Chapter 73

He waved goodbye and rushed from the room. She had been surprised when he had kissed her forehead, but she told herself that he probably did it without thinking. Secretly, she was grateful that she would have a few minutes to herself. She felt grubby and needed to freshen up a bit before he came back- if he came back. Regardless, she needed a shower. She hit the call button to the nurses' station and waited.
"May I help you?" a female voice answered on the other end.
"Yes, you can. Do you have any soap, shampoo, and deodorant? I haven't taken a shower since I came here. Also, I don't have anything to wear." Then Kiki added for good measure, "I think it'll make me feel better."
"Yes, of course," the nurse answered. "I'll be right there."
Within minutes, the nurse came in and gave her a few toiletries and a clean pair of scrubs. She looked up at the nurse, grateful that she wouldn't have to wear another hideous hospital gown, especially if Taren was going to bring Abby back with him. "Thank you so much!"
Julie, the nurse, shrugged. "Well, I thought since you're going home tomorrow anyway-."
"Thank you."
Julie smiled. "If you need anything else, just let me know." Then she lowered her voice. "Maybe you can ask a friend to bring you a change of clothes to wear home tomorrow."
Kiki nodded. "I will."
"But you can always borrow these and bring them back later, if you like." Julie started to leave and then turned back. "Oh! And if you get into trouble in the shower, just push the call button."
Kiki smiled, knowing the woman meant well. "I will. Thank you."
After Julie was gone, Kiki took off her oxygen, and sat up on the edge of the bed, grateful that they had already removed her IV earlier that day. Her head spun for a moment. She wobbled a bit, but soon, she got her bearings and made her way to the shower, in a hurry to take it before Taren came back.
After her hair was washed and her body clean, she hurried to change, grateful that Julie had brought her scrubs instead of a hideous hospital gown. She wasn't going to enter a beauty contest, but at least she was clean and felt better. Kiki ran her fingers through her hair and scrunched it, and let it fall over her shoulders to air dry. She started to get out of breath, so she headed over to the bed and climbed back under the covers.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in, Taren." Kiki had just pulled the blanket up over herself when a strange man walked in, wearing a winter hat and coat, dripping with snow.
He held a package and looked down at a slip of paper. "I'm looking for a Miss Kiki Long?"
"I'm Kiki," she replied, sitting up in the bed. "May I help you?"
A broad smile spread across his face. "I have a delivery for you from-." He paused to look down at the slip once more. "- a Mr. Frank Long of Beverly Hills, California."
Kiki smiled as relief washed over her. "My father." He had actually come through for her.
"Beverly Hills? Really?" His eyebrows raised almost into his hairline.
She nodded. "I'm afraid so. Would you like me to sign?"
The man held out the slip and gave her a pen. "Just sign on the line right there-." He pointed to the signature line.
Kiki did as he asked and then handed it back. "Thank you." When he started to turn away, she added, "Be careful out there."
He looked over his shoulder and waved, nodding.
Taren walked in with Abby as the delivery man walked out, and his eyebrows pulled together in concern. "Who was that?" She liked the hint of jealousy in his voice a bit too much. But she told herself that she was probably just imagining it.
"Delivery man," Kiki replied as she held up a package and shook it. "It's from my father. I think it's a phone."
Taren nodded and took off his coat and sat down. "Come sit down, Abby." Taren patted the chair beside his.
But Abby looked up at Kiki and shouted, "I know you!" She ran over and jumped up onto the hospital bed, and knelt beside Kiki. "You're the lady from the Children's Home!"
Kiki smiled. "And you were the one who beat me so badly at Chess!"
Abby smiled. "You and Case."
Kiki laughed and gave her a nod. "I stand corrected."
"When I go back, Case wants me to teach him some moves." Abby shrugged.
"That's my girl." Taren smiled as he laid his coat on the chair beside his. Then he sat back and got comfortable.
Kiki chuckled. "I think you've taught her well- maybe too well."
Abby jumped down off the bed and climbed up onto her father's lap. They both settled in for the game. "So, who's winning?" Abby asked.
Kiki shook her head. "I don't know. I took a shower while you were away and just started watching the game myself."
Taren looked over at her and smiled. "I thought you looked different."
Kiki laughed. "Yeah. I don't look much better, but I sure feel better."
"Actually, you look great," Taren corrected, causing her to blush. "When we left the house, who was winning, Abby?" He nudged his daughter, his eyes filled with pride.
"The Redskins!" Abby shouted.
"Ssshhhh!" Taren laughed. "We don't want to get kicked out of here. But that's my girl." Then he pulled a thermos out from under his coat and looked over at Kiki. "I brought us some contraband."
Kiki's smile faded. "Taren, I don't think you need to be drinking and driving. Especially not with your daughter in the car."
One corner of his lips curled into a smile. "Well, then. It's a good thing it's just-." He looked both ways and then looked back at her, his eyes wide. "- hot chocolate."
Kiki laughed out loud. "Oh. Sorry."
He raised his eyebrows and then took three paper cups out from inside his jacket.
"Yeah!" Abby clapped and then turned her attention back to the game. He poured the first cup halfway and then handed it to Abby. "Be careful. It's hot."
She nodded as she took it, but her eyes never left the game.
Then he poured another cup and handed it to Kiki. "You'd better watch out. It's pretty strong."
Kiki laughed. "I'll keep that in mind."
Then he poured another cup for himself. Soon, he became engrossed in the game, right along with his daughter. It was amazing how alike they were. Abby looked a lot like him, too, and she even had a lot of his mannerisms. Soon, she found herself watching them instead of watching the game. But she peeked at the score every now and then so she wouldn't look like an idiot.
"May I lay beside you?" Abby asked at the top of the fourth quarter, looking over at Kiki.
"Abby, I don't think--"
"It's okay with me, if it's okay with your father," Kiki interjected.
Taren raised an eyebrow. "It's okay with me if it's okay with Kiki."
Kiki smiled mischievously. "It's okay with me if it's okay with your father."
Abby looked back and forth between them, confused, and then caught on. "Oh, you're just teasing me."
Taren laughed. "Here. Let's take off your shoes and your jacket first."
She quickly shed her jacket and kicked off her shoes. "Wee!" she yelled as she jumped up onto the bed.
"Easy, now," Taren instructed his daughter as he folded her coat and laid it on the chair atop his. "Kiki's recovering, so we have to be careful with her."
"Oh, it's okay." Kiki smiled and then scooted over a bit to make room for Abby. "I won't break."
Taren smiled, watching as Abby settled in beside her. Kiki wrapped her arm around Abby's shoulders and she snuggled close. When everyone was settled, they turned their attention back to the game. Kiki leaned her head over onto Abby's, surprised that Abby already felt comfortable enough with her to snuggle with her.
Kiki forced herself to pay more attention to the game, just so she didn't sound like a complete idiot when Taren and Abby started talking about it later. For a moment, Kiki wondered if this was what it would be like to have a family. But she quickly pushed the thought aside, knowing that train of thought was much too dangerous for her heart. But even though Taren had just come back into her life a few days before, she felt as if she had known him for a lifetime.