For what seemed like the first time in two days, Sean took a deep breath.
He heard her before he saw her. When he turned, Noelle stood at the door with her hands over her mouth, watching as Raine drank the juice. The child’s eyes lit up when she saw her.
“Miss Noelle,” she whispered and smiled. “When did you get here?”
“Miss Noelle has been here with Daddy the whole time, sweetie. I practically had to force her go to the cafeteria to eat, to keep her from withering away.”
“You’re teasing me, aren’t you, Daddy?”
“Wow, I am so happy to see you’re feeling better.” Noelle joined Sean at her bedside. “Daddy and I have been worried about you. You’ve been a sick little girl.”
An attendant wheeled in a tray with a covered plate and carton of juice and placed it on the larger bedside tray.
“Yippee!” Raine said as the attendant removed the cover and exposed meatloaf and potatoes, along with veggies and a small slice of cake. As she forked the first bite, the door opened again.
“Well, well, young lady, you sure look like you feel better. Do you remember me? I’m Doctor Wells.” The doctor looked spent. He wore no costume.
Raine shook her head, more interested in her food than anything else at the moment. The doctor took a moment and examined each side of her neck, under her arm and the inside of her legs. None of the poking and prodding fazed Raine. She continued to eat all through the short examination.
“Let’s leave this little lady to chow down for a few minutes while I talk with Mom—Daddy and Doctor Victor.”
Raine nodded and took another big bite of mashed potatoes.
Outside, the doctor directed them to the same small waiting room, several doors down. He motioned for them to take a seat, and at that moment, Sean’s heart sank. The doctor sat, wearing a weary expression. For a moment the doctor focused on the clipboard, flipping back and forth between documents.
Noelle must have sensed the dread also. She grabbed Sean’s hand and squeezed it.
“I’m afraid the news is not as good as we had hoped.” The doctor licked his lips and swallowed. “Although the tests are not totally conclusive, and I want to stress that—they are not conclusive—the initial indication is of a viral nature, and to an extent, unfortunately points to lymphoma as a possible diagnosis.”
The doctor continued to talk, but Sean could not get past the first statement. His mind raced and began playing tricks on him. Was the spot on the carpet a soda stain, or coffee? Could be grape juice. Hard to tell. The doctor continued to talk, but Sean couldn’t put the words together coherently. You would think a hospital as good as this one would not allow that spot to remain for very long, wouldn’t you? It was sad, actually, and a tear dropped, joining the stain, darkening it for a moment, before soaking in and disappearing.
“Mr. Sampson?”
Noelle was plastered to his side, her head leaning against his shoulder. When he looked at her, she smiled, but her lips trembled. He needed to assure her he would mention the stain to the staff and get it cleaned up. Nothing to cry about, certainly. Was there?
“Mr. Sampson?” The doctor stood and moved closer to him. He touched his arm. “Sir, did you understand what I said about the treatment?”
“No—no, I’m sorry. What did you say?”
“Mr. Sampson, there are excellent new, tested, and proven treatments available that are both effective and have shown very few side effects, especially in cases like your daughter’s, having been diagnosed very early. And as I related, because the diagnosis is not conclusive, we would like to conduct a few more tests over the next few days to get a clearer picture of what is going on with her. Please understand your daughter’s profile is not a perfect match for the suspected diagnosis. As I said, at this point we have to assume lymphoma is what we are faced with. But either it is very, very early in its stage—which in itself is good—or we could and let me emphasize could be dealing with something other than our suspected diagnosis.”
“Are you saying there’s a possibility it might not be lymphoma?” Noelle formed the words before he could voice them.
“I realize this is very confusing. Quite honestly, it’s not totally clear to us either. I don’t want to give you any false hopes. But yes, that is correct. It might possibly be something else. However, the possibilities we are correct about the initial diagnosis are high at this point. That’s why we have to continue to do a few tests in the next few days. The other good news is, if your daughter continues to improve, you can take her home. Her fever has broken and that’s good, but I must warn you it could come back. And the intensity of the fever could be lesser or greater than the last couple of days. While we are doing the tests, we need to watch her for another forty-eight hours. If the fever doesn’t come back, then we can release her.”
“And if the additional tests confirm the diagnosis?” Sean could barely get the question out.
“Well, she can go home either way. If we confirm the diagnosis, she can begin treatment at a hospital near home. And Children’s Heart Hospital in Pensacola, I can tell you, is one of the best for this type of treatment.”
There was silence as Sean thought through all he had heard. Many questions raced through his mind, but he still wasn’t thinking clearly.
“I know this is a lot to throw at you two. I want you to know I am available twenty-four seven for any questions you might have, beginning right now, if you want.”
Noelle forced a smile at Sean. He turned to the doctor.
“Thank you, Doctor. I think I would like to speak with Noelle for a few moments. I know I’ll have questions later.”
The doctor produced a card from his pocket and wrote on it. “This is my card. I’ve written my cell phone number on it. Call me any time. If I don’t answer right away, I’m probably in surgery or with another patient. But leave a message, and I’ll call you back as quickly as I can.”
