Chapter 18
CHAPTER 18
I was happy that Kate had decided to read my texts and we were able to finally connect.
I had a nice Skype session with them both. Ethan and Elaine also popped in to say hello. I knew it would be hard for Ethan to see them leave, but we would all — hopefully — join up once more for the trip to Ethiopia.
I went to bed that night pleased that everything was falling into place. We’d been able to manage the overload of patients who came our way because of the flooding in Nairobi, and with Kate and Sophie in the hotel waiting for me each night, I would be able to manage my remaining two-week stay at the hospital much more happily.
Part of me debated whether to tell Kate and Sophie to wait it out, and come much later, but the flooding had subsided for now, and the forecast was for no more rain for at least a week or so. In fact, for the next ten days, there was at most a twenty-percent chance of rain. The hotel was fantastic, and I figured that Sophie and Kate could enjoy their days while I worked, watching movies on the flatscreen or swimming in the pool. There was a lot of unrest in the city and nation, but the Fairmont was very well-protected, and we could leave the city at a moment’s notice if necessary.
If I felt Kate and Sophie would be in danger, there was no way I would bring them to the city. I contacted Kyle to see if he had any contacts in Nairobi who could provide temporary protection while Kate and Sophie were with me. He gave me a number and I called and arranged for someone to monitor us while we were in the hotel. The company, run by a former military man who Kyle knew from his time in Africa, was only too happy to take my American dollars. Many of them, in fact, but the safety of Sophie and Kate were priceless to me.
I would spend every dollar that it took to ensure they were safe.
With that settled, I turned over in the bed, pulled a pillow over my head, and tried to go to sleep with thoughts of reuniting with Kate and Sophie on my mind.
I woke early, checked my cell, and saw that Kate had sent a message when she and Sophie arrived at the airport, and then again when they got on the plane. I figured she would be in the Heathrow airport by ten o’clock my time, so I hoped we could talk if I could take a break from my work. It all depended on how my first surgery went. It was usually a pretty fast procedure, so I hoped I could get to the hospital, scrub in, do the procedure, watch my patient for a short time in recovery and then sit in my office and do a quick Skype with Kate and Sophie while they were in London on their layover. I imagined they would be tired, as it was always hard to sleep, even if you were in the first-class suite that British Airways had on the flight to Heathrow.
As luck would have it, my first patient was textbook, and so the procedure and recovery went exactly as planned. I was free when the time came and so I grabbed a coffee from the cafeteria, trying my best to avoid Sam in the process, and went back to my office.
I sat behind my desk and checked my messages. Sure enough, there was one from Kate.
KATE: We arrived safely in London. Not a very good sleep for me despite how luxurious the BA first class seats are, but Sophie slept like a baby. We’re waiting patiently for your call. Love you. XOXOXO
I smiled and opened my laptop, wanting to watch them on a big screen instead of my cell. I made the call and waited. Within two rings of the phone, the screen opened and there was both Kate and Sophie with the backdrop of BA’s First-Class lounge behind them.
“Daddy!” Sophie’s smiling face, her chubby rose cheeks made my heart swell. She was such a good-natured child.
“Hello my two loves. How was your flight to Heathrow?”
“Perfect. No complaints. Just a bit too excited for me to sleep as well as I might have,” Kate said. She smiled, but I could see the fatigue in her eyes.
“You’ll have lots of time to sleep when you get here.”
We spoke for the next fifteen minutes, with Sophie relaying all the events of the trip and what the flight attendants did or said, making down her bed, and describing the amenities kit she received as a first-class passenger.
“Sounds like you had a wonderful flight. I’ll meet you at the airport and bring you back to the hotel and a good night’s sleep. How does that sound?”
“Sounds like heaven,” Kate said and blew me a kiss. Sophie did as well and so I blew them both back one, too.
“Love you both,” I said and then once they replied, I ended the call, exhaling with happiness that all was right with the world.
For the rest of the day, I alternated between surgeries, trips to the recovery room to watch my patients and time spent reviewing files. Finally, around seven, I glanced up and sat that it was time to grab a bite to eat and leave for the airport.
Michael popped his head in as I was gathering up my things to leave.
“Going to get Kate and Sophie? Have you eaten?”
“Not yet,” I said and slipped on my jacket after removing my lab coat. “I’ll get something to eat at the BA lounge while I wait.”
“Okay,” Michael said and frowned. “Just wanted to know if you were okay with Sam staying on for the rest of the time until my new surgeons arrive. I know I let her go, but she’s very skilled and we need every hand we can get.”
