The Doctor Who Has No Closure - Victoria Quinn Page 0,71

freaking adorable. And so brave too.

“Thank you, sweetheart,” I said. “That’s nice of you to say.” I turned to the audience. “Ginny had a hole in her heart, but her parents couldn’t afford the surgery, so she had to live with this disability, unable to breathe, for five entire years. It sounds like I’m describing a totally different country, but this is happening in our backyard. Her family came all the way from California to see Dex, and Dex successfully repaired the hole in her heart, fixed a damaged valve, and gave Ginny the life every little girl deserves.”

Ginny looked into the darkness of the audience, like she was searching for something. “Is Dex here?”

Dex rose from the audience, and the lights swung to highlight his face. “Right here, sweetheart.” But instead of looking at her, he was looking at me, staring at me with that same hard expression, that deep and potently emotional gaze. “Can I join you?”

“Sure!” Ginny scooted over in her large chair so they could sit side by side.

Dex walked up onto the stage then took a seat beside her, the two of them shoulder-to-shoulder.

Ginny hooked her arm through his then looked up to give him a smile.

He gave her an affectionate nudge in the side, like they were two peas in a pod, like she was a daughter to him.

I paused to take it in, to appreciate this man even more, before I turned to Dylan to continue.

By the time everyone filtered out of the ballroom, it was probably close to midnight. Everyone wanted to talk to Dex, and since there were about five hundred people in attendance, it took a very long time.

I would help the staff clean up when it was over and start gathering the decorations that the vendors were nice enough to loan to me for free as long as I returned them in the condition in which they came.

I went over to the Hamiltons to say goodbye. Dex was on the other side of the room, talking to a couple with his hands in the pockets of his slacks, still animated even though he was probably exhausted. “Thank you for everything, Deacon. Everyone enjoyed that speech as much as I did.”

“Happy to do it.” He gave me a gentle pat on the back.

“I can tell it meant a lot to Dex.”

“Well, it means a lot to me that it means a lot to him. They say you can never be a prophet in your own land, but I feel like I’m one in mine.”

Cleo came over. “Can we help you—”

“No.” I held up my hand. “I’ve got this. You’re not on the clock, Cleo. Remember.”

She pressed her lips tightly together and tried to suppress a smirk. “Habit, you know?” She pulled me in for a long hug. “You’ve been such a blessing to my son. So happy that you came to us. It was meant to be.” When she pulled back, she gave my forearms an affectionate squeeze. “Goodnight, honey.”

“Goodnight.” I smiled and watched Deacon circle his arm around her waist as they walked toward the exit.

Daisy hugged me next. “Thanks for everything you do for Dex. It’s been a really hard year for him, and he’s already doing so much better. Getting closer and closer to becoming his old self. I talk a lot of shit about my brother, but he’s honestly the best guy I know—besides my dad and Derek.”

“He is,” I said in agreement. “How are you and Mason?”

“Good. I’m going to introduce him to my parents soon.”

“Oh wow. It’s serious, then.”

She shrugged. “Yeah, I think so.” She stepped away so Derek could say goodbye.

“You want a ride home?” Derek asked.

“Oh no, I’ll be here for a while,” I said with a chuckle. “I’ve got a lot of stuff to do.”

“Well, Dex better give you a hand.”

He probably would, even though I would tell him not to. “Have a good night.”

“You too.” He gave me a pat on the arm before he followed his family. They all grouped together and took turns giving Dex a hug before they walked out.

Dex stayed behind, his hands sliding into the pockets of his slacks as he watched them walk away.

I should get to work, but I took a moment to stare at him, to study his side profile, his carved jawline, his smooth cheeks because he shaved before he came down here. With his shoulders back and one foot forward, he was posing for a photographer that didn’t exist. I