Page 6 of B-Side

Chapter 3

I didn't look at Alec.

Finally, after a few seconds of silence, I turned to glance at him. He was staring at me, and I grinned at the sight of the mask he was wearing.

"That mask is so funny," I said. "And what's her name?"

"Who's name?"

"David's new wife?"

"Stevie."

"Cool name," I said, nodding. We had already shared some silence, and I didn't know what else to say. Then I turned. "Oh, hey there, Isabel, what happened? What's the matter, sweetie?" I caught sight of the little girl hobbling around the corner of the tent, looking like she was about to fall over. Her mother was right behind her, winking dramatically. It was obvious that Isabel was faking it now that I saw her mom winking at me.

"Oh, goodness, Isabel, what's the matter? What happened?"

"It's a really bad sprain," she said.

Alec was still sitting in a chair, and Isabel hobbled to him and sat on his lap like he was her own grandfather. He caught her and adjusted her on his knee, making a questioning expression as he did it.

"I'm so sorry," Isabel's mother said. "Isabel, get off that man's lap!"

"It's fine with me. I was just making sure you didn't care," he said to her mother.

"Oh, no, I don't mind. You look just like her Poppy, my husband's dad. That's why she went to you so easy."

"I don't mind at all," Alec said, in a little bit of a southern drawl.

I made a face at him where the girls couldn't see. "Okay, Miss Isabel, if you sprained your ankle I might have to wrap it." I carefully picked up her foot. "Is it this one?"

She nodded, smiling and looking at me like she was about to burst.

"I'm going to wrap it up here and leave your shoe on, okay? If it hurts, just tell me." I gave her ankle a gentle twist, making a slow back-and-forth motion. "Yep, it's a sprain, probably," I said. "You'll have to wear a little wrap until it feels better, okay?"

She grinned excitedly, and I went to work doing the same thing on Isabel that I had done on Alec. I wasted as little gauze as possible while still playing along. I wrapped her tiny ankle and then added a piece of tape to hold it.

"There you go," I said. "But take it easy. No doing races or the bounce house until you feel all better. I think that could happen today, though. So, as soon as it feels better, just tell your mom, and she can help you get your wrap off."

Isabel stared so dazedly that I wondered if she had heard me. I had never seen a kid so spaced out. "It feels better," Isabel said suddenly. "Can I have it off? It feels better now. Yep, it feels all better now."

"You certainly can," I said, stifling a smile. "Do you want to take it off right now, while you're still in the tent?"

She nodded, looking a little shocked, so I reached down and unwrapped her ankle. She had been sitting on Alec's lap this whole time, and I took a hold of her and set her to her feet once I was done.

I smiled as I patted her little shoulder. "Honestly, one of the most miraculous recoveries I've ever seen."

"I'm sorry, Miss Bailey," her mother said. "I told her this was a real nurse's tent, but she wanted to come in and see you."

"Oh, that's okay, I don't mind a few pretend ankle sprains. I'm a pro at those. I had another pretend patient earlier today." I smiled at Isabel and she grinned back and looked relieved as she hugged her mom's leg.

"Thank you, Miss Bailey," her mom said again.

"You're welcome, I'm glad you came to see me. Have fun at the picnic!"

"Two fakes in a row," Alec said as soon as they walked out of the tent.

I smiled and gave him a little shrug.

---