May 3, 2020
It was a nail-biting two days before Ethan and Diana could travel to the other side of Del Sol Valley to pick up their son from his foster h
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It was a nail-biting two days before Ethan and Diana could travel to the other side of Del Sol Valley to pick up their son from his foster h
There was no rest for Ethan as he and a nurse were pulled over to help the pediatrics wing.
A few tests, failures, and one success later, Diana had removed the graffiti on the garage.
After Cole’s excitement of his best friend possibly treating stars died down, conversation carried on at a much calmer level. Before they departed for their individual events, though, Cole needed a picture with his best friend.
“This way when you’re famous, I can say I know the famous doctor who’s treating other famous people!”
Graduation eventually came and went, which meant finally reuniting with Diana, and for good. “I am never leaving you like that ever again,” Ethan promised for the fourth time since they’d been waiting for Fred and Cole.
“So you’ve said,” she chuckled. She leaned into another kiss on the cheek, happy to receive Ethan’s affections. “Just remember, tomorrow-”
“New glasses, yes,” he said, pulling her into his arms.
“Haircut, too,” she reminded him. “I don’t want you shocked.”
“You’ll still be you,” he said. He kissed her cheek again. “You’ll always be you.”
Ethan’s name wasn’t called. Instead, he was recognized and simply motioned into the room. The vet who called them back hadn’t worked for his mother long before she passed, so Ethan hadn’t gotten to know him as well as some others. He was certainly grayer than he remembered, though.
“You’ve grown well, it seems,” the vet said as he settled Toby in. “Your parents talk about you every time they bring this one in.” He flipped open Toby’s chart. “Third year of college?”
“Yeah, that’s right.” Ethan said. He watched as the vet set Toby’s chart down and picked up a squeaky toy. “I don’t think his ears are the problem.”
“Oh, I know what the problem is,” the vet said. “He’s gotten into something he shouldn’t have: Nest of squirrels. Same thing he’s in for every time.” At that, the vet rolled his eyes. “For such a smart dog he can be really stupid.” Ethan just nodded. “This, however, is for his hearing. I’ve been testing his hearing every time for the past several visits.”
The vet proceeded to squeak the toy around Toby’s head, starting at a distance and slowly working his way closer. It was only at a much closer distance that the toy drew Toby’s attention. The vet then exchanged the toy for a scope and began peering into both ears. “I’m sorry to say that he has rapid hearing loss,” the vet said, “On top of a stupid obsession for some poor squirrel’s nest.”
The proceeded to administer two shots, medicine and vitamins, before pulling out a booklet on canine hearing loss from the cabinets. He handed it to Ethan. “This will tell you all that you and your parents need to know a lot more eloquently than I can. However, any questions or concerns come straight to this office. I don’t want to hear that you guys went searching the internet for answers.”
Ethan flew through his schoolwork with ease. Carissa, on the other hand, needed a little extra help most nights. Riya and Sam alternated homework duty based on their own workload. Ethan once offered to help, but he had been rejected by Carissa before he could finish his sentence. Beside them being in different schools and studying different things at different times, Carissa didn’t want to be the reason his grades slipped. She wanted to see him in that big, fancy medical school perhaps more than anyone else.
“It’s something, at least,” Ethan said. He pulled Diana close to him. “I wish I was attending a closer university-”
“Shut up,” Diana said harshly. “No you don’t. You’re going to the best university for medicine in the country. Don’t you dare regret it for me.”
“But if I was closer I could help-”
“Stop that, Ethan Carpenter!”
“-And I wouldn’t miss you so much.”
“Ethan...” Diana sighed. “I’m going to miss you, too, but don’t waver on your dreams for me, or anyone else. Remember why you’re becoming a doctor in the first place.” Ethan huffed a little and nuzzled his head into hers.
“Okay, fine,” he said. “You win. Again.” She giggled.
“Don’t I always?”