Free The Family Doctor by Bobby Hutchinson

behavior. The rascal had charmed Kate, and he was positive that his daughter would be giving him a rundown on how super Kate was, and how pretty, and didn’t she have green eyes, and wouldn’t it be nice if he took her out to dinner?
    McKensy had been on a campaign for some time now to get him married. When she was little, she’d talked about her mommy coming back to live with them, but in the past couple of years she’d shifted focus. Now she simply wanted him to find her another mommy.
    It wasn’t that she didn’t love Jessica. And she adored Dorothy. But an absentee mother wasn’t enough, and already McKensy was balking at Dorothy’s conservative ideas about fashion and hairstyles. He’d heard her asking Georgia about periods and how old she’d been when she started, for God’s sake.
    Marrying him off wasn’t a bad scheme in theory, Tony thought. But the reality was that the few women he’d dated since his divorce weren’t interested in taking on a man with a young daughter. They had career goals, busy lives with no room for a needy little girl.
    Besides, he’d tried marriage once, and it had been such an emotional roller coaster, such a series of crises and disappointments and confrontations he didn’t think he’d ever get himself mired that way again. It wasn’t worth it, even to make McKensyhappy. Even for regular sex, he added with a wry grin, although that particular aspect was appealing.
    Tony shifted in bed, wincing when his ankle hurt. Of all times to be laid up, this had to be the worst. He had a busy medical practice, he was still new at his job here at St. Joe’s, still trying to implement the changes he thought necessary to move the medical center into the technological age.
    He didn’t have the full support of the hospital board; there were a couple of mastodons who considered him too young, too radical, too confident. And at the same time there was this unholy mess going on in his personal life.
    Fumbling in the bedside drawer, he found his wallet. In it was the airmail letter that had upset the whole family. It had arrived several weeks ago, but he’d avoided telling his mother about it until yesterday, the morning of his accident.
    It was because of this letter and the ensuing row with Dorothy that he’d been late for work. He’d raced in, hurrying to a meeting with the sound of his mother’s angry voice still ringing in his ears.
    Now he unfolded the fragile airmail pages and scanned the words, even though he knew exactly what they said.
    His father’s handwriting had always been large, bold—easy to read. In this letter, it was cramped and crooked. In places it faltered, as if the person writing had wavered.
    Dear Tony,
    I hope all is well with you, as it is with us, and that McKensy is over the chicken pox. I remember when you were a nipper and had them, how itchy you were. I’ve enclosed a funny card for her. Betsy picked it out. She’s better with cards than I am.
    How’s the new job panning out? Chief of staff sounds like a load of responsibility, and I know you’ll do a fine job for St. Joseph’s. They’re lucky to have you. I’m mighty proud of you, lad. I tell all the old codgers down at the pub about you and your success.
    Now, there’s some news I need to give you. Betsy and I are planning a trip to Canada. As you well know, I’ve never come back since I left your mother, but now it’s time. If it’s okay with everyone, I want to meet all you kids. It’s hard to think of you as grown-ups with young ones of your own. Even though you sent photos, I still remember each of you the way you were when last I saw you. Probably works both ways, so be prepared for a shock. I’m a lot older than I was when you were little. (Joke.)
    We’ll be coming in six weeks’ time and staying at a hotel one of Betsy’s friends recommended, the Barclay on