Page 27 of Trading Yesterday

I inhaled deeply, irritated that our private business was fodder for discussion. “Awesome,” I said shortly. I couldn’t waste energy caring if people were whispering behind our backs; speculating on the situation of the famous baby daddy showing up only in a time of crisis. From the outside looking in, no one could ever know the whole story, and I didn’t need others to understand.

Lucy could see my walls come down. “Oh, it’s not like that, ma’am. He’s just a big deal, you know? World famous soccer star right here in this hospital and everyone adores your daughter. It’s news.” She shrugged with a big smile on her face.

“I understand. I’m just very grateful that he’s here for Remi.”

Inside my mind I hated it, but I did get it. Chase’s fame hadn’t reached the level of David Beckham yet, but I had no doubt he’d get there. He was an amazing player, and handsome as hell. I could see how the women couldn’t take their eyes off of him. It was like he was a golden magnet. I myself fell under his charisma, and it was worse for me because I knew his heart and his touch. He might look like a sex God, but he had a tender giving heart, and that made him all the more lethal. I was an emotional mess. I knew it and silently willed myself to get it together.

I cleared my throat and shifted from one foot to another in my discomfort. “Um, Lucy, when did Dr. Radar say he’d be back?”

“He didn’t give an exact time, but soon.”

There was a little snack room at one end of the nurse’s station filled with snacks and drinks for the patients. It had the makings for toast, yogurt, cereal and granola bars. I made a couple of slices of peanut butter toast and grabbed a plastic container of orange juice, and one of milk and then took them back to the room.

Chase was reclined in the chair next to the bed dozing off, and Remi was watching the TV. She looked tired as well as I slid the plate of toast onto the table and opened the juice.

“Here, baby. It’s still warm, so eat up.” I didn’t want to wake Chase, so I kept my voice low. He looked so peaceful, and zonked, I didn’t want to disturb him.

I’d cut the toast into quarters and she reached for one piece. “Do I have to drink the milk?”

She didn’t like milk much, but I wanted to get protein into her wherever I could. “I guess not. Did you and Daddy have a nice talk?”

She nodded. “Yep. Will Jensey be mad at me for loving Daddy, too?”

My heart fell that she would even consider such a question, but it was naïve to believe that a child as aware as Remi wouldn’t ask. Constantly surrounded by adults: she had a more developed vocabulary and so, was much more mature than most children her age, though she was too young to be told the whole story.

“Oh, no, honey. Jensey and Daddy know you have enough love to go around. Everyone loves you.”

It seemed to satisfy her and she took a bite of her toast. “Okay.”

“How’s my favorite patient?” Dr. Radar asked from the doorway before coming in and pushing the door almost completely shut behind him. “Is your dad sawing zees?” He smiled brightly at Remi.

“Shhh!” she said and put her finger to her mouth. “He’s tired ‘cause he’s lagged.”

Dr. Radar smiled and flashed me a glance, and nodded. “Oh, okay,” the doctor lowered his voice but smiled broadly. “Have you been good for the nurses?”

“Yes,” she said, taking another bit of the toast. “Except I didn’t eat my pancakes.”

“Ah, well, you’re eating your toast, so that’s okay. How do you feel today?” He ruffled her silky hair. It had grown out enough to touch her shoulders in the year she’d been in remission, and it curled softly at the ends, framing her angelic face.

“I’m okay,” she shrugged. “I’m sleepy and kinda cold.”

I started to pull the extra blanket at the foot of the bed up and over her, careful to tuck the material snuggly around her little body.

“Well, I’ll tell you what? If you’re a good girl, rest up today, eat as much as you can and take it easy, we might be able to let you go home tomorrow. Just for a few days.”

Remi’s eyes lit up and my heart danced in my chest. “Really? Can I play outside with my friends, too?”

He looked at her with a gentle expression. “It depends on the friends. You have to stay away from anyone who might be ill, so if you’re careful. You know you can’t overdo it.”

“I won’t!” Remi’s face lit up like the sun.

“This is great news, Dr. Radar, thank you.”

He nodded. “I think it will be okay, but you’ll need to make sure the house is really clean and don’t expose her to any unnecessary risks. Make sure she doesn’t injure herself.” Leukemia made healing difficult and any slight bumps or knocks could result in huge bruises.

“We’ll know in a few days if Chase is a match, and if so, can move forward. We can discuss that if, and when, it’s applicable. How’s that sound?”

“Amazing. Thank you.”

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