“Thank you.” Those were all the words Sean could muster at the moment.
He had to pull himself together. His daughter needed him now, and he wasn’t going to flake out on her. Remember, if the tests do confirm lymphoma, according to the doctor, her prospects are very good. That mantra went through his head. He had to get his smile back before stepping into her room. Raine must never sense the torment he felt. She was feeling much better now, and they would celebrate that. The mindset had to be that she had something else less threatening, and more tests would prove it.
When they returned to the room, Raine greeted them with a belch. She had pushed the tray away and lay against the elevated head of the bed.
The burp garnered a big smile as she slapped her free hand over her mouth. “Excuse me.”
“Well, that must have been good,” Noelle said. The plate was shiny clean. “Who said hospital food isn’t good, huh?”
“I’m still hungry, though.”
“Uh-huh. I think we better wait before putting anything else in that tummy,” he said and sat on the edge of the bed. “Let’s make sure that little tummy is ready for all that food. But I’m glad you’re feeling better.”
“The nurse said my fever is almost gone. When can we go home, Daddy?”
Sean glanced toward Noelle before answering. She had plastered a smile on her face.
“Sweetie, they want to keep you for another day or so, to make sure your fever doesn’t come back. Then we can go home.”
She thought about this for a moment and then looked first at Noelle, then back to him. “I don’t have what they think I have.”
The blood drained from Sean’s face, and he gripped the side of the bed, glad for the support.
“What do you mean, sweetie?” Noelle touched his hand. For a moment, he fought back a lump, overwhelmed by his love for both these ladies. He shot Noelle a relieved glance that she had asked the question, for he was unable to utter as much as a word at the moment.
“The bad thing,” Raine murmured and looked down at the sheet covering her.
With her free hand, she took her index finger and moved it across the smooth white sheet, as if spelling a word. “They think I have the bad thing, but I don’t.”
“What bad thing, sweetie?” Noelle continued to take the lead.
“The limp-oh-my?” She carefully and slowly pronounced the words. “Or however you say it.”
In spite of the lump in his throat, Sean smiled. “Who told you that’s what you have?” he asked.
“Nobody.”
“Then sweetie, why would you say that?”
“I just know I don’t have that.” Her face cleared. “The Castle Man told me.”
His pulse quickened. He squeezed both of their hands and smiled. “That ol’ Castle Man. He won’t go away, will he, sweetie?”
“He’s not a bad man, Daddy.” Raine frowned but seemed confused. “I mean, I don’t think so. At least not all bad.”
The little girl shook her head, as if trying to summon clarity.
“I don’t know,” she said and continued fiddling with the sheet. “Sometimes he’s bad, and sometimes he’s not so bad. It’s like he’s two people.”
“Now I’m confused.” Noelle shook her head. “Am I missing something here?”
“She dreams about the Castle Man, right, sweetie?”
“I don’t know.”
“Is he your imaginary friend?” Noelle asked.
“He’s not imaginary, Miss Noelle.” Raine pointed to her own chest. “He’s right here.”
“You’re the Castle Man?” He couldn’t hide his shock.
“No, Daddy,” she replied, sparing them a duh. She pointed once again to herself. “He’s right here, inside me. At least I think he is.”
Sean was inclined to touch her forehead, afraid the fever had returned. Instead, he smiled and squeezed her hand. He searched Noelle’s face for clues to the interpretation of his daughter’s strange comments. “Maybe we can talk about this again, some other time. What do you think, Miss Noelle?”
“I think that sounds like a good idea. But do you know what sounds like a better idea to me?”
“What?” Raine asked, with anticipation in her smile.
“Ice cream.” Noelle smiled.
“Yippee!”
“Only if the doctor says it’s okay,” Sean added.
“Okay.”
He retrieved the button and handed it to Raine. “Would you like to press the button?”
Without hesitation, she did.
Chapter Twenty
Noelle left for a shower and a change of clothes. Sean insisted she sleep at the hotel and relieve him in the morning. As a compromise, he agreed to do the same the following night. Soon after she left, a nurse and assistant entered the room.
“Hello, little girl,” the nurse said, approaching her bed. She turned toward Sean. “Daddy, you might want to help here. We need to get a biopsy of your Miss Raine’s bumpy node.” She turned and smiled at Raine. “Sweetie, this might pinch a little bit, but I promise it won’t last long.”
Sean made his way to the other side of the bed. “Why don’t you tell this nice lady how you helped me sail our big boat? I’ll bet she wouldn’t believe you are such a sailor.”
Raine began a step-by-step dissertation about preparing for and sailing a boat. Sean was amazed at how she had memorized the entire routine after only a few times out on the water. Her voice faltered occasionally as the nurse and assistant worked, and tears filled her eyes, but she remained strong. Sean tried to draw from her strength. Soon, the procedure was done.
The nurse pressed a piece of tape over the bandage she had positioned under Raine’s arm. “That wasn’t too bad, now was it, Dad?”
Like hell. He smiled and moved a strand of hair from Raine’s face. It was red and hot.
The fever was back.
With a vengeance.
He glanced toward the nurse.
