Left Hanging

by Cindy Dorminy

  His laughter rumbles through his chest. “You got it.”

  Theo and I are finally admitted into Stella’s room, and we sit on her bed, obsessing over her. Her face isn’t sweaty, and her cheeks aren’t blazing hot anymore. And that damn tube is gone from her mouth. Theo cannot wipe the proud-papa grin off his face. He holds my hand and Stella’s and prays over us. He blesses our little family and thanks God for everything.

  Dr. Michaels comes into the room. He’s beaming also. He has become so attached to Stella that he feels like one of the family now. “She came through the operation splendidly. We closed up her incisions. Her cultures are all negative. I think she’s turned a corner.”

  He looks at Stella. “How do you feel?”

  “My throat hurts,” she says hoarsely.

  “Yes, that mean old tube scratched your throat. Ice chips will help. And soon, you can have ice cream.”

  He focuses his attention on us. “I want to keep her a few more days, but I think she’s ready to taper off the steroids and start on oral antibiotics. As long as her leg appears free of infection and she doesn’t spike a fever, she may get to go to a regular room for a couple of days then go home.”

  I grin at Stella. “Did you hear that? You might get to go home soon.”

  Stella smiles sleepily.

  I stand and hug Theo. He kisses me sweetly on the lips. Stella giggles.

  I hug the doctor. “Thank you so much.”

  “I’m only doing my job. I love it when it works out well.” His eyes brim with tears when he pats Theo on the shoulder. “You two seem like a couple now.”

  Theo shrugs and pulls up the sweatshirt he’s wearing. He glances down at his waist then gets an oh shit expression on his face. “I, uh… I guess I lost my big-girl panties.”

  I cover my face. My ears are flaming as I remember the yelp he let out when he zipped up his jeans without first putting his underwear back on. I cannot believe he said that in front of Dr. Michaels and Stella.

  “Mommy, do his panties have Sleeping Beauty on them?”

  “No! I mean, I don’t know. I, er, probably not.”

  Dr. Michaels chuckles. “Ah, big-girl panties, huh?”

  Theo giggles like a little girl. “Took me long enough, but I finally put them on.”

  Dr. Michaels leans in to Theo. “My wife makes me wear mine every day.” He fist-bumps Theo and hugs me. “I’ll give you some time with Stella, but not long because she needs to rest.”

  After he leaves, Theo and I are all over her again, showering her with lots of hugs and kisses. Her giggles are music to my ears.

  “I’m so glad you’re feeling better. I’ve missed you so much.”

  “I missed you too, Mommy.”

  She touches Theo’s face. “I got a dimple just like you.”

  He beams with pride.

  “Can you roll your tongue?” she asks him.

  He rolls his tongue.

  She giggles. “Mommy can’t do that.” Her poor voice is almost completely gone.

  Theo holds her face in his hands. “Did you know that my mommy’s name is Stella too?”

  “Really?” Her eyes are so heavy that she can hardly keep them open.

  “Yep. That’s your grandmother.”

  That woke her up. Her eyes grow big, and she fist-bumps him. “Yes!”

  I tickle her. “You’re a mess.”

  “Daddy, can I ask you for something?” Her voice is so raspy, I can hardly make out her words.

  I think Theo is a big puddle on the floor. He heard his daughter call him “daddy” for the first time. His face glows, and his eyes well up with tears. He wears a perma-smile. “You can have anything you want, Stella Bella.”

  She motions for him to come closer. He leans down, and she cups her little hands around his ear to whisper to him. Clearly, this is a conversation not meant for me.

  He gets an “oh my God” face. “Really?”

  She nods ferociously.

  A pink blush creeps over his face, and he giggles like a ten-year-old girl. “Okay, if you’re sure. I’ll see what I can do.”

  Oh dear, no telling what she wants. After all she’s been through, I might have to find room in my budget to get her a pony.

  He smiles at me. “She wants a sister.”

  In every game, there are winners and losers. But love is more than a game, and if played right, everyone wins. I know the three of us did.

  Dear Reader,

  We hope you enjoyed Left Hanging by Cindy Dorminy. Please consider leaving a review on your favorite book site.

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  Acknowledgments

  Thanks to Kristen House (A Novel Idea) for being beside me from the beginning of this project. I’ll never be able to thank you enough.

  To Jymie, my favorite writer buddy. You are awesome.

  To Kelly Ann Hopkins for your help with back cover content.

  To the #ameditingcrew – hugs.

  To David Buynitzky for your unique vocabulary.

  To Keith Franklin a/k/a Isaac

  To the entire Red Adept family, in particular:

  Lynne McNamee – thanks for believing in this story and in me.

  Erica Lucke Dean – you are the best mentor ever.

  Alyssa Hall & Neila Forssburg – my awesome editors. I learned so much from you, and I hope I taught you a few southern phrases along the journey.

  Jessica Anderegg & Streetlight Graphics – you nailed the cover design.

  To Daisy Mae – the best canine writing partner ever.

  To Mark and Maddie – thanks for putting up with me. You might finally get a home-cooked meal. (Don’t count on it). I love you.

  About the Author

  After several decades of writing medical research documents, Cindy Dorminy decided to switch gears and become an author. She wanted to write stories where the chances of happy endings are 100% and the side effects include satisfied sighs, permanent smiles, and a chuckle or two.

  Cindy was born in Texas and raised in Georgia. She enjoys gardening, reading, and bodybuilding. She can often be overheard quoting lines from her favorite movies. But her favorite pastime is spending time with Mark, her bass-playing husband, and Maddie Rose, the coolest girl on the planet. She also loves her fur child, Daisy Mae. She currently resides in Nashville, TN, where live music can be heard everywhere, even at the grocery store.