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Just then we’re interrupted by the nurse – the new nurse – returning to us.
“Is she still asleep?” she asks and for a second I’m so wrapped up in everything I know unravelling, that I have no idea who or what she’s talking about. “The wee baby. Is she still resting? I can come back.”
“Oh, sorry. Yes, she is,” I say.
“No worries, I’ll just check in on her real quick and be on my way.”
“Where’s the blonde nurse?” Rebel calls out.
“Beth? She’s on her break but she’ll be back soon,” she says with a smile. “She was smitten with this little girl, saying how charming and sweet she is. I’m a bit disappointed that she’s not been awake for me to meet her.”
I follow the nurse into the room and watch as she checks Nix over. My baby doesn’t even stir with the blood pressure cuff or the thermometer in her ear. She truly sleeps like the dead. Which is probably for the best given the nightmares I used to have. It’s funny how they’ve plagued me a lot less since the guys showed back up in my life.
Finished, the nurse writes on Nix’s chart, coming to stand beside me. I glance over at it and pull a face.
“I don’t know how you understand any of that. It’s like a code or another language.”
“The hardest code to decipher is the doctor’s handwriting!” The nurse laughs.
Inspiration strikes.
“Do you have some paper and a pen I could use please?”
“Of course. But I’ll wait and have the pen back if you don’t mind. Those things are rarer than gold dust around here.”
I chuckle and accept the items she holds out to me. I quickly scribble a note in the most basic, common cypher that Lizzie and I always used to use. It’s a long shot, but I have to try.
“Thanks,” I say, handing back the precious pen and holding out the note to the nurse. “Would you mind passing this on to the other nurse. Beth, was it?”
“Yes. Of course. Though I’m sure you’ll see her before I do. This place, even when it’s quiet, keeps us on our toes.”
“I’ll bet.”
The nurse glances down at the note in her hand and frowns. She must think I’m crazy, it’s probably just gibberish to her. I just hope she passes it on anyway and doesn’t drop it in the bin.
Phoenix stirs and my attention immediately flies to her, but she settles quickly, still sleeping with a tiny frown between her brows.
The nurse leaves the room with my note still in her hand and I nibble my bottom lip nervously. I wonder how soon she’ll see it. It might not even work. But a feeling in my gut says it could.
Ace: Sorry uncle.
Stanislav: That’s more like it. Would you like me to send photos of your sisters to see how well I am taking care of them? Valentina in particular. She’s grown so much since you saw her last.
Ace: Not necessary, uncle.
Stanislav: I see being exiled to England hasn’t grown you any balls.
Stanislav: I want you to think about my proposal. The girls here, they’re boring. It’s always the same. My clientele is expanding and they want… something different. If you could keep supplying ones like that girl, I could be persuaded to keep your sisters out of the auction a little while longer.
Stanislav: Even though they’re keen to learn.
