Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 86808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
“Can I get you some coffee?” Marcie asks softly.
I shake my head, turning to smile at her. Leaning over, I kiss her temple. “I’m glad you’re here though.”
“Nowhere else I could possibly be,” she replies.
“Dad,” a croaking voice says, and Marcie and I both whip our heads to Sylvie. Her eyes are open and she sounds groggy. “Where am I?”
I bolt out of my chair and lean over the bed so she can see me more clearly. Marcie stands as well but hangs back a little. I take Sylvie’s hand. “Hey, baby… you’re in the hospital, but you’re going to be okay.”
Her eyes widen with alarm but I stroke her hand, reassuring her quickly. “You’re fine now. They gave you some medicine and you’re going to be just fine.”
That might be a fucking lie for all I know, but seeing the relief on her face makes me feel good about it.
“What happened?” she asks, eyes sliding over to Marcie. She manages a wan smile.
“Hey, sweet girl,” Marcie croons, now stepping up to the bed, shoulder to shoulder with me. “We’re not sure. Your uncle Gabe found you on the floor by your bed and he couldn’t get you to wake up. So he called the ambulance and then called your dad. But the doctors are taking really good care of you.”
“Do they know what’s wrong with me?” she asks.
I shake my head. “We don’t know that anything’s wrong just yet, but they’re going to have some special doctors look at you today.”
Her beautiful green eyes fill with tears. “I’m scared.”
“Oh, honey… I know.” I lift her hand to my mouth, press a kiss there. “But I promise you’re in good hands and I’m not leaving your side. Mamie and Papi are here, as well as Trey, Kat and Wade.” I turn to Marcie. “Do you mind letting them know she’s awake and I’ll come out in a bit to give them an update?”
“Of course,” she replies and then leans over the rail, brushing her lips over Sylvie’s forehead. “Brave girl.”
Sylvie manages a smile and when Marcie’s gone, I pull the chair up closer and sit back down, never relinquishing my hold on her hand.
“I don’t feel sick,” she says, tipping her head to the side and taking in the IV pole. She grimaces as she looks at the tube running down to her inner arm. “How long do I have to stay?”
“Dr. Jacobs said as long as you continue to improve, just one more night. So tomorrow morning. The good news is the CT scan they did yesterday looks good and your blood work so far looks good. It’s a bit of a mystery though. Do you remember anything? Feeling bad last night?”
She shakes her head. “No. We had dinner and then Uncle Gabe and I played Scrabble. He went out and I went to my room and read a book. I felt fine when I went to sleep.”
I give her a wink. “Medical mystery, indeed. I’m just glad you’re doing better.”
Sylvie nods and her gaze slides away from mine as if she’s contemplating something. When she returns her attention to me, she says, “I don’t think I want to do overnights at Lionel and Rosemund’s anymore.”
My hackles rise along with my protective instinct. “Why? Did they do something to make you feel unwelcome?”
“No,” she rushes to assure me. “Not like that. It’s just… they don’t do anything. Lionel is never around and Rosemund barely speaks to me. Uncle Gabe is the only one who spends time with me, but maybe I can just go out to dinner with him or he can come over—”
“You can absolutely go out to dinner with him,” I say quickly, cutting off my need to tell her I don’t want him at our house. Although my feelings are a little muddled right now because he probably saved Sylvie’s life by checking in on her. “But if you don’t want to do overnights with your grandparents, you don’t have to. I want you to have the option of a relationship with them if you want.”
She nods and then tentatively says, “Do you think you can talk to them about it? I’m afraid they’ll get mad at me.”
“Sure thing, kiddo. I’ll talk to Gabe. He’ll understand.”
A nurse walks in holding a saline bag and she smiles at Sylvie. “I’m glad to see you’re awake. I’m going to hang this new bag of fluids and then check your vitals before I let the doctor know you’re up.”
I stand from my chair. “Are you okay if I step out to talk to everyone? I’m going to try to convince them to go home.”
“But you’re coming back?” Sylvie asks.
“Not leaving your side until we walk out of this hospital,” I reiterate.
She grins at me and I release her hand. Just as I’m starting to turn away, she says, “I love you, Dad.”