Page 17 of Trading Yesterday

I was already on my way to my purse sitting on the ledge by the window to pull out my iPhone when Remi’s shaky voice said, “Mommy, get the music.” Chase was close; watching me and once again our eyes met before I turned back to our daughter.

I showed her my phone by lifting it up and wagging it at her, I forced a happy smiled. “Got it, honey bun.”

I walked to the bed, and called up a Justin Timberlake song she liked from “Trolls” and then scooted on and pulled her back against my chest. I wrapped both of my arms around her little body and held on tight as the music began.

Remi hated getting her blood drawn and she’d been in the hospital often enough that all of the nurses on the pediatric oncology floor knew our routine when she had to have any procedures involving needles. The young girl who was now in the room wasn’t any different. I felt guilty that I couldn’t remember her name when she started bouncing to the music and humming along. Remi and I started singing along as her arm was sterilized, the piece of rubber was tied around and a vial of blood was quickly drawn. Remi’s face grimaced but we both kept on singing, pushing through it as we’d learned to do.

Chase watched us intently. He wore a gentle and understanding smile on his face and hope began to bloom inside my heart that maybe, he might at least try to understand that at the time I hid Remi from him, it was a huge sacrifice for me. And just maybe, he’d let me tell him what really happened.

“You’re so brave, little one. I’ve always hated these things,” he murmured, walking close so he could cup her head.

She pursed her lips and nodded, looking up at him. “Yeah, they hurt, but when Mommy sings with me, it helps a lot.”

“Yes, I can see that. Smart Mommy.” His thumb brushed her cheek then her chin before his eyes moved up to my face. “Good job.”

I still held Remi against me and she leaned her weight back, to snuggle into my arms. I rubbed the arm that just got poked and lifted her little hand up to kiss it. “Let’s order dinner for you, then you’ll need to rest, sweet pea.”

The rest of the evening consisted of watchingFrozenon my laptop while Remi had her dinner. Her nose wrinkled distastefully at the bland burger and limp fries. “Yucky.” She said, pushing at her tray.

Chase, who was sitting on the chair again, holding the laptop so she could see it, leaned forward and grabbed the hamburger, taking a big, exaggerated bite designed to encourage Remi to follow suit, but his face crumpled and he balked. “Gross,” he agreed. I shot him a look, silently pleading that he not make the situation worse. His brow furrowed and then he scoffed. “Ugh, no wonder. Have you tasted this sh— uh, thing? She’s not on a restricted diet, is she? This is awful!”

My eyes widened at him as Remi’s face lit up in delight. “See! I told you, Mommy. It’s waffle!”

We all laughed out loud and I rejoiced in my baby’s tinkling laughter and the brilliant sparkle in Chase’s green eyes. He loved her already. I could see it and I was never more grateful for anything in my life.

“If only it was a waffle,” Chase said wryly. “There’d be syrup.”

Remi had quickly taken to Chase, and the natural way they were with each other made my heart sing. His agreement that the hospital food sucked wasn’t going to help my cause to get her to eat, but he was amazing with her. After everything, and the way he found out, it was more than I could hope for.

“So, Mommy,” Chase’s face wrinkled wryly. “This is crap. Are there any restaurants near here? I’m starving, too.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I should have realized. There’s a Wendy’s a few blocks down. I can go out and get something.”

“I want that,” Remi added, enthusiastically. “Can I have a Frosty, too?”

“I’ll go. It’s only a few blocks on the same street? North or South?”

“South, but you’ve traveled so far, Chase. I can go.”

I started to rise and move off the bed from behind my little girl when Chase stood, removing the offending meal tray from the rolling table that fit over the bed, and settled the laptop down in its place with the other. “It’ll be faster if I go. I’ll just jog. It’s faster than dealing with the car and the garage. Right?”

He was right, it would be. It was rush hour and people would be flooding in to visit patients, and the roads were overly congested. “Yes, but I feel bad, making you go.”

“I volunteered. Anything to get our baby girl to eat.” He ruffled her hair and turned his attention away from me to Remi. “So a Frosty, a burger and fries?”

“Cheeseburger!”

Chase laughed. “Okay, a cheeseburger it is.”

“And a Coke!” she added.

“Please,” I admonished. “7-up.”

“Please,” Remi added. “Thank you, Daddy.”

Chase’s face beamed, though his eyes glassed over and he cleared his throat. “That’s right. Every kind of soda is Coke around here. I’ll be back in a flash.”

When Chase was gone, I snuggled Remi next to me and pulled the table closer so she would have a better view of the movie and bent to kiss the top of her silky head.

---