She nodded. “I’ll let your floor nurse know this little one needs something more for the fever.”
The nurse and assistant were gone before Sean could answer.
Afterward, Raine ate a light dinner and fell asleep. An hour later, she was tossing and turning.
What was he going to do now? With every move she made, he flinched. Every fiber of his body tensed. How long could she maintain such a fever without some sort of damage? He walked quietly to the call button. Sean met the nurse at the door and asked her to step outside.
“I’m worried about this fever,” he said without waiting for a greeting. “She’s had so much in the last days; could it cause some other problems?”
The nurse smiled. Sean failed to see the humor. His expression must have shown his irritation, and the nurse touched his shoulder. “Mr. Sampson, children can tolerate a great deal more and much higher fever than adults. She may have this fever for a long period without worry of permanent damage. We’ll make sure she has all the treatment we can possibly administer. Her body will eventually fight it off. Your daughter is a very strong young lady.”
The reassuring words did little to help Sean’s apprehension. He stood looking at the tile floor, trying to find strength to accept the situation and to believe the nurse was right.
“Mr. Sampson, let me talk with the doctor and we’ll do everything we can to step up the treatment. I’m sure your daughter will come through all this and be fine.”
“Thanks,” Sean said and forced a smile. The nurse stepped to the station and picked up the phone. Sean moved back into the room. He was exhausted. He fought sleep as the activity in and out of the room picked up.
With the return of the fever came another round of IV treatment and cold blankets. Even so, her fever refused to loosen its grip. Most of the night, her temperature hovered around 104 before elevating to 104.5 for a short but tense period. By four in the morning, the fever had dropped to around 102. She slept easier. Sean could barely keep his eyes open. He resolved to close them for a few moments to rest.
****
It was time to make a move. Over the past two days, James had watched the change of command. Three agents alternated eight-hour shifts. He figured the one with the least seniority—and hopefully least experience—would have the midnight to eight shift. Fortunately for James, this agent was also the smallest. Make no mistake, he was probably trained well, so he had to be on his toes to take him out. James’s years in the Corps and combat experience in the Middle East would give him the edge. He’d teach them for dishonorably discharging him. He doubted this kid agent had served in any of the armed forces. Besides, at that late hour, it would be easier to accomplish his mission of clearing the way to the kid.
He timed the “accident” perfectly. The agent went for coffee, and when he turned the corner to the waiting room, James made his move, bumping the guy and making sure the hot coffee spilled on the agent’s shirt.
“Jeez.” The agent stumbled backwards. James grabbed his arm and prevented his fall.
“Oh, man,” James said in his most polite tone. “I am so sorry. I should’ve been watching where I was going.”
The man surveyed him. “Forget it. No harm done.”
“I was looking for my aunt. She was supposed to be here doing the night shift for my nephew. He was in an accident.”
“Sorry to hear that, man.” The agent threw the empty cup in a can.
The waiting room was empty, so James knew the agent might fall for the next part of the plan, but only if he left.
“Anyway, sorry again, man. I’m double parked, so I’ve gotta split.”
James made his way to the elevator and pushed the button. The agent watched him get in. The door closed. He punched the floor below and waited. In a moment, the elevator reached its destination. James quickly punched the button to close the door and hit the button to return to the floor above. If the agent was still there, he would feign looking for his keys, which he had placed under a chair in the waiting room.
The door opened. He walked the short distance to the waiting room to find it empty, as he had hope
d. He quickly retrieved his keys and made his way to the men’s restroom, quietly pushing open the door. He glanced around the corner toward the stalls and sinks. As he suspected, the agent was standing at the sink, cleaning the coffee from his shirt. When he was done, he made his way toward the door.
The agent never knew what hit him. James jabbed the knife in the center of his chest and then twisted it. James watched with pleasure as the life drained from the young man’s eyes.
He grabbed a stack of paper towels and stuffed them against the puncture wound. He dragged the agent’s body into the far stall and propped him on the toilet and against the wall. He quickly latched the stall door and slid under it.
No more agent. No one else in his way.
The little girl was next.
****
“Hey, mister.”
Her words brought a smile to his face.
Like father, like daughter.
Noelle found it amazing he could, in every situation, continue to exceed any expectation she could possibly have for a man. For four days, he had given no thought to himself. His slim physique was thinner now, but he still looked all man, strong and sleek. Most people would be banned from public after four days of no showering or shaving, but it only made him look sexier. Although she would have thought it impossible, his cologne still lingered, counteracting some of the working-man scent. Instead of being repulsed, she found it quite erotic. There he sat, sprawled in a chair not nearly the size his tall frame required, wild-haired, unshaven, and causing her heart to fill with desire. Under different circumstances, she’d lead him to the nearest bed.
“Hey, big guy.”
He stirred, changed position, and dropped away again. She laughed. His eyes opened, and he smiled at her. He mumbled something, glanced at the bed where Raine slept peacefully, before he turned back and reached out for her. As he touched her hand, a jolt shot through her. Funny how a long bath, a glass of wine, and a few hours of sleep helped to refresh the desire she had for him. Was it that or his primal scent?
Time for Raine Page 23
