High Hurdles Collection Two (83 page)

“Oh, you and a couple others. As Karen says, screaming is better than holding it in.”

“Hey, if I could faint every time … It wasn't so bad.” DJ could feel the weights pulling down her eyelids again. “Will you be here when I wake up again?”

“If not me, maybe Joe or Robert. He's feeling left out.”

“Joe?”

“No, Robert. He and the boys miss you terribly.”

DJ tried to answer, but the tide of sleep swept her out.

“Hey, Deej, welcome back.” Robert set his book aside and leaned on the raised rails of DJ's bed. “Had to come see for myself that you are getting better. Not that I don't trust the others, but …”

“Hi, Dad.”

Robert blinked his appreciation of her use of “Dad” and reached out to run the knuckle of his right forefinger down her cheek, the tenderness of the gesture bringing a smile to DJ's pale face. “You have no idea how much it means to me to hear you call me that.”

“I'm pretty lucky, you know. Two cool dads.” DJ tried to clear the frog out of her throat and smiled her thanks when Robert held the glass for her.

“You want more than water?”

DJ thought a moment. Getting her mind to leave the muzziness of la-la land and come back to work took some doing. “I think I'm hungry. And maybe some Gatorade or something would taste good.”

“Great. I'll go tell the nurse. They put your dinner in the fridge to save for when you woke up.” He rose and stood looking down at DJ. “I am mighty glad you're still with us. I mean, I know heaven is a wonderful place, but this one would be a lot less happy if you were gone.”

“Thanks.” DJ's eyes burned and her nose started to run. “Now you have to wipe my nose, please.”

Robert pulled out two tissues. “Mine too.” He held the tissue to her nose. “Now blow. See? I can do this. I just got the twins to blow their own noses, and now I can help you. Keeps me in practice for the baby.”

“How's Mom?”

“How about we talk when I get back?” He tapped the end of her nose and headed for the door.

“Hi, sugar, welcome back to the land of the livin'.” Thela wore a smile that crinkled her black eyes nearly shut. “You sure are our celebrity after today.” She leaned closer. “You didn't really get kissed by a horse, did you?”

“Not just any horse, but Major, the sweetest horse to gallop this earth.” DJ dropped her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “But Karen made sure all the horsehairs were brushed away before any doctors saw them.”

“That Karen's one smart girl. I'm surprised they didn't bring the horse clear up here.”

“Really? Would they?”

“Well, there've been dogs, cats, rabbits, a boa once. …” Thela squinted her eyes. “Oh yeah, monkeys, a pot-bellied pig, ferrets—one got loose, and if that wasn't a circus in itself—and miniature horses. You know, nothing helps sick folks get better faster than a warm, furry critter to hug on. Not all the doctors agree with that, but we nurses know the real skinny.”

“Wow, I never thought hospitals did such things.” DJ thought of Queenie. “Our dog would be good for something like that. She's so smart and well behaved.”

“Mostly we do things like that up on the oncology ward where kids have to be here a long time. Clowns and music groups come to visit. Even movie stars and sports heroes sometimes. Lots of people give their time to help patients get well again.”

“Like the firemen who came to see me.”

“True, but they came because they had a vested interest in you, like the one who saved your life.” Thela stepped back. “I think your dinner must be warm by now. You want me to help you?”

“No, I will,” Robert answered before DJ could.

“Thela, this is my dad Robert Crowder.”

“Oh, we've met.” The nurse got a puzzled look and shook her head. “But the voice doesn't match. A man who said he was your dad called here a while ago when you were still sleeping to inquire about how you were doin', and his voice was different.”

“Oh, that's my other dad, Brad Atwood.”

“Yeah, that's the name.”

“And Joe Crowder is my grandfather. You've probably heard from him, too. He brought Major and some of the Briones kids over this morning.”

Thela shook her head again. “Girl, you sure got lots of good-lookin' men in your life. Nice too.”

You don't know the half of it. Two years ago I didn't have any men in my life—and had no idea how much I was missing
. “You haven't met my twin brothers yet, either. Six-year-old dynamos, Bobby and Billy. I sure miss them.”

“They've been missing you, too,” Robert said. “In fact, I got an extra kiss on each cheek to pass along to you from them.”

“I'd say, young lady, God's been blessin' your socks off.” Thela headed for the door. “Guess I better go take care of my other patients.”

“You're right, Thela. I haven't worn socks for over two weeks now.” DJ giggled at the snort of laughter she heard from the hall.

“Ah, daughter, I sure am glad you can still joke.” Robert cut the chicken breast and held a bite up to DJ's mouth. “Now, open wide and the little train will chug right in.”

DJ looked from the fork to Robert's laughing blue eyes, so like those of the twins. She nearly choked on the laughter that grabbed her throat. “A … a train?” The laughter made her cough. “Water, I need water.”

