Page 119 of Sacrifice
In. Out. In. Out.
I watch her chest rise and fall, listen to her breath move softly through her lungs.
In. Out. In. Out.
My stomach rumbles. I glance at the clock and it’s mid-afternoon. I think I’m hungry. I try to remember the last thing I’ve eaten but can’t recall it.
A banana at breakfast? No, that was yesterday.
Ever moves in her sleep and I jump up, untangling her cords. I don’t want her pulling them out when she’s sleeping.
We’re supposed to be released again today and are just waiting on the paperwork to be done. Sometimes I think that takes longer than anything. We know the procedure by this point. We know the instructions, know when to be back, know who to call, know what she’s supposed to eat, drink, and take and when. It’s routine, just like breathing at this point.
A loud knock hits the door, making me jump. Ever’s eyes flutter open. “Come in?” I say, more of a question than an offer. I’m not sure who it is or why they’re so inconsiderate.
It opens swiftly and two men come in. One is a shorter, dark-haired man. The other is taller with blond hair shaped into a mohawk. They’re smiling wide, like we are old friends, but I have no idea who in the hell they are or why they are here.
“Can I help you? You just woke my daughter up.”
Ever tries to sit up. I grab her under the arm and help her get situated, keeping an eye on the two strange men that I’m sure I don’t know.
“My apologies, Mrs. Gentry,” the dark-headed one says. “My name is Jason Drake. I’m with the NAFL.”
This makes no sense. “Crew isn’t here.”
The larger of the two men laughs and the shorter one shakes his head. “Oh, we know that, Mrs. Gentry.”
“Then why in the world would you be here?”
“Please, relax. If you want us to leave, we’ll be on our way. But I’d appreciate you hearing what we have to say first.”
The blond one crosses his arms in front of his large chest and smiles. I don’t like him. He sets off something inside of me that tells me to keep my distance.
“Make it quick,” I say.
“We’re here because Mr. Davidson has generously offered a donation of his earnings from the fight this weekend for your daughter’s care.”
I take a step back.Why didn’t someone tell me this? Why didn’t Crew mention this?
“We’d like to present you with a check for three thousand dollars on behalf of Team Davidson.”
“Oh,” I say, obviously caught off guard. “I . . . um . . . I had no idea. Thank you.”
“You are so welcome.”
“Why didn’t Crew mention this?” I ask. Ever reaches for my hand and I squeeze it. I’m trying not to show that I’m thrown off for her sake, but she’s so attentive, just like Gage was, that I know she reads through my facade.
“I’m not sure,” Jason says. “We’re contracted with Davidson, not Crew. I’m not really sure how much the NAFL communicates with your . . . well, whatever he may be to you.”
“He’s my daddy,” Ever says quietly.
The smile on the blond’s face grows wider.
“That’s nice,” Jason says, smiling halfheartedly at my daughter. He hands me a check for exactly three thousand dollars.
My hands shake as I look at it. “Thank you,” I say, not sure what else to say. My cheeks heat under the gaze of the blond and I’m embarrassed, completely put on the spot. “I wish I would’ve known. I feel so unprepared.”
“You had nothing to prepare for. It’s just a kind gesture aimed at making your hardship a touch easier. An act of charity, if you will.”
