Waiting room.

She was ensconced behind a large mahogany desk. Her embroidered nametag matched the one on the desk ... Brendan.

“Interesting name.”

“I hear that all the time,” she said.

I instantly fell in love with her voice. A lovely contralto ... nearly a male baritone. I shuddered when she spoke. She noticed.

“That’s an effect I’d never seen before,” she said.

I gave her a closer look, cataloging as I went.

... 5’7” 110 pounds, silky dark brown hair, deep brown eyes that know what you are thinking ... only courtesy kept her from slapping the skin off my face. Her eyes flared open ... she knew what I was thinking.

“Yes,” she said. “I get off at four.”

“Yes ma’am.”

I went to my scheduled appointment, discussed my situation with her father, my doctor.

“I’ll probably marry your daughter,” I said.

“Okay,” he said.

“Okay?”

“Yes.”

“Just like that?”

“Just like that.”

“Hmm.” I said.

“I have been instructed.”

“What?”

“She said, ‘Don’t fuck this up, daddy.’”

Daddy said, “She called before you were in the exam room.”

“What if I hadn’t said anything?”

“Your kidding,” he said. “I saw the dazed look on your face. The walking into the doorframe was a dead giveaway.”

“Why did you name her Brendan?”

“Her mom was dead set on a boy, Brandon.” He grinned, “Nature has a funny way of working.”

“Murphy, ‘when you think you thought of everything ... you didn’t.’”

“Yes, her favorite meal is anything Italian ... make sure it’s Savillo’s. Order the breadsticks with hot olive oil as an appetizer ... anything else is your choice.”

I called around to various movie theaters, made reservations at Savello’s and drove back to the office. I leaned against the Alfa’s fender. The nursing staff ... all of them ... gave me the twice over as they mounted up in assorted vehicles.

At 4:15, she came out the backdoor. The sneaky wench had changed clothes.

The evening exceeded expectations.

Six years later, the five year old got on the bus. Ten years after that, our little genius started University. It’s been twenty seven years since my doctor’s appoinment ... we’re going to Savillo’s.

I have a surprise for her.