Chapter 23

Nicolas

I woke up as Nikki was asking Nicol how well we knew each other, for some reason I felt sorry for Nicol and lift my head. “Good morning sweet pea. Nicol.” “Morning Nicolas.” Nikki said in her chirpy voice. “Morning Nicolas.” “Geoffrey sends this.” She put the cup of coffee in my hand. “Thank you.” “How was your night?” she asked me. “No problems at all Nikki here only looked for you once.” “Only once?” she asked Nikki touching her chest. “Yes, mom I’m a big girl now and I’m okay.” “Well then I’m glad you are a big girl, are you ready to go to Nicolas’s house today?” “Yes, mom like a said I’m a big girl how many times should I tell you I’m almost 12.” “I know angel, I know.” I just laughed at them especially Nikki, I couldn’t remember how I was at that age but I’m sure I would have been the same. Nicol took her card from the bed and looked through it. I walked to her and asked softly “How does everything look?” “Good, actually really good.” “Okay” “I need to go Nicolas I’m so sorry I’m leaving her with you, if they want to discharge her and don’t want you to sign the papers just call me, I’ll come down.” “No problem, Nicol.” She walked back to Nikki “Nikki I need to get to my shift are you sure you’ll be okay with Nicolas today?” “Yes, mom, I’m sure.” “Okay then I’ll see you tonight.” She gave Nicol a kiss on the forehead and just as Nicol turned around to walk out of the door Nikki called after her “Mom?” “Yes angel?” “I didn’t forget about the question you didn’t answer.” “I know angel.” Then she was gone. I was going to pretend I didn’t hear what she asked her mom “So what question was that?” “I’ll tell you if you answer the question.” She said. I took my time to answer her thinking very hard “No it’s okay sweet pea you can ask your mom.” Before Nicol was to far away from Nikki’s room, I remembered I didn’t have her number, “Sweet pea I’ll be right back.” Before she could answer I ran out of the room towards, “Nicol” I called as she walked away. She must have heard me the first time because she stopped “What’s wrong?” She asked worried. “Nothing I just don’t have your number.” “Oh yes off course, I’ll send you, my number.” “You still have my number?” I asked totally taken off guard. “Yes, Nicolas I do.” Then she just walked further.

I couldn’t believe after all these years Nicol still had my number was she planning on using it sometime? I thought, I went back to Nikki “What was that about?” “I just ask your mom for her number.” “Oh okay. I could have given it to you as well.” “You have a phone?” “No, I’m getting one for my birthday, I just know it for if something happens.” “Oh” was all I could say don’t children have phones since birth these days, I thought to myself. Clearly Nicol wanted to keep Nikki innocent as long as possible which I actually agreed with girls her age uses make up and dress like they are 18 and I truly don’t like it, Nikki is still a child. The doctor came in a few minutes later, “Morning Nikki, Nicolas.” He said. “Morning doctor.” Nikki and I both said. “You ready to go home?” “Yes, we are actually going to stay with Nicolas until I’m better.” “Oh” the doctor said looking at me, clearly, he was very protective of Nicol and Nikki. “And you will look after both of them?” He asked me. Fuck I didn’t think about the fact that Nikki will be in my home and basically be my responsibility. The doctor was waiting for an answer. “Yes, off course I will.” That made the doctor relax a bit. “Well Nikki then Nicolas here can just sign the forms and you can go home, I’ll give Nicolas here a prescription for your medication and you have to take it until it’s finish okay.” “I will doctor.” “Well then I don’t think I’ll see you soon in the hospital except when you come to visit your mom in the holidays, have a great Christmas.” “Doctor.” Nikki asked a bit shy. “Yes Nikki?” “Can I ask you a favor?” “Off course you can.” “Can you give mommy off on Christmas I can’t remember when last we had a Christmas together.” “I will make sure to do that Nikki.” “Can you make that for New Year as well.” I interrupted. He looked a bit confused when I asked to tell you the truth I was confused as well but if she never had a Christmas off then she never had a new year of as well. “Yes, off course I think she is over due for those two days off.” Nikki was so excited I could see it on her face “Thank you doctor, thank you.” “My pleasure Nikki.”

When the doctor left, I looked in the bag to find Nikki something to wear, Nicol packed her stuff in outfits making sure I knew exactly what to give her to wear, I’m sure Nikki does this by herself but while she’s sick, I will help. I gave her the cloths that was on top. “Oh, mom packed my favorite top and pants.” “Oh, this is your favorite?” “It is and it’s pink and purple and very comfortable when I don’t feel well, I normally put this on mom calls it my comfy cloths.” “Well then I’ll go and sign the papers so long should I send a nurse in to help you?” I could see she wanted to say no because she wanted to do it herself but when she got of the bed and felt how sore she was she said “Yes please.” “I’ll send someone.” “Thank you, Nicolas.”

I walked out to the nurse’s station and asked one of them to go and help Nikki the other nurse gave me the papers but it didn’t look like she wanted to “You sure Nicol knows you are taking her home?” she asked me “Yes Nicol knows but if you want to make sure you can call her.” I was getting a bit irritated but I knew I can’t lose my temper or tell them the truth I mean the first person that needs to know the truth will be Nikki and I won’t tell anyone else before we told her. “No, it’s okay the doctor also said you can sign.” I took the paper from her and signed the papers and put my address on top of the papers, “Make sure the bill is sent to that e-mail address and not to Nicol do you understand?” she looked taken aback with the way I spoke to her but she didn’t answer me “I asked you do you understand?” “Yes, yes, off course.”