“Go home”, Emmy whined into her Daddy's chest. Translated, it meant “I want to go home.”

“We can't go home, sweetie. You have to see the doctor.”

“No!”

“Yes, Emmy. Dr. Roberts wants you to see the specialist. You promised him you'd be good, remember?” Dr Roberts was their family doctor. He had referred Emmy to Dr Miller after detecting an arrhythmia in her heart.

Emmy buried her head in her Daddy's chest. The 4' tall 26 year old was sitting on his lap with her legs around his waist facing him. This was her preferred position when in unfamiliar places or when she was upset or scared.

There was a knock at the door and an older man in his 50's walked in. “Hello, Mr Flynn, I'm Dr Curtis Miller”, he introduced himself, holding out a hand to Colton. Colton took his right hand off Emmy's back to shake hands with the cardiologist. Dr Miller was tall with short silver hair, brown eyes and a trim body. It was obvious he worked out.

“Nice to meet you”, he replied.

“Hello, Emmy”, the doctor said to Colton's “daughter”. Emmy stayed quiet.

“She's pretty apprehensive”, Colton explained to him. “At the best of times, it takes her a while to warm up to someone new, but...”

“Don't worry about it”, Dr Miller reassured him. “Let's not push her.” He sat down at the desk and opened the chart he had in his hand. Colton and Emmy were in the chair beside the desk to his right. “Tell me about Emmy”, he said. “I have a few notes here from Dr Roberts, but I'd like to hear about her in your words and with a bit more detail.”

“She is 26, but as you see, she doesn't act it most of the time. Once in a while, she will show signs of her chronological age, but only at home when we're alone. I'm not her biological father, he died when she was 18. Her mother stuck around long enough to breast feed her for a year but took off after weaning her when she was a year old. Emmy has a hormone deficiency that resulted in her short height. Her father couldn't afford the medication to replace the hormone, he worked hard to provide for her but there was not a lot of 'extra' money. He did manage to teach her to read and write when she was in her true age mindset, but only at a grade school level. It was that knowledge that allowed her to get online and look for a new 'daddy'. She was afraid that if she didn't find one, she'd be placed in an institution as not many people want to care for an adult with the mind of a young child.”

“That's how she found you?”

“Yes.” Colton look embarrassed. Emmy, picking up on his mood change, began to whine.

“I don't judge”, the doctor reassured him. “That is why Dr Roberts chose me to send Emmy to. He knows I treat everyone the same, regardless of their circumstances or interests. I have patients who are into some pretty kinky things. I only need to know in case it affects their medical situation.”

“This isn't kinky, Doctor. There's no sex involved and there never will be.”

“My answer is still the same. I'm not going to judge Emmy for being a child in an adult's body or you for taking care of her. I know some would feel you're 'enabling' her, but it doesn't matter. My concern is her health.”

Colton visibly relaxed. Emmy got quiet again, but she snuck a look in Dr Miller's direction. As soon as she saw him looking at her, she buried her face in her Daddy's chest again. Colton continued “It was a monumental effort for her to do this and once she chose me to be her Daddy, I didn't see adult Emmy again for a couple years. By the way, I am her legal guardian. We finalized this a few years ago. Emmy wanted it official for me to make the decisions for her that a parent would make for a child.”

“Has she ever had professional counselling?” The doctor was writing in her chart as Colton talked.

“Yes. She has a psychologist whom she sees every week or two, depending on her mood. She's grown very fond of Dr Wells, but she doesn't always feel up to seeing him. He will come out to the house if it's just a case of her not wanting to leave home, but sometimes she just does not want to talk – as much as she can talk.”

“That was my next question – she's non-verbal?”

“Partially. When she talks, it's usually in short, stunted sentences. But she's 100% non verbal in situations she's not comfortable in or when around people she dislikes. She doesn't know you, so she probably won't talk at all in here.”

“I see she is wearing a diaper. Does she always have one on?”

“Yes. She never did toilet train well as a toddler. I don't know if that's because her father was too busy or if there is another reason. Apparently, there's no medical reason they can find but I had to stop with the tests as they were too stressful on her.”

