“This is wonderful, Petra!”
“It’s Noah’s ark.”
“I see that. I like it,” Nikki told her, but the little girl just stared at her. It was so hard to know what she might be thinking. There was a keen intelligence in these children that Nikki found fascinating. They seemed very independent as well, but not distant or too grown up.
Theo wandered into his sister’s room at that point and asked Nikki about the book she’d just written. They were in a discussion over it when Dorian came up to tell them that dinner was ready. He waited for the children and Nikki to precede him down the stairs, but Nikki held back.
“Dr. Swann,” she began.
“Dorian,” he said softly.
Nikki nodded but looked preoccupied as she whispered, “Where is Brutus?”
The doctor’s voice was just as low. “In the basement.”
Relief covered her face. “Thank you.”
Dorian didn’t say anything but only stared at her. Nikki felt self-conscious.
“You think I’m foolish, don’t you?”
“Not in the least. Snakes are scary. I’ve never had a desire to have one, but Theo loves Brutus, and I can live with it.”
Nikki smiled at him. He was doing a fine job. His children were sweet and respectful, and she saw signs all over the house that Christ was preeminent.
“Shall we go down?” Dorian asked.
“Of course.” Nikki preceded him, and minutes later they all sat down to eat.
A game of Junior Monopoly followed dinner and kitchen cleanup. Nikki couldn’t remember when she’d had such a good time. The game very much followed the “luck” of the cards, and of all things, Petra won. She didn’t seem overly boastful or surprised, and Theo informed Nikki that Petra won quite often.
As the children put the game away, Dorian made an announcement. “I’m going to walk Nikki to her door, and I want you guys to get ready for bed—pj’s, teeth, everything. Once you’ve seen to all of that, you can wait for me in the living room.”
The children bid Nikki goodnight and moved to obey their father. Petra even hugged Nikki before leaving the room. Dorian locked the front door as they left, and as soon as they hit the stairs, his guest spoke.
“You have wonderful children.”
“I think so,” Dorian said softly, “but then I’m biased.”
“Well, I’m not, and I can assure you, they’re very special.”
“They like you too.”
“Good. They really are welcome to visit whenever they like. If I’m in the middle of something, I’ll be very honest about my time.”
“Thank you. I’ll make sure they know.”
“Thank you for a wonderful evening and the help with the yard.”
“You’re welcome. We’ll probably see you on Sunday.”
“Yes,” Nikki smiled warmly at him. “Goodnight, Dorian.”
“Goodnight, Nikki.”
Nikki let herself in the door, waving just before she shut and locked it. Dorian made his way home to put his children to bed. Nikki settled down with a book. Both were still wishing they’d had more time to get to know one another.
“Hey, buddy, what are you doing up?”
It was much later that night, long past time for Theo to be asleep, but he was downstairs looking for his father, who was reading in the living room.
“I can’t sleep.”
Since this was totally unlike Theo, Dorian set his book aside. Theo climbed into his lap, and Dorian wrapped his arms around his son.
“What’s up?”
“I can’t stop thinking about Nikki.”
Dorian looked down at the young image of his own face.
“I don’t think she’s the type to leave, Dad,” the little boy said. “I don’t think she would ever leave.”
Dorian lay his forehead against Theo’s and sighed.
Would this little boy ever forget the way his mother had left them? Would he ever look at other women and not compare them to Crystal Swann, who wanted out of motherhood so badly that she couldn’t get away fast enough?
“I think maybe you’re a little ahead of the game, Theo,” Dorian said gently. “I just met Nikki today.”
“I know, but she’s the first one you’ve ever asked to dinner. Usually Petra gets in trouble for doing that, and today you let her.”
“Nikki is our neighbor, Theo.”
Theo’s look was old beyond his years. Dorian wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d laughed in disbelief, but he only looked at his father in skepticism.
“I like Nikki,” Dorian said gently, “but that’s all I’m willing to say on the subject, okay?”
“Okay.” Theo’s dark head nodded. “I just wanted to make sure you noticed how nice she was and that she seemed to like us too.”
Dorian pressed a kiss to Theo’s temple and held him close. “Thank you, Theo. Do you think you can sleep now?”
“Yeah. I think so.”
Dorian carried his precious son to bed and decided to retire himself. He had to work the next day, but even telling himself that didn’t help. It was very late before sleep came.
“Well, now, Michelle,” Dorian said to the 11-year-old who was waiting for him in one of the exam rooms. “How is the ankle?”
“It feels pretty good. I hope the cast can come off.”
Dorian moved toward the X rays which were clipped on light boxes mounted on the wall. “We’ll just have a look and see. Your mom’s not with you today?”
“She is, but there was some insurance paper she had to fill out. She said she’d be in as soon as she was done.”
“This looks good,” Dorian spoke as he studied the film. “See, here’s the old X ray and here’s today’s. I think that cast can come off.” The doctor turned with a smile when he said this, and that’s when he spotted the book in Michelle’s hand.
“You’re reading a Dominique Brinks.”
“Yeah.” Michelle’s eyes lit up. “She came to speak to our class last week.”
