny foot each time she kicks."

"That is so cute. I can't wait until I come home."

I ended the call. I sighed. I grabbed my briefcase and papers. I left my office and headed to the next patient. I walked down the white bleak hallways. I opened the door to the room and headed in.

I pulled in the driveway and saw my beautiful pregnant wife standing in the doorway waiting with a pearly white smile. She looked at me with her emerald eyes and had her hazel hair tied up in a bun with a pencil sticking out. She wore a baby blue nightgown with roses embroidered within it. I left the car door open and walked towards her kissed her passionately. She melted into my touch. After a while, she backed up panting heavily. She snuggled into my chest.

"Happy your home. I missed you."

"I missed you too honey."

"How was my little Psychologist today?"

"Good, I will tell you more about it when we go inside. I would rather not tell you in the cold when you do not have a jacket on."

She pulled me inside. "Okay then."

I walked into the house and the dinner table was ready. I smiled.

The lights were dim and there were candles lit on the table. Scented incense flooded the room and rose petals littered the floor. How did I ever deserve such a wife, I would never know. I turned around and saw her smiling at me. I grabbed her and pulled her towards me enough to where her body was flushed up against mine with the baby in the middle. I kissed her again the second time tonight. She backed up quicker than last time.

"The foods going to get cold. I didn't make all of this food for it to just stare at us okay?"

"Of course." I took my jacket off and threw it somewhere. I rolled up my sleeves and sat on the table. She sat across from me and started putting food on her plate. I followed her lead. I only ate a few mashed potatoes when my phone rang aggressively. I looked at the caller ID and sighed.

"Sorry honey. It's work."

"Take your time."

I left the table and stood near the window. I answered the call.

"Hello?"

"Hello. Is this Dr. White?"

"Yes, this is he."

"Lovely. The chairman has chosen you to represent the organization at a meeting with another organization on a trip. Can you take the offer?"

"When is it?"

"It is from December 24 to December 31."

"So a full week?"

"Yes."

"Where is the meeting?"

"In Rotterdam." Time slowed. What are the chances?

"Hello? Dr. White? Are you still there?" I was pulled back into reality abruptly.

"Yes. Sorry. Spaced out for a second."

"Can you take the offer?"

"When do I have to tell you my decision by?"

"Preferably tonight."

"Okay. I will want to talk to my wife."

"Okay. Good night."

"Good night."

I hung up the phone and turned to Emily.

I sat back down and stared at my food. The conversation replaying over and over.

"So? Are you going to take it?"

I looked at her. "I don't know."

"I know what happened in Rotterdam and everything, but that is in the past. You don't have to forget it, you just need to move on."

"I know but..." I turned away.

"This is a good opportunity to move on. To finally tie up the loose strings. You have to take the offer."

I turned to look right into her shiny emerald eyes.

"But I want to spend Christmas and New Years with you..." I smiled sheepishly.

"Dillian White! Do not dare use me as an excuse."

"Fine...I will take the offer."

"Good."

"But you owe me."

"Like what?"

I smiled seductively

Her face turned red. "No!!"

"Please?" I smiled to her like a needy child.

"No. And that is final."

"Fine..."

I called back.

"Hello, this is Dr. White."

"Yes, what is your decision?'

"I will take the offer."

"Splendid."

"I will send a taxi over to your place to take you to the airport tomorrow at 9am."

"Okay. Good night."

"Good night."

I hung up again the second time tonight. I turned to Emily.

"I did. Happy?"

"Of course!"

I slept that night with the memories of Rotterdam playing over and over.

I woke up that morning with a bucket of cold water dumped on my head. I sat quickly.

"What is going on!"

"Get up Dillian! You still need to pack!"

"Oh Yeah! Forgot. Thanks Love."

"Your welcome."

I leaned in for a kiss. She pushed me away.

"Why?" I whined.

"Not with that morning breath. Get up."

"Fine."

I rolled out of bed and headed to the closet. I grabbed a suitcase and looked through my clothes. I ended up picking a few casual outfits and two tuxedos.

I rolled my suitcase next to the front door. I kissed my wife goodbye and walked out to the taxi. It took half an hour to reach the airport.

Not long after, I was buckled in my seat in the airplane. To Rotterdam, I go...