Dr Miller put down his pen. “I'd like to take a look at her. Can you put her on the table?” He stood up.

Colton started to stand, holding Emmy. “Nooooo!” she cried as she wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to him for dear life. Colton sat down.

“It's okay, we'll take this slow. Emmy, is it okay if I listen to your lungs?” The doctor figured he'd start with lung auscultation, since her back was to him. “I won't hurt you, I'd never hurt a pretty girl like you.”

“Emmy?” Colton asked. “Is that okay? Will you let Dr Miller listen to your lungs?” Emmy looked up at him and gave a barely perceptible nod. “She says 'yes'”, he said to the cardiologist. “Go ahead.”

The doctor lifted Emmy's pink dress that came to the bottom of her diaper. He slid the diaphragm of his stethoscope up under it to the top of her back. Placing it on her skin, he asked “Could you please breathe nice and deep for me, Emmy?” not knowing if the girl would comply. To his – and Colton's – surprise, she did. Though she had buried her face back in her Daddy's chest, she let the doctor continue to listen to her lungs.

When he was finished, he put one hand on her shoulder and looked around her, trying to see her face. “Now, may I listen to your heart, Emmy? You don't have to move, honey. You can stay on your Daddy's lap.” Emmy turned her head so she was looking to the side. She again nodded, this time more visibly. “Thank you, Emmy.” Dr Miller lifted her dress a bit higher and reached around her with the stethoscope's diaphragm in his left hand. He placed it on her chest, under her small but developed breast, over the mitral valve. He didn't like what he heard.

“Mr Flynn, I really need to get Emmy on the table to listen better.”

“Is something wrong? Did you hear something?”

“Let's talk after I finish my examination and run a couple tests. But don't worry, if I'm right, it's nothing that can't be fixed.” What he didn't say was that the “fix” might involve surgery.

Colton looked down at Emmy. “Honey, will you let me put you on the table so Dr Miller can look at you easier?” Emmy shook her head no. “I'm sorry, Doctor. She says no and I don't like to stress her out too much.”

“We'll just have to do it a different way. How about I come out to your home some day in the next week? She might be more comfortable with me examining her in familiar surroundings.”

“I don't want you to go to any trouble.”

“It's no trouble at all.” The doctor looked at Emmy's chart. “You are on my way home from work. If it's okay, I'll come by around 5:30 or so.” Dr Miller opened a drawer in the desk and took out 3 lollipops. “Which would you like, Emmy?” he asked. “Orange, cherry or grape?” Emmy pointed to the grape one. The doctor handed it to her and she took it.

“What do you say, Emmy?” Colton prodded. Emmy made the sign language gesture for “thank you”.

“She signs?”

“A little bit”, Colton replied. “We're both learning a little at a time.” He stood up and put Emmy in her wheelchair, placing a blanket across her bare legs.

The cardiologist noticed the diaper bag on the handles of the chair. It had a horse pattern. “Do you like horses, Emmy?” Emmy nodded.

“She is horse crazy”, Colton told him.

“Have you ever ridden a horse, Emmy?” She shook her head no. “Would you like to?” Emmy's eyes lit up and she nodded her head vigorously. “I may be able to arrange it, if your Daddy gives permission.”

“I don't know”, Colton said with hesitation.

“Have you heard of riding setups for special needs people?”

“Yes. I thought about finding one for Emmy, but I don't know how good they are. If something happened to her, I'd never forgive myself.”

“Colton, the horses are very calm. They don't use ones that are even remotely high strung. My sister owns a riding school and it's set up for special needs. She's never had a problem in many years of being open. I can arrange for you and Emmy to go out and meet her and see the place, if you like, with no obligation. Think about it. It's very therapeutic for people.”

“What about Emmy's heart?”

“I wouldn't recommend she ride until I figure out what's going on and that is dealt with, but she can go with you to see the place.”

“Okay, I will think about it. Thank you, Dr Miller.”

“You're welcome. If Thursday works for you, maybe I could come over then to finish my examination of Emmy.”

“Thursday is fine.”