“Theo told me.”
“She even signed this for me.” Michelle displayed the signature with pride. “And Theo’s reading one of her books, one that hasn’t even been published yet. Isn’t that cool?”
“Yes, it is.”
“He thinks it’s her best yet.”
Dorian smiled and turned to the door when Michelle’s mother came in. The next 20 minutes were spent finishing up the appointment, and Dorian was glad it was not more complicated. He was having a hard time concentrating.
“I brought my horse to show you.” Petra began the conversation from Nikki’s front step. She didn’t bother with a greeting but picked things up just where she and Nikki had left off two days before.
“Oh, Petra, I’m so glad. It’s a wonderful horse.” Nikki croaked these words out, her head pounding. “But I have a terrible cold, so I don’t think you should come in.”
“Oh, all right. I’ll come back tomorrow.”
She left without saying another word, and Nikki felt too awful to say anything about a visit the next day. Still trying to convince herself that it wasn’t that bad, Nikki went back to the living room sofa. She should have been in bed, but that would have been admitting defeat. Crawling beneath the quilt, she closed her eyes and prayed that her mother would drop in for another surprise visit.
“What are we going to get Theo for his birthday?” Petra wanted to know that night at the supper table.
“I don’t know. Have you asked Theo?”
“We can’t do that,” she said with five-year-old logic. “Then he’ll know.”
That Theo was sitting at the table with them did not seem to occur to Petra.
“Well, Pet, since Theo’s birthday is at the end of November, I think we have a little bit of time.”
“Can we invite Nikki to the party?”
“I don’t know. And in truth, it’s up to Theo if Nikki comes. Like I said, Petra, we have time to decide.”
“I think it would be f
un if Nikki came,” Theo put in in his sensible manner.
“She can’t.” Petra could change tracks faster than anyone could keep up.
“Why?” her brother wished to know.
“She has a cold.”
Dorian was suddenly all ears, but his voice was as calm as always. “When did you see her, Petra?”
“Today. She liked my horse, but she said I shouldn’t come in.”
Dorian finished his meal in silence, but he was already making plans. It was Petra’s night to help with dishes, but she was painfully slow, so Dorian did most of them. He then told the children to get their coats on. He slipped a can of chicken soup into his medical bag and led the way down the street.
For a time no one answered the door, and the young doctor realized he’d taken a five-year-old’s word about Nikki’s being sick. He was just about to check the garage for her car when he heard the turn of the deadbolt.
“Dorian,” Nikki managed in a surprised croak.
“Petra said you were ill.”
“Just a cold.”
Dorian looked at her. Knowing some of the different bugs that were being passed around the schools, he strongly suspected that this was more than a cold. “May we come in?”
“Of course; I just didn’t want you to catch anything.”
“You probably caught this from one of the children at school, which probably means that we are already immune to it,” Dorian said as he came in the door.
Nikki, who was cold all over again, went back to the sofa and was followed by her visitors. She sat down and watched as Dorian sat opposite her on the oak coffee table. Having been in the house several times, the children knew the way and wandered off to see her office full of cartoons.
“Here you go.” Dorian handed her a thermometer. He waited until she’d stuck it in her mouth and then reached for her wrist. Blood pressure was next, and then it was time to consult the thermometer.
“Over 102º,” he murmured softly before his hands went up to check the glands in her throat. “Headache?”
“Yes, and so cold. About an hour ago my ear started to hurt.”
Dorian stared at her and said softly, “I don’t suppose you thought to call me.”
“I knew you’d be out of the office by now.”
“I live up the street,” he reminded her in a low voice.
“I think you must have better things to do than pay house calls to pesky neighbors.”
Again Dorian only stared at her before saying, “You couldn’t be more wrong.”
Nikki closed her eyes. “Please don’t scold me, Dorian. I feel awful.”
“I’m sorry,” he said softly. “Let’s have a look at those ears.”
While this exam was underway, Petra wandered back in and sat close to the writer.
“Does it hurt, Nikki?”
“Yes, Petra,” she answered with her eyes closed.
“My dad will fix you.”
Nikki managed a small smile.
“Both of your ears are infected,” Dorian sat back and stated.
“Both?”
“Yes, the right is worse than the left.” He was reaching into his bag. “Are you allergic to any medications, Nikki?”
“No.”
Dorian took something from the bag. “I want you to take one of these now and one before bed. It’s amoxicillin. There’s enough in this envelope for morning and noon tomorrow, and when I come home I’ll bring the rest of your prescription.” Dorian stood. “I’ll get you some water.”
Nikki shut her eyes until he returned and then obediently swallowed the pill he gave her.
“Have you had anything to eat today?” the doctor wanted to know.
Nikki looked at him. “I had some yogurt, but I couldn’t taste it, so I gave up.”
“I brought a can of soup. The kids and I will heat it for you.”
Nikki thanked him and watched him walk from the room. It took her a moment to realize that Petra was still with her, those dark eyes watching her with concern.
“Do you feel better now, Nikki? Did the medicine help?”
