More Than Just Lovers (Book 2)

2. Mom?

~Josh

"Hi, Suzanne, I'm Doctor Hart," I said, looking down at her information on the clipboard as I walked into the room my newest patient was waiting for me in. "Just a check up today, correct?"

I lifted my head just in time to see her mouth drop open. "Joshua?"

"I-I go by Josh," I stuttered out, extremely confused. I've never gone by Joshua in my entire life, so why would she call me that? "I'm sorry. Have we met before?"

Suzanne hopped off the table and took a step closer to me. I took a hesitant step back, now worried. She was just about my height, so I wasn't too worried she'd be able to hurt me, especially because she was also in her late fifties, but the look in her eyes was seriously creeping me out.

"Ma'am?"

That seemed to make her remember that she couldn't just attack her doctor in his office. She backed up again towards the table. "I'm sorry. Josh. Um, it's just... I never thought I would see you again."

This definitely wasn't going the way I thought this check up would go. "I'm sorry, but I don't know who you are."

She covered her mouth with her hand, and I could see tears forming in her eyes. "That's because it's been thirty years, Josh. I'm your mother."

I blinked, my mind going blank for a second at her words. "No, you're not."

Suzanne let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head, as she put her hand back down by her side. "I may not have been the mother that raised you, but I did give birth to you, thirty years ago."

I felt my chest tighten up. I had given up when I was still a child of ever knowing who my biological parents are. And now that I found her, I didn't know how I was supposed to react.

So I asked the question I've always wanted to know the answer to. "Why'd you leave me?"

She shook her head sadly. "We never wanted to. You see, your brother, Paul, had a baseball tournament one weekend. We left you with your grandparents because you were only a year old and we felt it was better that you didn't travel across the country with us, but rather stay somewhere safe." She paused to wipe away a tear. "We didn't know it at the time, but they were both suffering from extreme lapses in memory. They took a trip somewhere and forgot that you were with them. We never found you after that. Although we looked. We never forgot about you, Josh. You were always a part of our family."

What was I supposed to say to that? I have an older brother, and a mom, and a dad that I've never met before. My biological family. I didn't want to think about where I'd be if I was never lost. Probably not madly in love with the men I am in love with right now. I wouldn't have my children because I wouldn't have had a sister to give them to me. I don't even know if I'd be a doctor.

"Here," Suzanne said, holding up her phone. On the screen was a picture of an older gentleman and a man who was closer to my age. They both looked similar to each other, but the weirdest part was that the younger man looked just like me. "That's my husband, Martin, and my son, Paul. You look just like them."

I shook my head, dropping the clipboard I was still holding onto the small counter. "I'm sorry. Th-this is a lot to process. I'll just be a minute."

I barely saw her nod her head before I was out the door, leaning my back against it as soon as it was closed again. There was so much going through my head right now that I could barely process anything.

"Hi Debby, is there any way you can squeeze him in to see Josh?" My head snapped up at the sound of Kyle's voice drifting down the short hallway. "He's gotten a lot worse from this morning and-"