Something About Lorelei(56)

“You did it!” I bent down and held out my arms.

“I know! I can’t believe I won.” She wrapped her small arms around my neck.

“Your mom is going to be so proud of you.” I kissed her head.

“Mr. Sutton?”

“Yes, Hope.”

“Can we go see her now?”

“We sure can, but one thing first. I want you to call me Jack. No more Mr. Sutton.”

“Okay, Jack.” She smiled.

****

Later that night after I tucked Hope into bed, I took Charlotte’s Web from the nightstand and opened to the page where I had left off. I had reached the part where Charlotte was dying and I won’t lie and say I didn’t get choked up. Looking over at Hope, I saw that tears were streaming down her face as I read.#p#分页标题#e#

“Why did she have to die?” She sniffled.

I didn’t know what to say to her, but I was just as broken up as she was.

“Let’s continue the book and see how it ends,” I spoke as I wiped the tears from her face.

“So Wilbur took care of Charlotte’s children and became friends with them. Kind of like you, Jack.”

I closed the book and looked at her. “Yeah, I guess so.” I smiled.

I turned off the light and headed to my bedroom. Climbing into bed, I took my phone and dialed Lorelei.

“Hello,” she answered in a low voice.

“Hey. How are you feeling?”

“I’m feeling a little better. The doctor was in here earlier and said I can go home in a couple of days.”

“That’s great news. I’m sure you’re anxious to get out of there.”

“I am. I just want to go home. I miss my bed and my daughter.”

“I know you do. Hey, listen, I was thinking that I would stick around for a while tomorrow after I drop Hope off at school.”

“You don’t have to, Jack. I know you’re a busy man.”

“I know I don’t have to. I want to. And as for the office, the work can wait. I’ll let you go so you can get your rest. You sound tired.”

“Good night, Jack.”

“Good night, Lorelei.”

I set my phone down and sighed. I missed her and I couldn’t wait to spend time with her tomorrow, even if it was in a hospital.





Chapter Thirty-Six


Lorelei

Jack walked in and I smiled when I saw the Starbucks cup in his hand.

“I thought you could use some real coffee.” He smiled as he handed me the cup.

“You are the best. Thank you,” I spoke as I brought the cup up to my lips. “How’s Hope?”

“She’s good. We finished reading Charlotte’s Web last night.”

I cocked my head as I stared into his eyes.

“You read Charlotte’s Web to her?”

“Yeah. She asked me to read to her while she fell asleep. Did you want me to tell her no?”

“Of course not.” I laughed.

“Have you read that book before?” he asked with seriousness.

“Yes. I read it all the time when I was a kid.”

“That’s quite a tearjerker. I was choked up, Hope was crying. It was a sad night last night.”

“You, Mr. Jack Sutton, got choked up over Charlotte’s Web.”

“Yes, I did. When Charlotte died, it was a little too much for me to handle. Wilbur losing his best friend like that and all. Such a shame. She was a great spider.”

“She was wasn’t she?” I tilted my head at him, trying to hold back the laughter.

“Are you making fun of me, Lorelei?”

“No.” I snorted.

As we were both laughing, the doctor walked in. “Good news, Lorelei. I’m sending you home today.”

“Really?” I smiled.

“Yes. Really. Your chest x-ray came back good and your blood work is good. Your fever is gone and you can finish getting better at home but with restrictions. No going out anywhere. That includes work. I’m writing you a note for the rest of the week. You may return on Monday if you’re feeling better.”

“You won’t have to write a note, doctor. This is my boss right here.”

“Ah. Well, Lorelei is to be off the rest of the week.”

“I wouldn’t let her back anyway until she was one hundred percent better.”#p#分页标题#e#

“I’ll go get your discharge papers ready.”

When he walked out of the room, I did a little wiggle in my bed. “I can’t believe I get to go home.”

“It’s a good thing I stayed here with you today.”

“I can’t wait to be at home with Hope. I miss her so much.”

“She misses you too.”

An hour later, I was discharged from the hospital. The first thing I did was change into my warm two-piece cotton pajamas and curled up in a blanket on the couch.