Romancing Dr. Bailey

Something More

After getting back home from Ben's apartment early in the morning, Miranda lay in her bed and went back to sleep. Callie surprised them by showing up at the house at 9 in the morning. Elena and William were already up, after making sure that Tuck got off to school alright. Miranda was awaken by the beautiful sound of her best friend talking and laughing, something she hadn't heard in a long time. She brushed her teeth and went down the stairs. "Good morning, mama. Daddy. And who's this creature? Calliope Torres!"

They hugged, holding each other tightly. "Miranda Bailey. I haven't seen you in a month of Sundays." Miranda giggled. Callie must have picked up the Southern phrase from William; he was about the only person she knew who still used that phrase.

"A month of Sundays, hunh?" Callie nodded. "I know. I know."

"Callie, would you like some breakfast?" William asked.

"Oh, you don't have to go through any trouble for me," Callie said waving them off.

"It's not a problem at all," Elena told her. And she nodded while smiling a huge smile.

"So, how are you, girl?" Callie asked and she sat down on sofa. Miranda sat on the arm of the sofa and smiled.

"I'm good." Miranda said looking around. Her parents were back in the kitchen. "I'm pretty good actually."

"You look good. Did you lose weight?"

"I don't see how that is. But thanks," Miranda said and they laughed. "How've you been?" Miranda asked and they talked while waiting for the food to get ready. The four of them sat down and ate the spread that Elena had prepared with minimal help from William.

After Callie left, promising to call, so they could really talk, Miranda took her parents shopping in Downtown Seattle. It was almost like she was a kid again, hanging out with her parents. Those were the times when she was glad that she was only child. She had her parents all to herself. The three of them talked endlessly while walking in and out of the stores. They had lunch at various food trucks, sampling and buying something from each truck in the area. Miranda and her mother stood at a nearby truck and ordered food, with their backs to her father who sat down to eat some Greek food. "Mmm, Mandy, these gyros are so good," William said while munching through his second one.

"Yeah, they're famous around here," a velvety voice said.

"I can imagine," her father commented to the stranger. Miranda chuckled. Her father was a people-person who could make friends anywhere. Miranda preferred to watch people and not mingle unless she had to.

"I used to bring my girlfriend down here. She used to say that she hadn't a good gyro like this one since Tony's." The hairs on her arms started to rise.

"Right! Wow! Yeah, yeah, yeah. I agree. Elena, Mandy, y'all remember Tony's, right?" He asked and they turned around.

"Oh!" Miranda said looking into the face of the friendly stranger. "Yeah, I remember Tony's. I'm the woman he was talking about, dad." Miranda laughed nervously. "Mama, Daddy, this is Eli. My ex-boyfriend." While they shook hands, Miranda examined her ex. Eli's five o'clock shadow had grown and it complemented his face very, very nicely. He looked good.

"Hello, Dr. Bailey," he said. Eli walked around the table and hugged Miranda.

"Nurse Eli," she responded smiling and kissing his cheek.

"So, finally, I meet your parents, hunh?"

"So, you're Eli?" Her mother countered. "You are very handsome."

"Thank you. But my handsomeness pales in comparison to your beauty," Eli commented, making Elena blush. William cleared his throat. Eli went on: "I'm just sorry that this gentleman snapped you up before I even had a chance."