“Good. I'll see you then. Good bye, pretty girl”, he said to Emmy.

Emmy replied with “Bye bye”, which surprised Colton.

“I think she likes you, Doctor. I don't think she's ever spoken a word to someone new this quickly.”

Dr Miller smiled. “She's a sweet girl, Colton. It's been a pleasure to meet her, though I wish it were under better circumstances.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wednesday, Colton prepared Emmy for the doctor's visit the next day. “Emmy, it's really important that you let Dr Miller examine you. Do you think you can be a good girl for him?”

“Why?”

“Why, what? That it's important to let the doctor listen to your heart?”

“Yes.”

“Because Dr Roberts asked him to.”

“Emmy sick?” she asked.

“I don't know, honey. That's why you have to see the specialist – to find out.”

“Feel fine.”

“Sometimes you can feel fine, but there's something going on that will make you sick later. Isn't it better to find out and fix it before you get sick?

“Yes, Daddy.”

“So, will you be good for Dr Miller tomorrow?”

“Okay, Daddy.”

“Good girl.” Colton gave her a hug and kissed the top of her head.

Thursday afternoon, he gave her a bath and then let her pick out a dress to wear. Emmy picked one of her best dresses, that she usually only wore at special times like her birthday or Christmas. “Ribbon in hair”, she asked, then added “please”. Colton got a matching ribbon and brushed her almost waist length hair before putting it in. He'd wanted to cut it short a long time ago as it would have been easier to manage, but she threw a fit and he backed off. She could scream for days – literally – when she was really mad about something. He'd learned to pick his battles wisely. She did allow him to trim it on a regular basis.

Colton tried to hide how worried he was about his little girl. He had seen the look on the cardiologist's face when he was listening to Emmy's heart. Though he'd given up his practice years ago to work at home as a freelance medical writer so that he could take care of Emmy full time, he was still a licensed MD and kept up with medical advancements. When their family doctor referred her to Dr Miller, he got his stethoscope out and listened to her heart at home. He heard a pronounced murmur and a bit of an arrhythmia. It worried him and seeing the concern on the cardiologist's face made him even more concerned. He couldn't love Emmy more if she were his own flesh and blood and the thought of losing her make his stomach churn.

Colton picked her up and carried her out to the living room, setting her on the sofa to watch her favourite children's show. Their basset hound, Rosie, followed close behind. Wherever Emmy went in the house, the dog went too. Colton had selected the basset breed because of it's easygoing, gentle disposition. And for it being a couch potato. Emmy couldn't run and play, so they needed a dog that was more lackadaisical. Rosie still needed to be walked, though, so he paid a high school student to take her for one every day after school.

While they waited for the doctor to arrive, Colton tidied up a bit more. He'd already cleaned and vacuumed but he had an irrational fear that if the place wasn't perfect, the doctor would try to have Emily removed from his care.

He had no sooner sat down in his easy chair than the doorbell rang. Rosie jumped off the sofa, barking madly. She didn't seem to realize that her master's ears were just fine and he could hear the bell. He grabbed her by her collar so she didn't run out and opened the door. “Hi, Dr Miller. Come on in. Don't mind Rosie, she won't hurt you but she will sniff your legs.”

“She'll have lots to smell”, the cardiologist replied. “I have two dogs.” He bent down and gave Rosie a pet. “How is the patient?”, he asked Colton.

“I think she was looking forward to seeing you. She wanted to wear one of her best dresses.”

“That is sweet.”

“But she's a bit scared. She thinks there's something wrong with her.”

“We'll talk about that after I have a look at her.” He followed Colton into the living room. “Hi, Emmy”, he greeted her as he approached the couch. Emmy shyly turned away and buried her head in the corner. “Why are you being shy, pretty girl? You remember me, don't you?” He walked to that side and placed his free hand on her shoulder. Emmy slowly turned to look at him and gave him a slight smile. Dr Miller set his medical bag on the floor and handed a gift bag out. “This is for you.”

Emmy's eyes went wide and she said “For Emmy?”

“Yes.” He laughed. “Can I sit beside you?”

