need to go. Allen needs me. His sister is all the family he has.”
Izzie cleaned herself up at the nearest sink, trying to compartmentalize her father where he belonged. It wasn’t easy.
Why had he had to come back to her world now?
The last three months had been the most chaotic, unsettled, most terrifying days of her life. Through almost all of it, Allen had been there. Even Jake had been more absent than present, lately.
But Allen had always been there.
She was going to do the same for him. Starting right now.
Izzie stepped out of the exam bay and searched out someone who could set a few stitches. Her arm was starting to sting like the devil. She found Nikkie Jean near the rear of the ER.
It took her only a few moments to describe the weird encounter with her father. Nikkie Jean just tended to her arm, bandaged it, and patted Izzie on the head. Apparently, they were all starting to get used to the bullets flying around them. Izzie didn’t know what to think about all that. “You have got to stop playing so rough on the playground, Iz. You’re starting to look like Frankenstein’s Bride. That’s what you should go as for Halloween. All you need is green face paint. Speaking of...I need green face paint, orange fabric—eighty-six yards of it, and pink paint. And gray.”
“Which kid is going as what?”
“That’s for me.” Nikkie Jean snickered, but there was still fear and worry on her face. “Well, the gray and green are for Caine. I’m determined to make him a dragon. Now, as for me, I’m going as the traditional pumpkin. He wouldn’t let me go as an egg. I wanted to draw a crack on it and sew on a doll hand and foot. He nixed it. Said it was a little too creepy.”
“Do it. I dare you.” Izzie laughed, appreciating her friend’s way of diffusing tension.
Nikkie Jean turned serious. “I don’t know, kid. In my head, I know my father is just a person. One who is entitled to make mistakes like the rest of us. The instant he gets close to me, my throat closes, my heart races, and I have to fight crying. Now, a part of that is probably the hormones—” She paused, then shot Izzie a pointed look. “You’re sure you’re not pregnant? No striped or polka-dotted prophylactics, right? Just the regular old boring—and effective—kind?”
“Not pregnant. We are careful. Unlike a certain pair of physicians we know, we know how to use protection...properly.” Although, if they were ever to have a baby…that would be fine with her.
In fact, she rather liked that idea a lot.
Someday. When the timing was right. Maybe even three or four, so they could have the noise and laughter that went on at Nikkie Jean’s or Annie’s every day. Allen would probably like that, too.
“I love the way he looks at you like you’re cotton candy and he’s jonesing for a sugar fix.” Nikkie Jean leaned closer. “You’re beautiful together. He’s all broody and gentle, yet looks like a male model. You look like a pixie, and so graceful and feminine. When you are together in the room, you can feel the heat. Of course, you always could. Since the storm. So...what are you going to do next?”
“Now? I’m going to go check on him. His sister.”
“She’s been taken upstairs. Cage is taking care of her; there was glass embedded pretty deeply. She’s far shyer than I realized. Even worse than Annie.”
“Annie has confidence in herself, she just doesn’t like public attention. But Allen’s sister...she’s hurting,” Izzie said. “Like the rest of us were. Are.”
“Well, we’ll have to make certain she knows we can help her find her safe place. Now, go stand by your man. I think that’s exactly what Allen needs more than anything. A woman who’s proud to be at his side. I think he’s doubted himself long enough.” Nikkie Jean hugged her quickly. “Take care of him, Iz. I think he needs you more than he’ll ever admit. He’s accustomed to being the protector, the caregiver, the one in charge.”
“The hero.”
“That’s exactly it. I think he needs someone to take care of him for a while.”
Well, Izzie thought she could do that.
Allen was nothing like her father—he was ten times the man her father would ever possibly be. He would not ever hurt her.
He wouldn’t abandon her—she wasn’t about to do the same to him.
101
This was it. His last chance to make things right.