Finally

Part 41: A Lifestyle Choice

Engaged.

I'm engaged.

To think I haven't been here in at least eight years.

And Luna.

Calling me Mummy so confidently.

Standing up to her father without fear.

So sweet. Sweetest thing I've ever witnessed.

"Helen?" Blinking a few times, I look up at Lauren, who is gently bouncing Vincent in my office. "Are you alive in there?"

"Hm? Oh, yes."

"Seizure?" She curiously asks and I shake my head.

"No, I was just thinking about the passed few days."

Max made it impossible for me to leave the house.

Made it impossible for me to try and do any kind of work.

His reasoning was to de-stress me the best he could.

Which in turn stressed me out more.

"Yeah, I heard a little burst tweeting of engagements." Smirking, she kisses Vincent's head and places him gently down into his pack- n- play that my one nurse so kindly donated to me.

"Which burst was that?"

"Why?"

"So I can hunt it down before it spreads any more news." I state, barely joking.

I really didn't plan on announcing the engagement yet. Wanting Max and I to have a nice grace period of peace and tranquility. All for the same reason we tried hiding our relationship months ago.

Things at the damn simply work better if everything remains in a precise professional pecking order.

It keeps the illusion alive that Max and I are professional doctors and not to be accused of intimate relations in our offices or janitorial cupboards.

"Haha, well- I heard it from Layla."

"So her and I will need a ch..."

"Who told me she heard it from Floyd."

"Then he will...."

"Who was told by Iggy."

"Well..."

"Who heard it from Adrian."

"WHERE DOES THE CHAIN END?!" I spout and she smiles wildly.

"Max." Sighing heavily, I lean back in my chair and close my eyes- frustrated and feeling a bit stupid for having not figured he was the one who said something. "Happy Hunting!"

Lauren states before she pops out of my office giddily.

He really told people?

No.

He told Adrian.

Out of all our friends, he told him first?

He and I agreed to keep a low profile until we were both ready to share the news.

And he goes off and tells everyone.

Wildfire.

Rumors spread like wildfires and frankly I wish to extinguish all of it now.

Knock knock!

"Hey, Dr. Sharpe! We just wanted to say congratulations on the engagement." Three nurses pop their heads in my door and smile warmly at me before leaving.