Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 59913 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59913 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
“An orphan?”
“Yes, both her parents died when she was young.” My poor baby, all alone in the world and I had no idea. Breaks my fucking heart.
“And the husband?” The word tasted bitter on my tongue.
“She doesn’t talk about him much, but he died before the baby was born.
“How old is the baby?”
“She’s four.”
“That old? Gia can’t be more than twenty-two-twenty-three.”
“She’s twenty-five she just looks young.”
Twenty-five and even with a sick child and no husband or family to speak of she’d finished her education and was able to reach the top of her profession. She truly is the woman for me.
We found the room and I stood outside looking through the glass while Gavin ran down to the gift shop to buy a toy for the child.
She looked so little and alone as she sat next to the bed holding her child’s hand in hers. They were both asleep, the child hooked up to tubes and a machine that was helping her breathe.
I couldn’t wait any longer. The slump of her shoulders that made her look like she was carrying the world on her back was a bit too much for me to take.
I looked down at her sad face for a few minutes before touching her shoulder. She came awake with a start and looked up at me.
“Evan, what are you doing here?” It’s the first time she’d called my name and I got lost for a second until reality kicked back in.
“Gavin told me what happened, he went to the gift shop he should be here soon.”
“Oh you didn’t have to bother, I told him it was fine. This happens a lot.”
“What exactly is wrong with her?”
She took a deep breath and released it. “Her lungs weren’t fully developed at birth so she has these attacks often.”
I looked at the child on the bed and saw a little bit of her mother, but it was obvious she’d taken after her father whoever he was.
She was light where her mother was dark and though she looked like an angel I couldn’t forget that she was the evidence of my woman’s love for another man.
Geez Evan, have you completely lost your mind? I’ve never given any thought to a situation like this. I’ve never dated a mother before and never thought I would.
I have also never felt this level of jealousy before in my life. I had nothing with which to compare it to. I knew though that none of this was the child’s fault.
“Have you had anything to eat?”
“I can’t eat, I’m not hungry.”
“If you’re not well you can’t take care of your child. As soon as Gavin gets here I’ll go get you something to eat.”
She didn’t argue with me so I knew she was really worried. Looking at the pitiful state of the little body on the bed I could well imagine how she felt. I’m a grown man and if I get sick my mother still makes a fuss.
Gavin showed up minutes later and I left the room to go see about getting her something to eat. She looked like hell and there was no way I was going to let her make herself sick by not taking care of herself.
After I found what I considered a decent restaurant and ordered her some soup and a salad, which I knew was her favorite lunch staple I headed back.
The doctor was in the room talking to her and my brother when I entered. The child was still asleep and her color was no better than when I’d left.
“Are you the specialist here?” He turned at my question.
“Not a specialist exactly. What she needs is a pulmonologist but the insurance…”
He stopped and looked back at Gia who looked like she was ready to scalp him. “What about the insurance?” I ignored her and stood between the two of them, blocking his view of her.
“Well, since she’s only just started working her insurance doesn’t quite cover.”
“Are you telling me that this child can’t get the proper care because of fucking insurance?”
“Evan…”
“Leave it Gavin.” I don’t think I’d ever heard anything more fucking disgusting in my life. “Fine, who’s the best specialist in the country?”
“That would be Dr. Mark Spencer, but he’s in LA.”
“I’ll be right back.” I left the room and made a call to the one person I knew could get shit done.
“Ma I need a favor. Gia’s baby is in the hospital…” I gave her the particulars and she promised to get back to me as soon as possible.
I went back inside to find her and my brother keeping watch over the child.
“Evan what have you got?”
“Mom is on it.” He relaxed but the room’s other occupant wasn’t looking too pleased.
“What does that mean what have you done?”
“Mom is going to get in touch with the specialist in LA and find out if we have to go to him or if he’ll come here.”