Finally

Part 23: When She Calls

*The picture of the sim is what Dr. Adrian Clark sort of looks like—just in case you wanted to know**

I can't tell you how long I sat in his office—trying to convince myself that everything is alright.

I was so unnerved but everything that it was hard to even remove myself from his office. I hid the day away- staring at his organized: bare- office and wondered who this kid is.

Truly is.

No family photos.

No personal touch.

It's been a good few weeks and it still looks uninhabited.

The Army.

The poor kid is used to keeping things ready to go.

"Oh...you're still here." He opens his door and finds me sitting in one of his armchairs.

"Sorry."

"No, it's fine. I'm not complaining- woman." He dance struts over to me and I can't help but laugh as he sits on the edge of his desk in front of me.

"Haha, you're ridiculous." I laugh and shake my head as I look away from him. My cheeks burn while I smile and I don't know why.

Yes I do.

He reminds me of Max—a bit.

Max isn't as cocky and arrogant as this kid.

"David's mother is getting in touch with Dr. Fuller- he's gonna take over for you. She understands why you're relieving yourself." His tone is a bit sharp, but caring.

"I feel like a fool...I should be able to do this. I don't know why I..." Tears preparing to fall again, I can't understand them.

"Hey now—listen—being a parent is hard. Being a new parent is harder." Heat rises in me and I can't stop myself from slap his hand off my shoulder.

"What the Hell could you possibly know about being a parent?! You're a child! Your only responsibility is your job." I yell slightly before sitting back in my seat and looking away from him.

His face stays neutral and he simply reaches over the back of him towards his desk and opens the drawer. Reaching in it, he pulls out a picture and shows me—a tiny baby boy dressed in a fleece dinosaur onesie. He looks as if he weighs only 2 pounds or so.

"That's my son that was just born a few days ago." He says and sniffs some tears back.

"I didn't know you were..."

"Me either. She just told me when she emailed me this picture."

"Wow...how inconsiderate..." I say and he shakes his head and puts the picture down beside him.

"No- she had every right to keep him to herself." When he says this, I nearly choke on my own breath.

Since when is a man calm about this kind of stuff.

Unless he really just doesn't care.

"Why do you say that?"

"Because of how everything between her and I happened." He looks back down at the picture and sighs heavily.

"What happened? Terrible fight?"

"No."

"Someone cheat?"

"No." His voice becomes more childlike- near blubbering as he probably thinks about the ending."

"Then what?"