good,” Amber said, relief in her voice, cuddling against Kenji.
“Amber, put your hurt hand on Kenji, like this,” Tanner said, gently placing her hand on a pillow against Kenji’s shoulder. “That will keep it elevated. Kenji, don’t move.”
Kenji rolled his eyes like a trapped animal.
“Okay.” Amber settled down. “I’m ready now,” she said, closing her eyes. “Tell me how to make a soufflé. Please.”
Kenji looked from Amber to Tanner. “You start with some eggs,” he said.
Tanner shook his head in exasperation. “How many eggs?” he prompted.
“A dozen. You need a dozen eggs.” Kenji relaxed a little as he felt Amber nod her head drowsily next to him.
“Do the eggs have to be at room temperature?” Tanner asked, keeping his voice low.
“You need a dozen eggs at room temperature,” Kenji amended. “You need a dozen, fine fresh eggs, not too small, at room temperature.” He glanced at Tanner, who nodded in encouragement.
“Do you have to separate them?” Amber asked, her voice sleepy.
“Yes, you do.” Kenji smiled down in surprise at the child, and Amber opened her eyes and smiled back.
“Kenji, will you be my uncle?” she asked. “And Tanner? You, too? I want you both to be my uncles.”
The men looked at each other and then at the child.
“Like Marty and everybody?” Tanner asked. “You want us to be uncles like that?”
“Yes,” Amber said. “Hope said you have to like people especially. And I like you both especially.”
Kenji looked at Tanner in panic. Tanner shrugged and nodded.
“Sure,” Kenji said like a drowning man, following Tanner’s lead. “I’ll be your uncle.”
“Me, too, Amber,” Tanner said. “We’re in.”
“Good.” Amber closed her eyes and exhaled softly. “I’d like that. I’ll do stuff for you, too. Hope said that’s how it works.”
Just then the nurse bustled in, but she halted in midstride when she saw Kenji in bed with Amber. She glanced uncertainly from the child to the men and shook her head.
“It’s okay,” Tanner whispered. “We’re family. Her uncles.”
“Yes,” Amber said. “They said okay.”
“It’s against the rules,” the nurse said, sounding confused.
“She needs a story,” Kenji said, his voice low. “Her mom’s not here.”
The nurse paused, looking at them. “All right,” she said finally. “Is she in pain? Amber, does it hurt?”
“Yes,” Amber murmured, as the men nodded.
The nurse took out a syringe and injected its contents into the bag that dripped into Amber’s IV tube. “She can have something now and again in two hours,” she said. She smiled at them. “Make that story a good one. Amber needs her rest.”
“It is a good one,” Amber said, not opening her eyes. “It’s a soufflé.”
The nurse, looking more confused, took Amber’s pulse and made a note in the chart, then dropped the chart back in the holder at the foot of the bed. Then she nodded at them all and left. Amber stirred, getting more comfortable. Tanner and Kenji could see her shoulders relax. The painkiller was helping already.
“Tell me more,” Amber said, her voice dreamy. “Do you beat the whites first?”
By early afternoon it was clear that Amber would need to stay in the hospital at least for one night. The painkillers were doing their work and, off and on, she slept heavily. Kenji, gingerly avoiding the plastic tubing that ran into Amber’s arm, was still cuddling her, not sure how to extricate himself without waking and upsetting her. Tanner joined Hope down in the administration office to make more calls while they waited for Faith, who still hadn’t picked up. Marty, however, did.
“Marty, this afternoon’s shot for sure and maybe tonight is, too,” Hope said into the phone. “Kenji, Tanner, and I are with Amber now, but Kenji’ll have to go to work soon. I don’t know where Faith is, and mom can’t get here before six, if then. Somebody has to stay with Amber, and right now I’m it. Unless Tanner wants to stay.” She looked inquiringly at him.
He shook his head no and tried to take the phone away. Hope turned her back on him. Some help he is.
“I don’t want her here all alone,” she said to Marty. “She might be scared if she wakes up without anybody here, and Tanner says she hasn’t been feeling that great.”
Hope paused while she listened, shrugging Tanner’s hand away when he touched her arm. “I know it’s going to make a mess of my play. I know I’ll have only two nights left to make my stake. But Amber. I can’t leave her.”
Tanner grabbed her arm.
“Hey!”
Tanner plucked the phone from Hope’s fingers.