Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50006 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50006 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Ivan’s powerful hand wrapped around Phineas’s shoulder and squeezed firmly. “You heard the doctor. She’s stable. I’m surprised she didn’t need help before now. Perhaps she knows deep inside you’re here to make sure she’s okay.”
“She means the world to me, Ivan.”
“And that’s exactly what you’re going to give her. She needs to rest and rebuild so you two can enjoy the life you’re building together. If I’m lucky, I’ll find my own Little girl. I’ll admit, seeing the two of you has pushed me to focus on filling that empty space in my world.”
Phineas lifted his chin in acknowledgement of the personal information. He could see Ivan preferring that role in a relationship. He was calm, quiet, and powerful. A Daddy a Little girl could rely on and trust.
“Did you know?” he asked, nodding at Tiffanie.
“Not a topic a brother and sister usually discuss. But yeah, I suspected. A look at the books you selected for her confirmed my guess. She told me a reader at the library had checked one out so many times the novel was falling apart. I don’t suppose you’d share that person’s name?”
“Sorry. Just like doctors protect health information, librarians are sworn to secrecy,” Phineas said, smiling for the first time since arriving at the hospital.
“Please tell me she’s not eighty.”
“Mid-thirties, I would guess.”
A grin curved Ivan’s lips. “There’s hope, then. I’m going to camp out in the fiction stacks of the library.”
“I will share that she’s signed up as an exhibitor for the Blue Ribbon Knowledge Fair,” Phineas said, giving him a bit of information. Several women who fit into that age range were participating in the event. Phineas hadn’t revealed how to identify her too easily.
“Damn. That puts pressure on me to come up with a carving so cute a Little girl couldn’t stay away from my table.”
“I have confidence in you.”
Ivan walked to a chair and carried the lightweight furniture over next to the hospital bed. “Sit and relax. This may take a while.”
Nodding his thanks, Phineas sank down on the padded seat and wrapped his hand around Tiffanie’s. She could take all the time she wanted. He would wait.
Chapter Eighteen
Tiffanie wished that beeping would go away. The annoying sound drew her out of the best sleep she’d had in forever. She turned onto her side and stopped halfway when something pulled uncomfortably in her hand. Wrinkling her nose in aggravation, she blinked her eyes open. The stark white light above her made Tiffanie squint as she tried to figure out where she was. A shadowy figure loomed over her. Phineas. Instantly, her growing panic abated.
“Good morning, Princess. I’m glad to see your pretty blue eyes.” Phineas’s hands smoothed her hair from her face.
“Daddy?” Tiffanie whispered. “Where are we?”
“You collapsed in Essie’s office, Princess. Don’t move too much. You have an IV in your hand. Your brother is with us at the hospital too.”
“I just called you Daddy,” she whispered. She blushed with heat.
“It’s safe, Princess. He went to grab some coffee for us.”
“Oh, thank goodness!” Tiffanie scanned around the room and asked, “Is this the hospital? Am I sick?”
“How do you feel?” Phineas asked.
“Good,” she said, raising her shoulders in a silent “I don’t know”.
“Nice! I was hoping I’d find you awake,” the nurse said. “I’m Samantha, your nurse. Michelle updated me on you and went off shift. Is it alright if I check you over before calling the doctor?”
Tiffanie looked at the smiling nurse and glanced over at Phineas for help in deciding what to do. When he nodded, she said, “Sure. I think I’m okay.”
“I’m glad to hear that. You’ve been our favorite patient in the emergency department tonight. Quiet, not asking for anything,” Samantha teased as she checked her blood sugar. “105. That’s much better. I bet your energy level is rebuilding.” She checked her blood pressure and heart rate and gave Tiffanie a thumbs-up after seeing the results.
“One more. I’ll need to draw some blood. Sir, if you’ll hold her hand, I bet that would help. Quick ouch here,” the nurse said as Tiffanie studied a poster on the opposite wall.
Tiffanie hadn’t finished reading all the hand-washing instructions posted on the sign when Samantha gathered up her things.
Tiffanie said, “You’re done? That didn’t hurt.”
“Be sure to tell the hospital that. I need a raise,” Samantha said with a smile before patting Tiffanie’s arm. “I’ll return soon. Want anything to eat? Maybe some lime sherbet?”
“Rainbow if you have it,” Tiffanie said.
“I’ll check.”
When the nurse disappeared, Tiffanie turned to Phineas. “Tell me what’s happening.”
“Hey! I’m glad to see you up,” Ivan said, stepping into the room with two cups of coffee.
“Hi, Ivan. Phineas was about to tell me what happened.”
“I can help with that. He missed the excitement,” Ivan said.
Her brother described her eyes suddenly rolling back in her head before she crumpled to the ground. Unreal. “I didn’t say a word? Just dropped where I stood?”