“Not yet, Petra, but I’m sure it will.”
The little girl nodded and put her hand on Nikki’s arm. If Nikki had felt more like herself, she’d have taken her hand. Not long afterward, Theo and Dorian came with a mug of soup and a large glass of apple juice. They sat with Nikki while she ate most of the soup and then rose to put their coats back on. Dorian wrote something on a piece of paper and left it on the table.
“This is our home phone. If you need anything or start to feel worse, call me, even if you just want to talk about your symptoms.”
Nikki nodded. “Thank you.”
Dorian watched her, hating to leave but knowing he had no choice. “I’ll be back tomorrow as soon as I can get away, no later than about six o’clock.”
“Okay.”
Nikki stood long enough to be certain the doors were all locked and then gave up. A double ear infection! It was time to admit she was sick and go to bed.
Nikki didn’t feel much better in the morning, but late as it was, almost eleven o’clock, she still made herself get up, shower, and dress. Refusing to return to bed, she headed for the living room sofa and put in a video. Nikki was usually strict with herself about watching Christmas movies out of season—the holidays were more special if she saved them until at least Thanksgiving—but today she was in need of a dose of White Christmas. She kept the sound very low and dozed off before the movie ended. She woke to someone knocking at the door. It was Mrs. Butram; Petra was behind her.
“Hello, Nikki,” she spoke kindly, her arms full. “Petra and I have brought you a little something to eat.”
“Oh, Mrs. Butram, how nice.”
Nikki held the door open wide and tried to stay on her feet. The stuffiness of her ears made her feel as if the room were spinning.
“Go back to your seat, Nikki,” the older woman ordered, sizing up the situation. “We’ll take this to the kitchen and then bring you a nice hot bowl of soup.”
Nikki thought she smelled food, but she couldn’t be certain; her head felt as though it was stuffed with cotton. She sat back down on the living room sofa, and a few moments later Mrs. Butram materialized carrying a tray which held a mug of soup, some tiny muffins, and hot tea.
“Oh, my,” Nikki croaked. “How nice.”
“This is my mother’s recipe for colds,” the older woman informed her. “She swears by it.”
“It looks wonderful,” Nikki said as she took a sip. She looked up in surprise. “I can taste it.”
“That’s the dill. Now you drink as much as you can and rest all day today. By tomorrow you’ll be feeling much more the thing.”
Nikki smiled at her and then looked down at Petra, who had drawn close.
“My dad is bringing you medicine.”
“Yes. Isn’t that nice of him?”
Petra nodded. “He’ll fix you.”
The adults in the room shared a smile.
“Adores him, this one does,” Mrs. Butram said softly, and Nikki’s eyes went back to the little girl who was still watching her in concern. When she felt better she would have to plan a tea party or something equally fun just for the two of them.
The visitors weren’t long in staying, but Nikki thought about their visit for a long time. “Adores him” had been the babysitter/housekeeper’s words. The writer’s mind went back to the Swanns’ visit the night before and how kind the doctor had been. Without much effort, Nikki found it very easy to believe that Petra adored her father.
One week later Nikki knocked on the Swanns’ door and waited. It didn’t take long for the young man of the household to answer.
“Hi, Theo, you’re just the person I want to see. Do you have time to talk about the book?”
“Sure. Come on in.”
Nikki stepped in the door, notepad in hand. The whole house smelled as if Mrs. Butram had been baking. Nikki followed Theo into the living room and sat when he d
id. She could see Petra coloring at the kitchen table, but other than a brief wave, she seemed unaware of the two in the living room.
“Should I tell Mrs. Butram that I’m here, Theo?”
“She’s already left.”
“Your dad then?”
“He’s not home just yet. A few days a week we have time in between.”
“Oh, all right. Should I come back when your dad gets home?”
“No, this is fine. I can’t open the door to just anyone, but we know you.”
“Okay,” Nikki nodded, taking it all in. Feeling protective all of a sudden, she had to remind herself that she’d come on business. “Did you have a chance to finish the book, Theo?”
“Yes, and—”
“Theo,” Nikki cut him off. “I want to say something before you do, okay?”
The little boy nodded.
“Just because I’m your neighbor—just because you know me—doesn’t mean you have to be easy on me. I want you to give your honest opinion. If you like some of the book, none of the book, or all of the book, I want you to tell me. If there were certain points that confused you, or were not well-written, you need to tell me. Don’t worry about my having hurt feelings or being upset. I won’t be. Okay?”
“Okay.” Theo would have gone on, but Nikki opened her pad and poised her pen.
“Are you going to take notes?” he asked.
“Yes. That way I can remember the changes I need to make.”
Theo nodded but then said very honestly, “I liked it. I especially liked Brad. He was cool and really brave.”
Nikki nodded, feeling very pleased.
“And what about the whole mystery—was it believable? Do you think it could have really happened?”
Before he could answer, a door opened somewhere in the kitchen, and Petra’s voice could be heard greeting her father. A sudden flush coming to her face, Nikki stood. By the time Dorian made the front room, she looked ready to bolt.