My sister a dentist my brother a doctor

At the dentist

AMELIA'S POV

As we walked up to the front desk, I could already feel the weight of the day pressing on me. I was exhausted, physically and emotionally, and just wanted to get through this. But seeing Karlie's bright smile made it a little easier to push through.

"Hey Amelia, hi girls," Karlie greeted us warmly, her voice light and friendly as we approached the desk.

"Hey Karlie," I replied, managing a small smile on behalf of all of us.

I could feel Dallas tugging on my shirt, her little hands gripping me tightly as if she was trying to disappear into me. Without a second thought, I lifted her up into my arms, and she immediately buried her face into my chest, her body trembling slightly.

"Is she okay?" Karlie asked, her tone soft and full of concern, her eyes darting to Dallas as she clung to me.

"Yeah, she's fine. She's just a bit shy, and I think the whole day's been a little overwhelming for her," I replied quietly, doing my best to sound reassuring.

But I could feel Dallas's tiny body shake with fear in my arms, and it made my heart ache for her.

"Aw, okay," Karlie said sympathetically, her voice gentle as she gave us a nod.

Before we could say anything else, Taylor appeared from the back room, a soft smile on her face as she walked over to greet us.

"Hey, guys," Taylor said warmly, her tone always so calming.

She had this way of making everything feel a little less daunting, like she could ease all the tension just by being there.

"Taylor!" Paige said excitedly, immediately running toward her and wrapping her arms around her waist in a tight hug.

It was sweet, and a small part of me was grateful for the lightness Paige brought into the situation.

"Hi, Paige," Taylor replied with a soft smile, kneeling down to hug her back.

"How are you, sweetie?" she asked as she pulled back, her hands on Paige's shoulders.

"I'm good!" Paige grinned, her eyes shining with excitement.

"Hi Dallas" Taylor said gently, turning her attention to my little girl, who was still hiding in my arms, her face obscured by my chest. I sighed, my voice soft.

"Sorry, she's just being a little shy."

"It's okay," Taylor reassured me with a small smile, her voice kind and understanding. "Everyone has their moments."

Then, Taylor's gaze shifted to my arms, her eyes flicking to the bandaids.

"Ah, Austin got you, huh?" she asked knowingly.

"And Selena," I muttered, unable to keep the slight annoyance out of my voice.

"It was two against one," I added with a sigh, shaking my head.

"They teamed up on you? That's so unfair," Taylor said, a playful glint in her eye.

I couldn't help but chuckle despite my frustration.

"I know, right?" I agreed, rolling my eyes. "It's like they planned it together or something."

"Come on in," Taylor said, motioning for us to follow her. "We'll get this done quickly so you guys can get back home."

As she led us into one of the exam rooms, a flood of memories hit me. The room looked almost identical to how it had been when I was younger. Same posters on the walls, the same faint smell of antiseptic, the same comforting yet sterile atmosphere. It was almost too much to take in.

"God, this office hasn't changed a bit," I said, almost to myself, as I looked around the familiar space.

"Yeah, you haven't been here in a while, huh?" Taylor said, a hint of nostalgia in her voice.

"I've always liked the feel of the office, so I never wanted to change it. Some things are just meant to stay the same."

She said it with such a sense of pride, and I couldn't help but feel a little comforted by the continuity of it all. It was like some things never really changed, no matter how much time had passed.

"So, who wants to go first?" Taylor asked softly, glancing over at the girls.

I could see both of them looking around nervously, shifting their weight from foot to foot, unsure of what was coming next. Paige's eyes were wide, and even Dallas seemed more tense than usual, her face still hidden in the crook of my arm.

"Auntie Taylor?" Paige asked, her voice small but hopeful, as if she were asking for permission.

It was clear she trusted Taylor completely, but the uncertainty was still there.

"Yes, hun?" Taylor replied gently, bending down slightly to make eye contact with Paige.

"What are you going to do?" Paige asked, her voice laced with curiosity, but there was also a hint of fear underneath.

"That's a really good question, Paige," Taylor said with a warm smile. "Here, I'll show you."

She walked over to the desk, picking up the tray and placing it on the table next to the exam chair. Then, she pulled two small twirly chairs from the side, positioning them near the exam chair, clearly preparing for the girls to sit down. It all felt so... clinical, even if Taylor was doing her best to make it seem less intimidating. I felt my stomach tighten. There was no avoiding this, not anymore. I could see Taylor looking at me from the corner of her eye, her expression soft but knowing.

"Amelia," she said, her voice so gentle I could almost feel the sympathy radiating from her.

"You okay?" she asked, her eyes flicking to me.

I groaned, leaning back against the wall.

"Not you too, Taylor. Don't make me do this," I sighed, shaking my head.

My words were a half-joking plea, but there was no escaping the truth. This was happening. There was no way out now. Taylor smiled softly, clearly understanding.

"I know, I know," she said kindly, her tone almost too understanding. "But it'll be over before you know it."

I could only nod, unable to say anything else. I was trying so hard not to break down in front of the girls, to keep it together. I could feel the walls closing in around me, and I hated how much I still dreaded this whole experience, even after all these years. But I had to push through. For them. For Dallas and Paige. I just hoped I could survive this next part.