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“I’ll be there in a few. Same room?” I confirmed.
“Yes,” she said desperately. “Please hurry.”
When I hung up, I looked at Foster who was staring back at me with a raised brow. “I need a ride.”
***
“What’s the outlook here?” I asked the pediatrician who was standing at the foot of Adeline’s bed.
Adeline was holding the baby to her chest with tears leaking down her cheeks in torrents.
“Well, I’ve set up an appointment with a specialist for Friday. However, until she’s seen at that appointment, there’s not much more I can tell you. Overall, she’s a perfectly healthy little girl. She just didn’t respond well to the hearing test.” The doctor explained.
Kettle was sitting on the chair beside the bed with his hands buried in what little hair he had at the top of his head. Adeline’s face was closed off, as if she didn’t know what to think, and Dixie was sitting in the corner of the room, having arrived just after me.
Dixie was one of my favorite people in the world. One of the oldest members of The Dixie Wardens, he was one of the co-founders. Hence the name.
When I first met him, he’d introduced himself as Dixie Normus, grabbing my hand and shaking it rapidly. My sister had explained to me that Dixie nearly resembled Santa Claus, only in black leather. And he sure as hell did now that I could see him with my own eyes.
“Thank you, Doctor.” I said quietly and held the door open for him.
I walked to my sister’s bed and pulled her head into my chest. “It’s all right, honey. You don’t have a definitive diagnosis yet, so you haven’t a clue where this is going to lead.”
Dixie, who’d followed me over, sat on the edge of the bed. “Let me hold that girl.”
Adeline gave Saylor over reluctantly, but then giggled. “So has she been naughty or nice?”
Kettle snorted and finally looked up. His eyes were grave and hard and etched with worry.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. This baby is perfect, and that’s all that matters.” Dixie said softly, running a pudgy finger down Saylor’s cheek.
Something in Kettle’s eyes seemed to change when he heard Dixie’s declaration, and when next he blinked, all of his doubt was gone. In its place was resolve and love.
I nodded at him and he gave a small smile back at me before standing and moving to the edge of Adeline’s bed, curling her into his side.
I moved my gaze from them, feeling like I was intruding on their moment, and instead settled my eyes on Dixie.
“You’re good with her.” I observed.
He smiled. “I have four kids, ten grandkids, and one great grandkid. I know my way around these babies.”
I looked at him closer, and noticed he still wore a wedding ring, even though I’d seen him with women that were most definitely not his wife, seeing as they were a third of his age.
He saw where my gaze was locked and chuckled. “I lost my old lady five years ago to stomach cancer. She’ll always stay with me, though. Right here.” He said touching a fist to his heart.
I wanted that. I wanted it so badly.
I cared deeply for Trance, and I knew I loved him, but there was no telling if the feelings were reciprocated or not.
“You’re a complex man, Dixie.” I said standing.
Turning to my sister, I watched as she gazed into Kettle’s eyes whispering softly to him for a few moments before interrupting.
“Okay, you sickos. I’ve got to get out of here. Let me know if you need me again, sissy.” I said hugging her to my boobs and shaking them in her face.
She cackled and pushed me away.
“My turn,” Kettle teased.
