LITMIR.BIZ

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stare as if she’d known him all her life. Turning until she could show him Isabel’s sleepy face, she made the okay sign with her thumb and first finger. David smiled and then returned his attention to the doctor.

      In the waiting room, Jessie settled into a chair, while her father talked to a woman at the admittance desk.

      “I was asking if they’d been able to contact David’s parents. Even if they’re out for the evening, I’m sure they must have a cellular telephone with them,” he said as he sat down beside her.

      “What did she say?” Jessie asked, stroking the back of Isabel’s head.

      “David instructed them not to call his family, nor his late wife’s family who lives in Ohio.”

      “Really? That’s odd.” The news not only surprised Jessie, but concerned her. However, it really wasn’t her place to judge David’s decisions.

      “I’m sure Liz and Bart would want to know,” her father continued. “And I’m sure David could use their help when he gets out of here. Someone’s got to look after this sweet one.”

      “True. But this is David’s call.” However, until now, Jessie hadn’t thought beyond the present. What if David wasn’t released from the hospital tonight? Or even if he was, would he be able to take care of his daughter? Jessie pressed her lips against Isabel’s forehead. If it were up to her, she’d just take this little girl home and keep her forever. But she had an Internet business to run, and Isabel wasn’t her responsibility.

      Sensing her father was becoming restless due to his inability to help, she suggested he check in with her mother and Maria.

      Don jumped up as if he were pleased to be doing something. Borrowing Jessie’s cellular phone, he walked a few steps away to make the call.

      As she sat alone in the cushy chair in the corner of the busy hospital waiting room, Jessie hummed under her breath. When Isabel stirred, lifting her head to look at her, Jessie thought her heart would melt. And then it did.

      “Mama, mama, mama,” Isabel said.

      Jessie’s father was still talking on the telephone when the nurse told Jessie that David had asked for her. Expecting him to be dressed and waiting to be discharged, she was disappointed he still wore a hospital gown. However, it was good to see him sitting up.

      Isabel instantly jumped with excitement and leaned toward her daddy’s arms. When David didn’t raise his hands, Jessie sensed his injuries prevented him from holding his daughter, so she moved closer, allowing father and child to kiss.

      “It looks like they’re going to keep me overnight. And depending on the test results, I might be here a day or two.” She could tell by the way he kept looking at his daughter that he’d never spent a night apart from her and that just the thought of being separated devastated him. “I was really hoping they’d let me go home tonight.”

      His eyes said what his heart couldn’t put into words. He was going to have to find someone to watch Isabel overnight.

      “What can I do to help? Can I call your parents?” she asked, as if she didn’t know he’d told the admittance nurse not to.

      David bit down on his lip.

      “Is there a neighbor or another family member, then?”

      Before David could respond, she heard a deep voice say, “David Akers? Well, what are you doing here?”

      “I’ll be,” David said, with obvious gladness. “And I could ask the same question, Reverend Peters.”

      “I’m visiting family and friends,” the distinguished-looking man said. “You know you can’t pastor a church here for twenty years and not know half the city. One of my dear friends was brought in with kidney stones, and I wanted to check on him.” Still focused on David, the reverend had yet to notice Jessie. “Are you okay?” he asked David.

      David sighed. “I might have a slight concussion, as well as some internal injuries. They’re going to keep me overnight for observation. We had a little run-in with a tornado tonight.”

      “My goodness, thank God you’re okay. And little Isabel, was she hurt?”

      At the sound of her name, Isabel started jabbering, and Reverend Peters turned toward Jessie. His shoulders relaxed instantly, and he said, “Well, I’ll be, if it isn’t Jessica Claybrook.” His glance bouncing between David and Jessie, a knowing smile lit his face. “Well, well…I’ll be.”

      Realizing the reverend’s thoughts were headed in the wrong direction, Jessie rushed in to explain. “By God’s grace, we happened to seek shelter in the same place tonight.”

      Reverend Peters’s smile merely deepened. Patting Isabel on the back, he looked at David as he spoke. “Your little girl couldn’t be in better hands than Jessica’s.”

      “Jessie’s been an angel tonight,” David agreed.

      The white curtain parted, and a nurse told Reverend Peters that his friend had been released. “Though I’m sorry for the circumstances, it was good to see you both. God bless you,” he said, hugging Jessie and Isabel, then shaking David’s hand.

      As soon as the reverend disappeared, David said, “I haven’t seen him since I was a boy, though my parents have kept in touch through the years.”

      “What a small world,” Jessie marveled. “He married both my sisters.”

      “We may have more in common than a highway overpass.”

      Though David grinned, Jessie could tell he was tired, achy and needed his rest. And so did Isabel.

      “I hate to impose on you…” David began.

      “Just tell me what you need. I want to help.” Jessie leaned forward for emphasis.

      “Normally, I’d call my parents. But they just left on an extended vacation in their RV, and I don’t want them rushing home for me. However, I’m sure one of my sisters will watch Isabel for the night.”

      “I’d be happy to call them. I don’t want you to worry about her. I’ll make sure she’s taken care of until I reach them. You need to concentrate on getting well.”

      “No arguments there,” David said, lying back on the bed. Jessie wrote down the numbers he quickly rattled off.

      Surprised by the telephone prefixes, Jessie hesitated at the curtain opening. “Your sisters live near St. Louis? Won’t it take them at least a couple of hours to get here?” Taking a deep breath, she made a quick decision. “Look, since it’s so late, why don’t I spend the night with Isabel? It’s the most practical and the easiest solution for both you and her.”

      David shook his head. “I can’t ask you to do that. You’ve already gone to too much trouble. You’ve been here for hours. I’m indebted to your kindness.”

      It occurred to Jessie that he might not trust her with his daughter. Isabel was all he had, and, after all, Jessie was a virtual stranger. “I understand you’ll be more comfortable if she stays with one of your sisters—”

      “No, it isn’t that,” David claimed, and the light in his eyes told her he trusted her. “You don’t owe me this. Really, I’ve got family that will help.”

      Jessie pressed her lips against Isabel’s forehead, then held the child close enough for David to hug and kiss her good-night. With Isabel’s arms anchored tightly around her neck, Jessie couldn’t help but say, “Please, let me stay with her tonight. We’ve all been through enough. She’s comfortable with me. It might be best for her.” And for me, Jessie thought.

      David stroked his chin between his thumb and fingers. “I really don’t want to impose.”

      “I want to do this for you. And if the situation were reversed, I know you’d do the same for me.” Somehow she sensed that about him. That he was the kind of

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