Robert dropped the fork on her lap and, reaching for the water glass, hit the open milk carton, which spilled over the edge of the tray and dripped on DJ's legs.

“Good grief! I've lost my touch.”

As soon as DJ's throat cleared, she let out a hoot that could be heard all the way to the nurses' station, even if the intercom hadn't been on. Several pairs of squeaky shoes beat a path to the doorway. Thela rushed into the room while the others blocked the door.

“What in the world?” Hands on her hips, dark brown arms akimbo, Thela shook her head, then began mopping up the mess, her hands bumping into Robert's as he tried to help. “My land, I'll bet those boys of yours don't need any help at the table, not if they have any sense.” She pushed his hands away. “You sit!” She pointed at the chair, and Robert obeyed.

DJ laughed so hard, tears streaked down her face.

Robert gave her a kicked-puppy look that made both DJ and Thela laugh even harder. The other nurses could be heard giggling down the hall.

“Well, I'm happy to be the object of everyone's amusement.” Robert sat back and locked his arms over his chest. “See if I try to help
you
eat again.”

“See if we let you.” Thela wiped DJ's eyes and cheeks, then gave her a bite of baked potato. “Best thing that could happen is to get you laughin' like this, but he sure gives me a mess to clean up, that man.” She sent him what was meant to be a withering look, but the way her eyes danced made DJ laugh again.

Robert attempted a wounded look. “I didn't do it on purpose.”

“That sounds like one of the Bs.” DJ nodded to the milk carton to indicate she wanted a drink. “If there is any left, that is.”

“I can always get you another.” Thela shook the container. “After this.”

When DJ refused any more food and the nurse took the tray out, Robert pointed toward the stack of school books. “Which shall we start with?”

“History.” DJ sighed. “If I can stay awake long enough.”

“You want me to run you up and down the hall?”

“No, I want you to take me home.”

“Ah, if only I could, it would be the greatest honor in the world. But in the meantime, here we go.” Robert pulled out the history book and studied the sheet of assignments tucked in the front. “You should be through chapter two by now.”

“But Mom just brought them yesterday.”

Robert gave her a beats-me shrug and flipped the pages.

DJ tried to concentrate on what he was saying, but her eyes insisted that remaining open was beyond their strength.

“Are you listening?”

“Sure.”

“So what did I just read?”

“About Eric the Red finding the coast of Greenland.”

“Oh.” He kept on reading.

“No! No!” DJ thrashed from side to side. “No!” She banged her hand against the bed rails, screaming from the pain.

“DJ, what is it? What's wrong?” A nurse flew through the door and up to the bed.

“I … I think I had a nightmare.” DJ could hardly draw a breath. Her jaw ached. Her hand kept on screaming with pain.

“Easy, now. Breathe slowly. Here, how about a drink?” The lights had been dimmed for the night, leaving shadows in the corners of the room. The balloons bobbed in the draft, catching DJ's attention. One glinted as it bobbed, as if alive and coming after her.

She stifled a groan.
All this because of a bad dream? Get a grip, girl
. The voice in her head mocked the sweat beading on her upper lip. “When did my dad go home?”

“Quite some time ago. It's nearly 1:00
A.M.
” The nurse mopped DJ's face with a warm washcloth. “You better now? Sure would hate to take your blood pressure and have it through the ceiling.”

DJ leaned back against her pillows. “Yes, thank you. I dreamed someone had a pillow over my face and wouldn't let up. I couldn't breathe.” She sucked on the straw like she might never drink again.

“Not surprising since your lungs were damaged by the smoke.”

“But it was so real.”

“I know.” The nurse grasped DJ's wrist to check her pulse. “Some of the meds you're on could induce that kind of thing, too. Sorry I couldn't get here sooner.”

DJ stared up at the ceiling. “Sorry to be such a bother.” She waited as the nurse applied the blood pressure cuff. When that was done, she asked, “You think we could get me to the bathroom before you leave again?”

“Sure, unless you want to use a bedpan.”

“Ugh.” DJ shuddered. “I'll walk.”

The next morning Dr. Niguri entered the room just as DJ finished her breakfast. He finished jotting something on the clipboard, then studied her over the top of his glasses.

“Looks like you had a rather restless night.”

“I guess.”

“And here I hoped you would be all rested and cheerful to hear some good news.”

“I'm rested. I'm cheerful.” DJ opened her eyes and smiled as wide as she could. A yawn caught her, forcing her mouth wide open.

“Ah, I see you still have your tonsils.”

“Sorry.”

“I can tell you are too sleepy. I'll come back later.” He spun on his heel and headed for the door.

“Wait. Please? Don't go.”