Mina didn’t take her eyes off the screen as she moved the phone just a tiny bit further away and whispered, “’K.”
Jekyll kept his phone close while he ordered food, only putting it down to pay. Mina had a minor panic attack when she couldn’t see him, but she let me soothe her as we waited for Jekyll’s face to come back on the screen.
“On my way back,” he said, and Mina smiled even though tears still slipped down her face. “Gotta put my phone away so I can carry the food. Yeah?”
“He’ll be right back, honey, promise,” I said.
“Okay, Ekyll,” Mina whispered, and Jekyll hung up.
Mina lasted about a minute before she started to cry again. “Ekyll?”
“He’ll be right here, baby. Come snuggle for a minute while we wait.”
She glanced at me, then back at the phone.
“He’ll be here before you know it,” I crooned, and she scooted her little booty back so I could wrap my arm around her. She leaned against me and shoved her thumb into her mouth, still sniffing as she tried to control her crying.
She had remarkable self-control for a little girl. In some ways, I admired it, in other ways, I hated it. Hated that she felt she needed it. She should be a normal little girl, showing every feeling she had safely.
My door slid open, and Mina sat up with a gasp. “Ekyll?”
“Yeah, it’s me,” he said, setting bags of food on the counter across from the window.
“Stay here, baby,” I said. “Let Jekyll bring you the food.”
Before he could open the bags, a nurse walked in informing us that Mina needed to get x-rays.
“She needs to eat first,” Jekyll bossed.
“The tech has an opening now, and if not now, she will have to wait until morning,” the nurse shot back.
“Would it be possible for her to eat just a little something?” I asked, trying for more of a honey tone. Jekyll’s vinegar one was obviously not working. “We’re not sure when she last ate, so we want to make sure she doesn’t starve.”
“I think it would be better that she didn’t,” the nurse countered. “If she needs surgery, she’ll need to fast.”
“Oh, good point,” I said. “I didn’t think of that.”
The nurse smiled at Mina. “Are you ready to go?”
She shook her head, leaning closer to me.
“Jekyll’s going to go with you, baby,” I promised. “Okay?”
“Ekyll?” Mina squeaked.
“You ready?” he asked.
She bobbed her head up and down, so he lifted her off the bed and settled her in the wheelchair.
“You get to go for a ride,” I said, excitedly.
I could tell she wasn’t sure that was a good thing, but she nodded.
“You have to encourage her, Hyde,” I whispered. “Positive reinforcement that it’s all going to be okay.”
He narrowed his eyes as he leaned down to kiss me quickly. “I don’t do—”
“Kids. So you’ve said, but you need to quit playing that tape,” I ordered. “That kid has chosen you, so you’re gonna have to figure it out.”
