Page 11 of More Than a Little Spark

After two minutes, I pick up my shaver.Giving this a second thought is stupid.Daphne isn’t interested.It doesn’t matter a lick if I have a mustache or a squirrel’s tail on my face.

I trim the mustache, then shave clean.

After getting dressed, I check my phone, wondering if Daphne has messaged about anything else she might need.There are always horror stories about hospital food, so maybe I should take her breakfast.

But what if they have her on a special diet of some sort?Why didn’t I get her number?

I drive through the ranch out to the main road, and just before I turn, a message pops up.So I stop.

Rose:Hi, Dallas gave me your number.Daphne’s phone died just after you left yesterday.I’m sorry to text so early, but she said you were bringing a charger up to the hospital.If not, that’s fine.I can run and get one for her.

Me:I’m just leaving the ranch to head that way.Any restrictions on what she can eat?

Rose:No.And if you bring her coffee, we’d all appreciate it.Lots of cream and sugar.The coffee at the hospital leaves a lot to be desired.

Me:I’ll do that.Be there soon.

I stop by Sweets on the way through Stadtburg.Then armed with donuts and three cups of coffee, I drive to the hospital.The charger and brick are sitting in the passenger seat.I swung by an open-all-night truck stop late last night and bought them.

At the hospital, I walk to the information desk, my arms loaded with the goodies I’m taking up to Daphne’s room.

The older lady who is manning the desk smiles.“Hi, how can I help you?”

“I just need a quick place to set some stuff down so that I can text to get the room number.”

She taps on the keyboard in front of her.“I can look it up.What’s the patient’s name?”

“Daphne.”I’m not going to convince anyone that I’m a boyfriend or even a casual friend since I don’t even know her last name.So I send off a text to Rose, asking for the room number.

The older woman blinks, still waiting.“I need a last name for the search.”

“I don’t know her last name.We only met last night.”My helpful commentary is only confusing this woman.“I’m not the reason she’s in the hospital.I didn’t do anything to her.She was in an accident, and I stopped to help her.”

She smiles.“That’s nice of you.But you should text that friend and find out the room number because without a last name, I can’t search.”

I hold up the phone.“She just sent it.Thanks for your help.”With everything balanced just so, I head to the elevators, hoping someone will be there to push the buttons.Otherwise, I’ll be using my nose.

Thankfully, someone is stepping in as I walk up.And I have no trouble making it to Daphne’s room.

The door to the room is ajar, so I tap it with my foot and call out, “Good morning.Is it okay to come in?”

“Yes!”Daphne smiles.“Hi.”

I set the coffees down before they end up on the floor, then hand her the box from Sweets.“The donut shop is kind of a zoo on Sunday mornings.”

“I can imagine.It’s so sweet of you to bring these.”She grins and points to the label on the box.“I’ve heard Dallas talking about how good these are.And it was so nice of you to bring coffee.Even one for the nurse.She’s going to love you.”

I glance around the room.“I actually got it because I thought Rose was here.But it can go to whoever wants it.”

“I sent Rose home last night after they moved me in here.She and Dallas both have tons of work to do.So I really appreciate you coming up here.”She opens the box and holds it out.“Take your pick.”

Instead of confidently choosing what I like, I say, “I will stare at the box for an hour, unable to make a choice for fear that I’d be taking the one you want most.And I’m a little hungry, so if you’d just choose your favorite, I’d appreciate that greatly.”

She picks up a chocolate-covered crème-filled donut.“These are my favorite.”

“Awesome.”I choose the one covered in cinnamon sugar and hold it over my coffee cup as I take a bite.“Oh, let me get that charger plugged in so you can start charging your phone.Rose said it was dead.”

Daphne watches as I find a place to plug in the brick and connect the cord to her phone.“We were headed to the same party, weren’t we?”

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