TWENTY-TWO
Jae pulled the car to the front of the hospital’s event lot where Hannah directed and parked. The snowy condition was better than he’d hoped after they’d crossed the city limits. Outside the city, the roads were covered in snow. Plows had been through, but there were too many rural roads to keep them all in safe driving condition.
On the other side of the fence, several feet of snow covered the event grounds. Hannah burst into tears. Ker held her. “Hannah, what’s wrong?”
In between sobs, she blubbered, “There are no games setup, or face painting booths. No clowns strolling with balloon animals or funnel cake stands selling cotton candy. It’s ruined. Everyone must have cancelled because of the snow.”
“Jae,” Avery pointed to a handwritten sign attached to the fence, “what does that say? I can’t read that far.”
He leaned forward, eyes squinted. “Oh,” he said and started the car. “We’re at the wrong place.”
Hannah sniffled. “What do you mean, wrong place?”
Jae shrugged and backed the car around. “It says to park on the south side of the tower.”
“Oh, that’s where the parking garage is on the other side of the facility.”
Jae followed the cleared route around the hospital to the back side. After turning the corner, the white peacefulness became wildly colored balloons and exploding laughter for scores of people. The second and third levels of the garage had been turned into a circus, complete with cotton candy, clowns, and animals, Jae noted as an ostrich crossed in front of their car, being chased by a haggard clown in snowshoes.
Hannah burst into tears again, but happy ones this time. “Oh my god! Jae, it’s wonderful.” She wrapped her arms around the driver’s seat and squished him back in a hug. “You are the most amazing and caring man I’ve ever met.” Then Hannah jumped out of the car and ran toward a couple ladies at a booth, handing out tickets.
Ker leaned forward between the seats. “Way to go, man. How much of this is your doing?” he asked.
Jae shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. It’s for the kids. If my child was sick, I’d want someone to do all they could to make him or her happy. Besides, it’s only money.”
Ker snorted. “Just like the $50 million you had me process for a mysterious charitable donation. And the overtime money to the city to pay for all the city’s snow equipment to be running all night? Not to mention the chartered planes to get everything here--”
“You paid for all this, and the roads were your doing?” Avery asked. “Oh my god is right, Jae. You’re amazing.” She leaned over and grabbed his face for a kiss.
After a couple of seconds kissing, Jae heard Ker in the back, “You know, I actually made the money transfer, if we’re sharing.”
Jae growled in his chest and barely moved his lips from hers. “We’re not, so don’t even think it.”
Ker opened the backseat door and climbed out. “Why am I always last? I hate being the youngest.” When the door slammed closed, Jae and the beautiful lady with him broke into laughter. Ker looked back and winked. Always the clown.
* * *
Holding his mate’s hand—yes, after that incredible sex last night, he made up his mind that Avery was the one. Mark or not, she was it for him. Together they’d deal with Hannah if she turned out to be his mate—they walked around the inside of the parking garage. He was amazed how well the entertainment company he called yesterday had done in such short notice.
The owner assured him the group was ready to leave at the drop of a dime, and setup for the few kiddie rides didn’t take too long. Even enormous space heaters had been set around most places. Jae had promised a bonus if it was to his own satisfaction. It was way beyond that. With the storm having passed, the air was clean and still, and the sunlight was healing. Absolutely beautiful for even the sickest of children to step out and enjoy for a few minutes.
He’d double the bonus and keep the guy’s card for a time he might need something quickly. A spur of the moment wedding, maybe. Who knew?
With Avery and Ker at his side, Jae felt more peace than he had in a long time. Being away from family so much had been harder on him than he thought. He needed to spend more time at home getting to know his niece and nephew, and making some babies of his own. He squeezed Avery’s hand in his and she looked at him and smiled. She was really cute with weather-reddened cheeks and nose.
He loved watching her expressions. She glanced around the place, a huge grin on her face. She frowned and turned to them.
“Will you guys hold on a second?” she asked. “I’ll be right back.” Jae and Ker watched as she walked through the crowd.
Ker said, “Avery seems really nice. But is she as giving as Hannah? The nurse would love her enemy, if she had any. You know she can heal, right?”
“I figured she could do something amazing. Healing is huge. It will come with a steep price, too.” Jae glanced at Ker. “You ready for that responsibility?”
Ker ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t think so, man. I just make computers do incredible things. I don’t know anything about medicine, diseases, sick kids, or anything.” Neither did Jae.
Avery stopped at the funnel cake booth and got a cake and two drinks. They watched as Avery approached a bald little boy sitting by himself off to the side. Jae tuned his ears to pick up her voice through the crowd.
“Hey, kiddo,” she said, “whatcha doing all by yourself over here?” She sat next to him, putting the donut and drinks between them.
The boy looked at the powder sugar coated dough and licked his lips. She tore a piece off and set on his side of the plate.
She said, “You know, they say sugar is the best thing in the world. It makes even the yuckiest of medicines taste better. I bet you know about yucky medicine, huh?”
He nodded, but didn’t say anything. His fingers eased closer to the plate and the piece she’d set there. “That’s yours. I brought it for you. Go on and eat it before it gets cold.”
The child raised teary eyes to meet her gaze. “For me?” he said.
“Of course, for you. You don’t see adults eating this stuff, do you?” She tore off another piece and shoved it into her mouth, looking around, pretending to make sure no one saw her do that. The little one giggled and put the sweet into his mouth.
“My name is Avery. What’s yours?” she asked.
“Philip,” he replied. His shyness was endearing.
“Well, Philip,” Avery said, “what are you doing by yourself? There’s lots of things to do.”
He looked around. “My friends are with their parents and family. They came to see them.” His eyes found the ground at his feet.
“Your parents aren’t here?” she inquired.
He shook his head. “They were too busy.”
Jae saw the anger roll over her. He felt the same. What kind of parent deserted their child, anytime, sick or not? Non-deserving parents, that’s what kind. His brother looked at him but didn’t say anything.
Avery spoke. “Well, Philip, I happen to have two guys who need someone like you. Since everything here is for kids, they can’t ride rides or play games without one. Would you like to help them out?”
The boy’s eyes lit up. “They need my help to play?”
She looked up and met Jae’s eyes. “Yup, they need you.” Jae smiled and gave her a nod, telling her he’d love to play along.
He slapped Ker in the chest. “Quit checking out the nurses. We got an adopted son who’s gonna help us play.”
Ker frowned. “A what?”
“You’re getting your first taste of daddyhood. Now smile before I shove my boot up your ass.” His little brother smiled at the child and Avery coming toward them. The boy’s eyes got wide as they came closer.
The two stopped in front of the men and Avery squatted to the boy’s height. “This is Jae and Ker. I know they seem big and a bit frightening, but they never learned how to play. They need help.”
The boy looked at Jae from his boots up to the top of his head. “Your momma never taught you how to play?”
Jae crouched, joining the two. “Nope, she had to work all the time so she could buy food for us to eat.” That wasn’t the truth, of course, but in this happy fantasy world, it would be real for a few hours.
The young boy reached out and grabbed one of both guys’ hands. “We’ll start at the rollercoaster,” he said. “It’s sorta scary, but I think you guys can handle it.”