Emmy nodded as she took the bag. The doctor sat down. “Do you want me to hold it while you see what's inside?” She nodded once again and reached into the bag, taking out some tissue paper that was on top. She reached in again and pulled out a small stuffed horse, squealing with delight. It was light brown in colour with a blonde mane and tail. She held it close to her. “Thank you!” she said.

“You are welcome, pretty girl. Look in the bag, there's something else in there.” She looked inside and took out a folded up blanket. It had a horse motif on it. Once again, she squealed with delight. Dr Miller helped her unfold it and put it over her. She shyly gave him the “thank you” sign.

Colton had been watching the exchange from his easy chair. “You really didn't have to...” he said.

“Nonsense”, the cardiologist replied. “It was nothing. And the look on her face is priceless.”

“One or the other would have been plenty.”

“I couldn't decide between the two so I got both. I have the feeling that you spoil her, too.”

“Maybe just a little”, Colton admitted.

“Where would you like me to examine her?” the doctor asked.

“I thought maybe on her change table in her room. That would be about as close to an exam table as I can think.”

“Shall we proceed then?”

“Let's ask her. Emmy, will you let Dr Miller examine you now?” She hesitated.

“You can bring your horse and blanket with you, Emmy. And you know what? I think it would be better if you call me Curtis. That would be more comfortable, don't you think?” Emmy nodded.

Colton picked Emmy up and carried her down the hall, with Curtis and Rosie following. They entered Emmy's bedroom. The walls were painted pink – her favourite colour. There was an adult size crib along one wall. It was custom made and wider than normal, to accommodate Rosie. The hound insisted on sleeping in the crib with her. She considered it her personal responsibility to protect this adult girl with the mind of a child and she took this duty seriously. There was a mobile above the crib.

Along the adjoining wall was Emmy's change table. It, too, was custom made and adult-size. Her closet was at the foot of the table.

An older hospital bed was on the wall across from the crib. Emmy slept in it the occasional night she didn't want to sleep in the crib. She kept falling out of the twin bed that had been there, so Colton bought this from a used hospital equipment store. The raised bars kept her from falling out.

Emmy's dresser and a set of toy shelves were on the fourth wall. The walls were decorated with pictures and posters of horses. She would have nothing else, though Colton had tried.

He set her down on the change table. Dr Miller set his bag on the bed and took his stethoscope and b/p cuff out. Emmy had a look of terror on her face. “Don't be afraid, Emmy”, he reassured her. “I'm just going to listen to your heart and take your blood pressure. It won't hurt.” Emily didn't look any less terrified and she held her new stuffed horse tight. “I promise you it won't hurt.”

“Promise?”

“Yes, pretty girl. I promise.”

“Okay.”

Emmy lay quietly while Dr Miller took her pulse, feeling for irregularities. Then he wrapped the blood pressure cuff around her arm and measured that. Emmy was feeling anxious. “Emmy sick, Doctor?” she asked, looking up at him.

The doctor could see the worry in her face. “You'll be fine, I don't think there's anything wrong that can't be fixed.”

Next, he palpated her heart and felt for her pulse in her femoral arteries. By this time, she was starting to squirm. “Just a big longer, pretty girl. I'll be done soon.”

“You behave, Emmy”, Colton said to her. He'd been watching intently.

“She's fine”, Curtis told him. “She's just worried.” He took his stethoscope from around his neck and gave her a thorough auscultation. By the time he was finished, Emmy was getting bored and restless. “I'm all finished, Emmy. You were a very good girl.” He turned to Colton. “Let's go out to the living room and I'll tell you what's next.”

Colton picked Emmy up. “Let me get her bottle first. We're a bit late with it today, she hasn't noticed because you're here, but if she doesn't get it after supper, she gets cranky.” They walked down the hall to the kitchen. Curtis sat down while Colton got Emmy's bottle ready. “I hope you don't mind – she likes to have me feed her.”

“I don't mind. Do you think this reverting to being a baby has anything to do with her mother leaving?”

