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Vidalia walked into the recovery room to see Selene, standing beside a patient’s bed, muttering something softly under her breath. A charm, a prayer, a healing rite...she didn’t know which, but she appreciated it, whatever it was. A nurse was heading her way, stern eyed, but Vidalia picked up the pace and stepped into her path. “Leave her be,” she said. “I’ve got this.”
“She shouldn’t be up–”
“It’s Christmas. That’s her...that’s her father. You let it be.”
The nurse seemed to hesitate, but then sighed and threw her hands in the air, turning and walking dramatically away. Smiling, Vidalia went to stand by Selene’s side, slipping an arm around her middle.
“We sure do have some mighty big Christmases in this family, don’t we? The twins, in the middle of the holiday blizzard. Little Tyler, coming into the family. And now this. You got yourself a father.”
Bobby lay in the bed. His skin was pale and his hair mussed. Vidalia smoothed it with one hand, thinking he’d be embarrassed to be seen looking like an upset rooster. “Are you very mad at me, Selene, for not telling you sooner?”
Selene kept her eyes on Bobby’s face as well. “You didn’t really know.”
“I had an inkling.”
“Things happen the way they’re supposed to, Mom. Everything worked out just fine. And I love you even more knowing you haven’t always been perfect.”
“I’ve never even been close.”
“You have a giant family out there who’d argue that one.” Selene leaned in and kissed her cheek, she wobbled a little on her feet.
“That’s it, daughter. Back into bed you go. Come on now.” Turning Selene around, Vidalia helped her back to her bed, which was right beside Bobby’s. She helped her sit on the edge, then picked up her legs for her, and tucked the covers over her. Her light blue eyes kept falling closed, then popping open over and over, before she even hit the pillow. “I love you, Mama.”
“I love you too, Selene. You rest now.”
“He’s gonna be okay. You don’t have to worry,” she said, finally letting her eyes fall closed and stay that way. “I talked to my guides. He’s gonna be just fine.”
“And he’ll probably start dancing under the moonlight, what with your marrow in him now.”
Selene’s lips curved upward, but just barely. “That would be so cool.” Then she was asleep, and she needed it. Vidalia patted her hands, then turning, went to stand beside Bobby’s bedside.
To her surprise, his eyes were open when she looked at him.
“Well, hello cowboy. You finally decide to wake up?”
He moved his lips, made a face. Vidalia got the water from the bedside, and held its straw near his lips. “Just a little now,” she told him.
He sipped, then let his head fall back onto the pillows. “I’m sorry, Vidalia. I thought...I thought there would be...more time.”
“Oh, there is. There’s lots more time. Take a good long look at the girl in the next bed, will you Bobby Joe?” And she stepped aside as she said it.
Bobby turned his head, then he frowned harder. “Is that your Selene?”
“Turns out she’s actually...your Selene too.”
“She...?”
“Bobby, she’s yours. The doc told us you needed bone marrow and that none of your boys were a match. Why on earth didn’t you say something when I told you she might be yours?”
“I didn’t want to know so I could take her bone marrow, woman. I wanted to spend time with her, while I still had time to spend.” Then he blinked, tearing his eyes from the sleeping blonde and fixing them on Vidalia again.
“Selene...?”
“Is a perfect match. And so you, my love, are cured. Oh, the doc is making noises about having to keep you alive long enough for the new bone marrow to start doing its job, but I have my sources and Selene has hers, and they both agree, you’re gonna be fine.”
“I’m not dying?”
