On the surface, it seems like my life is great. New job. New city (Toronto). New apartment. New relationship status (single). However, when the last one is not your choice, the first three hardly matter. Now, here I am on just my third Friday in town going to the dentist. It does not seem very Sex and the City. I know. That is New York. Whatever. But, I am 22. I have plenty of time for the actual city.
But, after a month. I was settling in. My theory was to take care of all the boring stuff: dentist, eye doctor, general practitioner, et cetera so I would not only have myself established as a patient should an emergency arrive, but also so the boring stuff would be out of the way and my "new life" could begin.
So now, a rainy Friday afternoon at the dentist seemed to be the highlight of my weekend. My hope had been that he would finish early and I would just start the weekend a bit early. However, two hours in the waiting room had dashed those hopes. They explained that an emergency patient had come in. I could reschedule or wait it out. I opted for the latter. I was here. It was rainy...or at least sprinkly...and what else did I have to do. Cue pity party in three, two, one.
Finally, I heard the receptionist say, "Joanna Heslip." I responded, but I was not sure why she felt the need to call my name. I was the only person in the lobby. "If you don't mind, the hygienist is going to clean your teeth. Dr. Wolfe should be finished by the time she is. He will see you then." I smiled and nodded my agreement.
When the hygienist finished, she said Dr. Wolfe would need a few more minutes and just had me wait in his office. After about ten minutes, a very handsome man with silver curls appeared and introduced himself, "Ms. Heslip, I am Dr. Wolfe." I insisted he call me Joanna and he, in turn, told me to call him Wayne. I did not think I could do that, but nodded politely.
"If you don't mind, I am going to have the dental hygienist go ahead and leave. It is just us left and I hate to keep her late on a Friday. I promise you will be fine. I don't bite." Too bad, I thought. But I smiled and told him to send her on her way.
It only took a few minutes to go over my x-rays. Perfect check-up. We briefly chatted. I was new in town. He had been here for his entire career. I had recently broken up with my boyfriend from college after a couple of years of being on and off. We were now officially off. He had a long marriage with a couple of kids and a couple of grandkids. Small talk done. I was going on my way. Unfortunately, he was true to his word and did not bite. I could not explain it, but I was really attracted to a man who was probably technically old enough to be my grandfather. The glimpse of chest hair through the v-neck of his scrubs only helped the matter. It was thick, gray, and curly like the hair on his head.
"Well, Joanna, since you had a perfect check-up, I do not need to see you for six months. Let me know if anything changes." He smiled.
I still do not know what came over me, but I found myself saying, "Well, that is too bad, I bet you would be great at drilling my cavities." He blushed. I did more than blush. I turned bright red from what seemed like head to toe. "Well, on that embarrassing note, I think I will gather my things and head home."
And that, I did. Yet, when I left the practice, I realized that the rain had really picked up to the point that even with an umbrella, I would be soaked while waiting for the uber. So, I decided to wait in the covered area outside the office to see if it would clear a bit. After about five minutes, I hear, "Joanna?"
"Dr. Wolfe. Sorry if I am in your way, I thought I would see if the rain would slack up a bit before catching an uber."
"You have the right idea. This downpour is going to make the drive home unbearable. My wife is out of town visiting the grandkids, why don't we grab a drink around the corner until this passes? I know there is a restaurant which I have heard good things about, but perhaps we could just have a glass of wine while we wait on calmer travels."
I knew that I would be just as wet walking to the restaurant as I would be to an Uber, but I was new in town and really had no friends. "That's the best offer I have had all week." We opened our umbrellas and I told him to lead the way.
The restaurant was charming and intimate. We grabbed the corner table in the bar area and each ordered a glass of chardonnay. The conversation flowed freely. I explained that I was new in town. I was in pharmaceutical sales and the move to Toronto meant a bigger territory and promotion. We talked about our families, our love of running/jogging, and even common taste in music.