“It has everything to do with it. As you know, she nursed for a year before her mom left. Her father switched her to the bottle, but she wouldn't wean off it. He finally gave up and indulged her a couple times a day. I did manage to get her off formula and on to just milk, on the advice of Dr Roberts. It wasn't easy, but once she realized she wasn't going to get her way, she stopped protesting.” He took the bottle out of the warmer and wiped the water off before heading out to the living room, where Emmy was sitting on the sofa, waiting. Colton sat down on one end and the cardiologist sat in the easy chair. Emmy crawled over to her daddy and he put an adult sized bib on her. She lay on her back over his lap with her head in the crook of his arm. He put the nipple to her mouth and she began suckling.

“What does her psychologist say about all this?” Dr Miller asked.

“He agrees that her mother leaving when she was so young is the cause, exacerbated by her father not pushing her to act her age. He feels that had he obtained professional help when she was still a child, it very well could have made all the difference. As it is, some behaviours will never change. Others, we have been able to modify – for example, getting her to drink milk instead of formula in her bottle.”

“Regardless of all that, we have a young lady here who has a need to revert back to a very young age, and that is okay. It has no bearing on the care I will give her. Now, I know you are wondering what next. I would like Emmy to have a couple tests – an EKG and an Echocardiogram. They can be done at the hospital, I will set up appointments for you.”

Emmy was watching Dr Miller out of the corner of her eye as he talked to her daddy. At the mention of the hospital, she spit the nipple out and whined “Nooooooo”. Colton tried to get her to take the bottle again but she shook her head.

“Emily Rose”, he admonished her. “You behave yourself.”

“No hospital. Emmy not like hospitals.”

“Nobody likes them, pretty girl”, Curtis said to her in a soothing voice. “But sometimes you have to go to one. These tests don't hurt. I promise. And you can come home afterwards. You won't be staying in the hospital.”

Colton's phone rang. He looked at the display. “I'm sorry, I have to take this.”

“Don't apologize. Give me Emmy's bottle. I'll feed her. Come here, Emmy.”

Emmy got down and crawled over to the easy chair. She climbed onto the cardiologist's lap and lay across it. He put the bottle to her mouth and she took it. As she drank the rest of her milk, he talked to her. “I told my sister about you, Emmy. She can't wait to meet you. Would you like to go see her and her horses this weekend?” Emmy's eyes grew wide and she nodded ever so slightly. “You have to promise me that you will be good when you have to go to the hospital for those tests, okay?” She nodded again.

When she finished her milk, Curtis set the bottle on the table beside him, then wiped her mouth with her bib before taking it off and setting it down. She sat up and leaned against his chest. “What's wrong, Emmy?”

“Emmy scared.”

“What are you afraid of?”

“Emmy sick?” she asked again.

“I don't know, Emmy”, was the reply. “That's why I want you to have these tests - to find out if you are.” He held her tight.

Colton came back into the room and apologized for the interruption. “Come here, Emmy, don't bother Curtis.”

“It's no bother, Colton - I'm happy to hold her. Sit down.” His gaydar was going off and he contemplated bringing the subject up. When Colton had sat on the couch, he said “If this is too intrusive, forgive me, but I'm wondering if you are gay.”

Colton didn't know how to react. Was the doctor asking out of curiosity or was he a bigot? “Does it matter?” he finally asked.

“Oh, not at all. In fact, I'm bi.”

“Yes, I am gay. But I haven't dated since I got Emmy. It would take a special man to understand our relationship and besides, finding someone to watch her while I'm out on a date would be hard. The older couple next door sometimes look after her during the day while I do errands or if I have to meet someone for my work, but they go to bed early. They are great, though, and do not judge us.”

“Would you be comfortable dating at home or going to your date's home along with Emmy?”

“Only if it was someone I knew and trusted. Certainly not with someone from Tinder or whatever it's called.”

“I need to get going, but maybe some day we can get together for dinner here or at my place. If you don't want to, that's okay”, he hastened to add.

Colton, feeling an attraction to the cardiologist, replied “I'd like that. And Emmy likes you, which is the most important thing.”

“I'll call you soon, then. And I will be in touch about those tests in the next day or so.”