AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She squeezes my hand and says, “Thank you. You saved my father’s life.”
“You don’t have to thank me. One day soon, you’ll be saving other people’s fathers.”
Director Presley is awake and off the breathing equipment when we arrive. He sees Skylar and smiles from ear to ear. His voice is raspy from the combination of medical equipment and anesthesia, and he whispers, “There’s my girl.”
“Hi, Daddy. You look good,” Skylar tells him as she sits on the edge of the bed and takes his hand.
“I’m sorry I scared you, sweetheart, but I’m going to be okay. Thanks to Scott,” I look up from his chart to see them both smiling in my direction.
“You’re making good progress, Director. Keep it up and you’ll be going home by the end of the week,” I tell him.
“Scott, seriously. Thank you,” he struggles.
“It’s my job, Sir, but I appreciate it. You should try not to talk too much. It's going to irritate your throat. I’ll step outside so the two of you can spend some time alone together.”
He holds up his hand and says, “Wait. I’m sorry that I was so hard on you both. I want my girl to be happy. If you make her happy, I won’t stand in your way.”
Skylar looks at me with tears in her eyes then kisses her father’s cheek.
“I love you, dad,” she tells him.
I slip out into the hall and slide the glass door closed behind me. I never would have expected to earn his approval in this way and frankly, I didn’t need it, but it makes Skylar happy so I’m grateful. I pause to reflect upon the ways that his approval might change our relationship dynamic. When I told her that she’d be mine forever, I meant it.
She comes out of the room shortly after me.
“He’s going to rest now. I think I’ll sit with him while you make your rounds if that’s okay,” she tells me.
“That’s fine. I’ll come back to check on you at lunchtime.”
“You just don’t know how relieved I am. Not only is he going to be alright, but he also approves of us! It’s amazing,” she wraps her arms around my waist and hugs me tightly.
When she returns to the room, I rush to the nurse’s station.
“Your charts are on the left, Doctor Statton,” the charge nurse tells me.
“I don’t want them. Not right now. I have an errand to run, but I’ll be back as soon as I can. If Skylar happens to come looking for me, just tell her that I was called away. Okay?”
“Sure, Doctor. No problem,” she eyes me suspiciously.
It’s spontaneous and a little crazy, but I know what I have to do. Skylar is going to get the surprise of her life.
* * *
My errands take longerthan I anticipated, and it’s almost lunchtime when I return to the hospital. I go to my office to secure the item that I purchased. I place the bag in my desk drawer and lock it. When I look up, David Smith is standing in the doorway.
“You can come in,” I say, wondering what the hell he’s doing here.
“Thanks, I spoke with Skylar last night and told her how sorry I was about the director.”
I feel my pulse quicken at the thought of him speaking to her after I warned him to stay away.
“I also told her that I was sorry for what happened in the hall last week, and I wanted to extend that apology to you as well. I hope that we can make amends and move on from this. I don’t want it to stain our working relationship,” he continues.
“I told you not to speak to Skylar again but you spoke to her last night?” I grit my teeth.
“I just wanted to assure her that her father was in your hands, the best possible hands, and that he was going to be okay. You’re the best there is. Again, I apologize for last week. I was out of line and what I said was inappropriate. Will you accept my apology?”
It takes me some time to calm my breathing but when I do I say, “I appreciate the apology, David. Maybe I overreacted a little, too.”
