Chapter 256 You Laughed
Seeing James's troubled frown, the two interns exchanged confused glances. "Dr. Smith," one of them ventured, "you're a celebrity now! Shouldn't you be happy about this?"
James sighed, running a hand through his hair. "What's there to be happy about? Fame just brings more complications. Look how much time those two wasted just now. If every patient did that, I wouldn't get any work done!"
"But think of the admiration, the respect!" the other intern chimed in, his voice tinged with envy. "It's the digital age, Dr. Smith. Your name is everywhere! People will recognize you on the street and ask for your autograph. How cool is that? You could even leverage this fame, and make a fortune!"
James shot them a weary look. "Enough, you two. I'm a doctor, not a brand. My priority is my patients, not publicity."
The interns stared at him, bewildered. "But... don't you want to be famous?"
"No," James stated firmly. "What good is fame? I'd rather spend my time and energy treating people, making a real difference in their lives." He waved a hand dismissively. "Now, enough about this. Get back to work, both of you."
Left alone, James pulled out his phone, his stomach twisting with unease. A quick search confirmed his suspicions. His name was plastered all over the internet.
News articles, blog posts, even a fan club on Twitter – all dedicated to him, Dr. James Smith, the overnight sensation. He groaned, burying his face in his hands. This was not what he had signed up for.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of consultations and autograph requests. While most patients were more restrained than Thaddeus and Elowen, the constant attention was starting to wear him down.
Two women even slipped him their numbers, their eyes sparkling with something more than admiration. James politely declined, tossing the scraps of paper into the bin as soon as they were out of sight.
Jennifer finally emerged from her office late in the afternoon, looking refreshed and rejuvenated.
James felt his heart skip a beat at the sight of her. Even after five years of marriage, she still had the power to take his breath away.
"Feeling better?" he asked, his voice softening unconsciously.
"Much, much better," Jennifer replied, a rare smile gracing her lips.
"You smiled," James blurted out, surprised.
Jennifer's cheeks flushed pink, and she quickly averted her gaze. "Don't be ridiculous," she retorted, her usual composure returning in an instant.
"I saw it too!" one of the interns piped up, grinning mischievously. "Dr. Johnson definitely smiled!"
Jennifer fixed him with a withering glare. "You saw nothing. Now, go find something useful to do."
"But I finished all my tasks," the intern protested.
"Then clean up the place," Jennifer shot back. "This place is a mess."
"Can't it wait till tomorrow?" the intern asked, trying to negotiate.
Jennifer raised an eyebrow, her silence carrying a clear message.
The intern, realizing he wasn’t going to win this one, mumbled an agreement and scurried off to find a broom. The other intern, taking the hint, quickly followed suit.
James and Jennifer were left alone, an awkward silence settling between them. Despite being husband and wife, they often found themselves acting more like colleagues within the walls of the clinic.
James cleared his throat, determined to break the awkwardness. "How about we catch a movie tonight?" he suggested. "I heard there's a new release you might enjoy."
"Sure," Jennifer agreed, her voice softer than usual.
Her uncharacteristic compliance sent a flicker of warmth through James. He had to resist the urge to reach for her hand. He could be confident and charming with anyone else, but with Jennifer, years of apprehension held him back.
At lunchtime, Jennifer texted her parents, informing them that she and James would be joining them for dinner. Dennis and Kaitlyn were ecstatic, promising a feast fit for a king.
True to their word, the dining table was laden with an extravagant spread. A dozen dishes, each more tempting than the last, filled every inch of the table. James stared at the lavish display, speechless.
He had been a part of the Johnson family for years, but never had he been on the receiving end of such lavish affection. There was a time when, at his lowest point, he hadn't even been allowed at the dinner table.
Jennifer, equally surprised, turned to her parents. "Mom, Dad, are we expecting guests?"
"No, dear," Kaitlyn replied, beaming. "It's just us."
"But why is there so much food?" Jennifer frowned. "We'll never finish it all."
Dennis emerged from the kitchen, a wide grin on his face. "So what if we have leftovers? It's not every day that James graces us with his presence. We have to celebrate!" He ushered them towards the table. "Now, come on, sit down and eat before everything gets cold."
Jennifer couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. "Dad, you're playing favorites. You didn't even go this all out for my birthday."
"That's different," Dennis said matter-of-factly. "Your birthday comes every year. This," he gestured at James with a proud flourish, "this is a once-in-a-lifetime achievement! You wouldn't believe the looks on everyone's faces at the market today. They were practically green with envy!"
Kaitlyn nodded enthusiastically. "It's true! James is a celebrity now! I even had people asking me for his autograph!"
"Autograph?" Jennifer's head snapped up, alarm bells ringing in her head. "Mom, you didn't, did you?"
Kaitlyn's cheeks flushed pink. "It was just a few ladies from the neighborhood, dear. I couldn't very well say no."
Jennifer groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Mom, you're going to give me a complex!"
James, who had just entered the dining room, chuckled at the exchange. "Don't worry, Mom," he said, winking at Jennifer, who felt her annoyance melt away under his gaze. "Tell your friends I'm just a doctor, not a celebrity. No need for autographs."
After dinner, James and Jennifer enjoyed a quiet movie night, the earlier tension completely forgotten.
Back at the clinic, the two interns were finishing up their cleaning duties when one of them stumbled upon the package James had received earlier.
"Hey, what's this?" the intern asked, curiosity piqued. He reached for the package, intending to take a peek inside.
"Don't!" his colleague hissed, grabbing his arm. "Are you crazy? That's Dr. Johnson's package!"
"So?" the first intern shrugged. "We open packages here all the time. Besides, it's light, probably just documents or something. Come on, aren't you the least bit curious?"
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