LITMIR.BIZ

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      Indeed, Dr. Bradford had asked her to go with the Andersons to Dallas. Because of her rapport with little Toby, he thought her best for the job. He’d approved a month’s leave for her if she decided to go. And, she guessed, to make her refusal harder, he added that Mr. Anderson had offered two hundred thousand dollars to the pediatric wing if the hospital could supply a nurse for the boy.

      That much money could help the children, Molly knew. And she knew Dr. Bradford was counting on her love of the kids…

      But a month in Dallas with the seemingly pompous Richard Anderson? Could she handle it? The assignment would span the holidays, and aside from some volunteer work, she had no Christmas plans. At the very least she wouldn’t have to spend another Christmas alone. She could stand the thought of that. And she’d be with Toby.

      Still unsure, she pocketed the note and brought the boy his ice cream. “Your wish is my command,” she joked to Toby as she pulled the lid off the Dixie cup and held it out to him.

      Though his arm and collarbone were in casts, he could hold the Dixie cup in his injured hand and eat with his right.

      “Thank you, Molly. You’re not going to leave, are you?”

      The boy’s sad blue eyes reached right down into her heart. “No, sweetie, I’ll stay for a little while.” She smiled as she pulled up a chair next to the bed. His frown transformed into a broad grin and he dug into his ice cream. How could she leave him? Not just now, but when he went with his uncle and grandmother?

      “What’s wrong, Molly?” Toby asked anxiously.

      Molly knew her concerns were nothing compared to the tragedy Toby had experienced. She pasted a bright smile on her lips. “Nothing, sweetheart. Hey, would you like me to go with you to Dallas, where your uncle lives?”

      “You could do that? And stay forever?” Toby asked, hope in his voice.

      “No, but I could go and stay for a few weeks, during Christmas. Wouldn’t that be fun?”

      “Oh, yeah,” Toby said, reaching up to hug her neck. With his face buried in her hair, he whispered, “I don’t want to go with them.”

      “I know, sweetie, but we’ll be together and I’ll help you.”

      “Okay,” Toby agreed as he pulled back to look at her. “You’ll really come with me?”

      “Yes, your uncle has asked me to come.” She settled the little boy back in his bed. “Now, eat your ice cream before it melts while I talk to your uncle.”

      And just like that, her mind was made up.

      She stood and walked over to the man watching them with no sign of emotion. “I’ll take the job, Mr. Anderson. When were you planning on leaving?”

      “We have seats on an eleven o’clock flight tomorrow morning. We’ll need to leave for the airport by nine, which means you should be here by eight to get Toby ready.”

      “Does Toby have clothes?” The shirt and pants the boy had been wearing had been bloodied and torn.

      The man stared at her, as if he hadn’t comprehended her question.

      “Toby hasn’t had any clothes since he arrived and we cut off his bloody ones. He’ll need clothes for the trip.”

      With a weary sigh, the man said, “Of course. It’ll take a little while because I’ve got to get my mother back to the hotel. But then I’ll go to his house and pack his clothes.”

      Molly knew she was a sucker for the weary and downtrodden, but she couldn’t help herself. “If you want, I could meet you there and help you pack up his things. It would save you a trip back to the hospital.”

      After a moment’s hesitation, Richard Anderson nodded. “I’ll take that offer. Thank you.” He looked at his watch. “Can you meet me there at eight o’clock?”

      “Yes, but I don’t know the address.”

      He pulled a card and a pen out of his pocket and wrote an address on the back of the card. “Do you know where this is?”

      Molly nodded. The address was actually close to her apartment. How strange. She’d lived just a few blocks from Toby. “Yes, I do.”

      “Then I’ll see you there at eight o’clock.”

      Molly heard a warning in his voice not to be late. But she was always on time. With a nod, the man took his mother’s arm and left Toby’s room.

      That was when Molly realized the older woman had remained in the back of the room the entire time. She hadn’t taken a seat nor uttered a word to her grandson. Instantly Molly felt good about her decision. How could she have let this sweet boy go with these cold-hearted people?

      Molly came back to Toby’s side. “Was the ice cream good?”

      “Yes. Are you really going to go with me tomorrow?” the little boy asked anxiously.

      “Yes, I told you I would. And I’ll be there all through Christmas. I’ve never been to Dallas. Have you?”

      “No. I never met my uncle and my grandmother before.”

      How could that be? Molly wondered. They were family. But for Toby’s sake, she tried to put a positive spin on it. “Well, you’ll get a chance to know them now.” She grinned. “I have to go if I’m going to be ready to leave in the morning. Ellen will come in and see you before you go to sleep. Okay?”

      “Okay. You really are going with me?”

      “Yes, Toby. I’ll be here in the morning, I promise.”

      Richard Anderson pulled up to his sister’s home in a nice neighborhood in Jacksonville, Florida. He dreaded going in the house. He’d missed Susan after her move to Florida. He’d talked to her on the phone some, but it hadn’t been the same.

      Nine years ago his father had been furious with his daughter. He’d blown up at her and had refused any consideration of reconciliation. Now it was too late for both of them. James Anderson had been a brilliant man, but when it came to his daughter he had been foolish. He’d lost her because of his anger, long before either of them had died.

      When another car pulled up behind him, Richard automatically checked his watch. Good. The nurse was on time. It would be easier to enter the house with a stranger.

      He got out of his car and waited until the nurse joined him. “I appreciate you coming, Ms. Soderling.”

      “Please call me Molly, and I’m glad I can be of assistance.”

      “My mother would’ve come, but the past few days have been hard on her.”

      “Of course. Shall we go in?”

      Richard pulled the keys from his pocket. They had been handed to him by the funeral director, along with other items found in the clothing. He selected one that he hoped would open the door.

      He’d guessed right. The door swung open and he followed the nurse into the house. He was hit almost at once with a wave of grief. The house showed so much of Susan. It was warm and cozy, a home where a family shared and loved.

      He turned to the nurse, hoping to control his grief, and he saw the same reaction on her face. She hadn’t even known Susan.

      “Poor Toby,” she muttered.

      “Why would you say that?”

      “Because I can see what he’s lost,” she said quietly, and he saw the sheen of moisture in her eyes.

      Before he could think of anything to say, she said, “We’d better get started. Do you know where Toby’s bedroom is?”

      He shook his head. “I’ve never been here.”

      “Oh. Then I’ll go look for it.”

      Richard decided

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