Page 52 of Surrender
She nodded. “You did. Your father has his faults, but he’s a good man and so are you. Kachelle is a lucky girl. Can you bring her by for dinner on Sunday?”
“I’ll talk to her. If she’s comfortable, we’ll be there. Just promise you’ll give her a fair chance.”
“I promise. After all, your sister seems to love her, and you know that heathen doesn’t like too many people.”
I chuckled. “She doesn’t. They have a beautiful bond growing, though. Shocked the hell outta me.”
“I hope for the same… I mean that.”
I could since that she was being sincere. She ended up staying for a while longer, even helping me to pack a few things. She asked a ton of questions about Kachelle and Arranged Hearts and their process. It felt good to know that she was willing to try. If my father and Kay’s parents could get on board, this blended family might just shape into something beautiful.
I smiled as I walked into the exam room and saw the cutest little girl with a big curly afro, dressed in a Wonder Woman costume, sitting in the dental chair. She looked nervous as her mother gently rubbed her hand. I closed the door and pulled my stool over to her.
“Good morning! I’m Dr. Mitchell. What’s your name?”
She looked from me to her mother.
“Tell her your name, baby.”
“Shana.”
I extended my hand, she was hesitant to shake it.
“It’s very nice to meet you, Shana! I love your hair. How old are you?
“I’m six years old.”
“Wow, six years old! You’re such a big girl. Is this your first visit?”
She nodded. “Yes, I’m a little scared.
I smiled. “That’s okay. It’s normal to feel a little scared your first time, but I promise, I’m going to take really good care of you, and I’ll explain everything we do. Okay?”
She relaxed a little. “Okay.”
I stood, then went to wash my hands and put on a pair of gloves.
“Can you open your mouth really wide for me, like a big lion roar?
She giggled and opened her mouth wide. “Roar!”
I chuckled. “That’s perfect! I’m going to use this little mirror to check your teeth and make sure they’re all healthy. I promise it won’t hurt at all.”
She squeezed her mother’s hand as I performed the oral exam. Most kids that came in had a mouth full of caps or cavities. Shana’s teeth were perfect, and I could tell mom was doing an amazing job keeping them clean.”
“You’re doing great, Shana! Your teeth are very healthy. You must brush them every day?”
She boasted proudly as she held up two fingers. “Yes, twice a day!”
“And do you floss too?
She hesitated. “Sometimes, when my mommy helps me. Sometimes I do it too hard, and it makes my gums bleed.”
“Well, we don’t want that. Flossing is important for keeping your teeth and gums healthy. I can show you an easy way to floss on your own so that it doesn’t hurt. Would you like that?”
“Yes, please!
I grabbed an unopened box of floss and pulled two pieces, handing one to her.