Page 24 of Take Me to the Valley

“Calista is texting that they just pulled into the parking lot,” Cody says.

I've been running this over in my head a million different ways, and my nerves are in full force as my nurse caps off my IV andturns off the monitors in my room. The goal is to make it a little less scary for Skye.

A few minutes later, she walks into the room, clinging to Calista's hand.

“Daddy!” Skye yells and takes off at a run, slipping from Calista’s hand.

Thankfully, Cody catches Skye right before she launches herself on the bed.

We spaced out my pain meds, so I'd be alert, but I'm definitely ready for my next dose.

“You have to be careful of Daddy's shoulder,” Cody says, pointing to my shoulder, where my arm is in a sling.

“Does it hurt Daddy?” Skye asks.

“Yes, but it's healing and will soon be back to normal,” I tell her.

When Cody gently sets Skye on my bed, she lies down and rests her head on my good shoulder, and I wrap my arm around her.

“Are you having fun with Calista?” “Yes. She does my hair every day,” she says.

“How would you feel if she came and stayed with us for a bit after I got out of the hospital?” I ask.

“I'd like that. Why, though?” she asks.

“I'm going to need help, and Calista is a nurse. She will be able to help me until my shoulder heals.”

“When are you coming home?”

“Hopefully, tomorrow. I am waiting on one more doctor to say it's okay.”

Skye settles in and cuddles while Calista fills me in on some of the papers that have come home from school, and other things I should know about. Mentally, I make a note to add her to Skye's pickup list, at least while she is staying with me.

“Alright, I can't put it off any longer. I need to hook your IV back up,” the nurse says, coming in a while later.

Cody picks up Skye, who watches everything the nurse does to hook my IV back up.

“I want to go home,” Skye says once everything is hooked back up. Her voice is shaky and a little teary.

This is what I was worried about. I didn’t want Skye to be scared or worried. I say goodbye, and Calista follows Skye, who is pulling her out of the room.

“We should have had her leave before the IV was hooked up,” Cody says.

I just nod because all I can think about is how Skye went to Calista for comfort and how much they are bonding. It has to be because Calista is a female, and Skye doesn’t have many women in her life. That must be the reason she is clinging to Calista. Right?

Chapter 12

Calista

Evan is coming home today. He got the okay early this morning. Mom had a doctor's appointment, so Cody is back in Whiskey River to pick up Skye, take her for a treat at the bakery, and keep her entertained until we get Evan settled at home.

That leaves me to go pick him up and get him home. To make it easier for Evan, I decided to bring my car. That way, he doesn't have to climb into Cody's truck. I have a bag that Dad packed of Evan’s clothes and other items, so at least he’ll be able to change into comfy clothes for the ride home. Yesterday when Cody finally left the hospital, he brought home the flowers and get-well cards, so I don’t have to worry about them.

When I walk into his room with his bag in hand, it looks bare from the other day when I was here with Skye.

“I’ve got some clothes for you that should be easy to get into. I can help you get dressed, but I completely understand if you'd rather have your nurse help,” I say.

He pauses and looks out the door and then back at me.

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