Page 285 of Under Her Skin
“Me?” I ask, then lace my fingers behind my head and lay my head on them as I look up. Pops invasion into my dreams hasn’t slowed down one bit. His words are getting easier to recall when I wake up. Some of them are making an appearance in my memory with Kent’s suggestion.What if that wasyou?
“You don’t even use the things you place on your stores' shelves, Blaine,” Kate tells me, then takes abite.
“I can afford better,” I say as I look at her. “I work hard to get what Ihave.”
“So does everyone else, Blaine,” Kent says, and his words hithome.
“You know, I need to say something to you both. I don’t think I’ve ever told you before. I am proud of you two. I know you both work really hard. Maybe even harder now that you’ve taken consultant positions with my company. I just wanted you to knowthat.”
The looks they give me make my heart pump a little faster.This being nice thing really isgreat!
Chapter2
DELANEY
“Do you like the green jello better than the red?” I ask a very tired and terrible-feeling thirteen-year-old girl who’s just come back from her daily chemotreatment.
The dark shadows beneath her pale-blue eyes show me just how tired she really is, and it breaks my heart. I’m trying my best to get her interested in anything. When people space out the way she has been doing for the last week, it means they’re thinking about giving up thefight.
“I don’t care,” she mumbles as I tuck the blanket in aroundher.
“I’ll bring you some of each. I made them into jiggly Thanksgiving figures—turkeys, pumpkins, and cornucopias. I’ll bring you one of each,” I say as I plump her pillow, then lay her back down. “What do you think about that,Tammy?”
“I think I’d like to be leftalone.”
The poor girl only has her mother for support, and I’m afraid that’s just not cutting it. She is the first person on my list if a good-looking celebrity decides to come in andvisit.
Since the last of her hair fell out, she’s been a shell of her former self. So I decide I’m going to go find her a wig that looks like the hair she used to have and bring it to her this afternoon. Maybe that will perk herup.
“I’ll let you take a nap, then I’ll be back at lunch time with a surprise for you,Tammy.”
“Why?” she asks with a blandtone.
“Because I love you. You’re my most favorite patient. You’re nice and quiet. I really think you just need something to look forward to. So I’m going to surprise you everyday.”
Just as I turn off the overhead light so she can sleep, I hear her whisper, “I just want mymom.”
Her mother has been so busy working—trying hard to make enough money to pay her ever-growing hospital bills—that she’s had very little time to spend withTammy.
“I know, baby,” I whisper, then leave with a heavy heart. I wish like hell there was something I could do to helpher.
I have to wipe a tear that’s managed to escape me as I walk down the hall toward the nurses’ station to see who’s next on the list for me. “Use me where you need me the most.” I hear a familiar man’svoice.
When I go around the corner, I see him. “You!”
“Hey, you!” Blaine Vanderbilt greets me with a huge smile. He has on dark-brown scrubs, like he’s a nurse or doctor or some shit, and a pilgrim hat. I don’t know how he’s managing to still look so damn handsome in that stupid hat, but he’s pulling itoff.
His hand moves with ease to the small of my back as he moves us away from the nurses’ desk. “What are youdoing?”
He looks at the charge nurse over his broad shoulder. “I’ll follow her aroundtoday.”
“No, he won’t!” I say and try to stop, but his hand moves around to hold my elbow, and somehow, he manages to keep memoving.
“Room 536 is next, Delaney. And stop being so hard to get along with. Mr. Vanderbilt is here to make the kids happy. Put your happy face on, Nurse Richards. It’s about the kids, not you!” Sheila, my boss, tellsme.
“Yes, it’s about the kids, Delaney,” he says with a low voice that’s creamy and rich. “Not you. Now I know where you’ve been hiding from me. I’ve missed you as I’ve visited Sammy and his family every day. He’s doing much better, youknow.”
“I do know. I’ve asked about him. And I heard that you ask where I am every day. How did you find me here? Who is the rat who told onme?”
