"Jayden…" Her voice drifted off and suddenly she felt warmer to him and had to restrain herself from giving him a hug. She was sure what this place was and wasn't surprised when she saw his name scribbled onto the clipboard as a visitor for Mr. Jacob Ellis that night. Her eyes became misty and she turned away so that he could not see the tears glimmering in them.
"Satisfied?" He said in his cocky manner. However before Mia could respond Jayden heard a familiar voice approaching them.
Markus! Markus! And you finally got Dinah to come." Mr. Ellis said recognizing him. Mia turned back to him giving him a confused look.
"Just go with it…" He whispered to her. "He thinks you're his adopted daughter." He quickly explained as Mr. Ellis approached and took her into his strong and warm embrace.
"Dinah… Dinah… Missed you baby-doll… It's so good to see you finally. How's the residency coming? Are you working hard?" He asked releasing her. She threw a pensive look at Jayden and he nodded his head at her. She gave Mr. Ellis a nervous smile.
"Everything is fine. How have you been?"
"I'm just fine… Fine…" He said with enthusiasm as he took his daughter's hand and they walked down the corridor together like father and daughter.
"C'mon, you all are just in time for breakfast." He said as he held onto his daughter's hand and Jayden followed closely behind them.
"Hey James…" Mr. Ellis abruptly called out getting the attention of an elderly gentleman rolling alone in his wheelchair.
"This is my daughter; the doctor Dinah. Isn't she pretty?" He bragged.
"She must take after her mother…" The old man teased and Mr. Ellis laughed.
"And that's my son there… Markus… he's a chip off the old block… big time lawyer." Mia couldn't help but turning around to see how Jayden was taking the news. It had to be hard on him to hear his biological father bragging about his adopted children and not even knowing that his own flesh and blood was here for him. How sad it must be for him she concluded.
She wanted to go back and take his hand reassuring him that it was okay. Even if his father never knew and understood who he was and what he was doing for him, she was sure that God was taking note and had to be pleased with his heart. Mia was not only impressed with Jayden but her heart opened up to him and she really did want to give him a well-deserved big hug. It had to pinch his pride to be living in the shadow of someone else's shadow and to be doing something without recognition and acknowledgement. There was so much more to him and it was all good. Mia felt herself falling for Jayden the man that she was beginning to see and understand on a deeper level.