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“Oh boy,” I said, rolling my eyes at Dylan. I put a hand on the back of the little girl’s head. “You know what? Dylan also knows every song, so I bet he would be willing to sing along!” My eyes challenged Dylan to protest as I cocked one eyebrow.
Cindy appeared with the now steaming hot blueberry pancakes and I started opening the packet of syrup that came with them.
“Wow! Maybe I’ll have to stay and have some of these delicious looking pancakes!” Cindy’s exuberance was infectious. “They smell yummy!”
“Oh, they are,” Dylan added. “If Rory doesn’t eat them all, I call dibs on the leftovers!”
“I bet she can eat a lot. Right, honey?”
“She hasn’t been that hungry given the treatment yesterday,” Cindy said under her breath as I continued to pour the syrup and situate the plate on the tray and the tray in front of Rory.
“I bet she will,” Dylan encouraged. “Because after, Remi is going to be the Little Mermaid!”
“That’s okay, I’m a princess,” I teased wryly. “Dylan is going to be the crab.”
“I thought I was the prince, and you were my damsel,” Dylan answered with a soft nudge against my shoulder.
“Only if you sing,” I answered. I finished cutting up the pancakes into small pieces and helped Rory with scooping up a small piece with a spoon and putting it into her mouth.
Her big brown eyes grew even wider. “I yove booberry pancakes! Yummy!”
Dylan smiled. “I guess that means we’re out of luck, Cindy!”
Dylan
Remi was remarkable with all of the little children we visited at St. Jude’s, but I could see she had a particular soft spot for Rory. I understood, considering the little one was suffering from the same disease Remi had, and she had no family around her. It was really, really sad.
We spent the entire day at the hospital because Rory cried when we tried to leave so we ended up staying until she was asleep. I could see how attached she was becoming to Remi, and it worried me. Remi had explained over lunch in the cafeteria about what she’d learned from the hospital social worker who was assigned to Rory’s case… and reiterated her desire to search for the mother.
I tried to dissuade her, but Remi had always been stubborn, and I had serious concerns that she’d go looking into the seedier parts of Memphis to try to find her. It appeared to be futile since she didn’t even know the woman’s name.
The entire day had been spent focusing on sick kids and singing and dancing in Rory’s room. The nurses brought several of the other kids who were able to leave their rooms in so that they could also watch the movie and sing along with us. I had to admit it was super fun and I could understand Remi’s affinity to it. Plus, she was incredible.
Remi had a gentle and loving way in how she gave so selfishly of her time and of herself. Watching her with them, I just fell even more in love with her. If I wasn’t sure before I now knew that there was not another person on the face of the earth like her.
I hoped we could spend the evening and most of tomorrow, until I had to fly back to Kansas City, on us. I’d managed to excuse myself after lunch to make plans. I wished I’d brought a suit so I could take her out to a fancy dinner, but the trip was so spontaneous that I only had nice jeans and a white button down. The black boots and belt I had with me would dress it up a little, but still not enough for a fancy restaurant. Remi loved French food so I wished we could go to Erling Jensen’s.
After we left the hospital, I grabbed her hand and hadn’t released it since we’d both gotten inside her car. Remi had thrown me the keys and I took them without question. Her eyes were closed, and her head was resting back against the headrest.
“I know it’s a little late, babe, but I was hoping I could take you to dinner. It’s my last night here.”
Her head turned toward me. “I know. But you know I don’t need expensive meals or fancy places.”
I nodded, glancing at her briefly before returning my eyes to the road. “I know. That’s what makes you so wonderful.” I had stopped at a light so I could look at her. “At least, one of the things, but I really want to take you out or we might just jump each other’s bones.”
A soft giggle burst forth. “I’ll jump your bone,” she teased and waggled her eyebrows.
I laughed as the light turned. “As much as I’d love that, let’s save it for later. I do want to take you out if you’d like to go.”
“Because I’m your damsel?” She asked.
“Because I love you,” I replied. “Damsel takes on a different meaning with you.”
Her happiness shone on her face. “Really?” she asked.
“Yes. You’re not helpless, but I find myself wanting to protect you whether you need me to or not.”
I pulled into her parking garage and found the space we had vacated that morning.