I waved my hand in dismissal. “Whatever you need,” I said, not wanting to be a stickler. “I’ll just ignore her as much as I can.”
“She’s that bad with you?”
I shrugged. “Let’s just say that she tries to get on my nerves and succeeds. I can ignore her.”
He shook his head. “I don’t understand some people. She is so nice and easy going with me.”
“She blames me for what happened, so she likes to remind me of it. I can ignore her. The hospital and patients are more important than my comfort.”
“If you say so,” Michael said. “Thanks for being so flexible. It’s just for two weeks.”
I nodded and grabbed my briefcase. “No problem.”
Then, he walked me to the elevators, and we said goodbye. “Give Kate and Sophie a kiss. Make sure we all have lunch once we have some time. Maybe the weekend? I could bring Miranda…”
“Sounds good,” I said, glad that Michael finally acknowledged his relationship with her. “I’ll remember to keep olives away from Miranda.”
He laughed and shook his head. “I’m glad you were there. I could do the Heimlich, but not as vigorously as you did. So, thank you.”
The elevator doors opened. “Don’t mention it.”
I stepped inside and smiled.
“Call me,” Michael said and mimed a phone call.
“I will.”
The elevator doors closed, and I leaned against the wall, glad to be finally on my way to pick up Sophie and Kate.
I went to the parking lot where my limo was waiting and tried to relax while we drove to the airport. Once there, I made my way to the British Airways lounge, and grabbed some food, taking a seat by a window to watch the runways. Kate and Sophie’s plane was due in half an hour, and so I spent the time eating and enjoying the scenery. Once I was finished, I went down to the arrivals to wait for them to disembark.
Finally, I saw them coming down the escalator to the main floor. When Sophie saw me, she pulled her hand out of Kate’s, squealed and came running.
“Daddy!”
We embraced and I kissed both her cheeks. Kate came to us and the three of us hugged and I kissed Kate warmly.
She looked tired.
“You need a nice warm bath and a foot rub,” I said as I grabbed her carry-on. “Why don’t the two of you have a seat, and I’ll grab your bags?”
“Thanks,” Kate said, and I could see she was really tired.
They sat and watched while I checked out the luggage as it came down the conveyor and on the carousel. I saw their bags and removed each one, before joining them.
“Let’s go,” I said, and we left the terminal, walking to the waiting limo outside. We piled into the limo and Sophie insisted on sitting in the middle seat between us.
The drive to the hotel was filled with Sophie’s stories of the trip, and of the turbulence, the food, and the various people she met along the way. She was such an outgoing child, she made friends with the flight attendants and several older people who were in Business Class along with her and Kate.
I couldn’t keep a huge smile off my face.
When we arrived, the driver stopped at the front entrance and a concierge came with a trolly to collect the suitcases and help us to our room which had two separate bedrooms, a living room/kitchen area and a nice big bathroom. The patio fronted onto the large central green area with palm trees and other blooming plants. A few dozen feet away was the swimming pool, surrounded by a fence. All around the courtyard, lights glittered to brighten the darkness.
It seemed like a tropical paradise.
“Is this my room, Daddy?” Sophie ran into the smaller of the two bedrooms and jumped on the bed. I had ordered a side rail, so she didn’t fall out of her bed during the night out of an abundance of caution.
“Yes, it is. Do you like it?”
“I do!”
I placed Sophie’s suitcase on the table at the end of her bed and she went right to it, so she could remove her toys and books. It was getting close to bedtime, and she knew the routine.
A bath in the big tub with lots of bubbles, brush her teeth, pajamas, a book or three, and then goodnight kisses.
Since I had been separated from her for the past ten days, I got the bedtime duties and was glad to oversee them.
When she was finally tucked into bed, I sat beside her, and she pointed to the first book I would read.
It was one about a big red dog named Clifford and was one of her favorites.
I read two more after, and finally, tucked the blankets around her, raised the side rail, and kissed both her cheeks.
“Good night, Sweetheart. I’m so glad you and Mommy came to stay with me. I was so lonely at night after getting home from work at the hospital. Now, I won’t be alone.”
“We missed you, too, Daddy.”
I kissed her again. “I love you.”
“I love you, Daddy.”
I smiled and turned off the light on the nightstand and went to the door. She turned over with her Olaf under her arm and closed her eyes.
I couldn’t ask for a more perfect family.