“Well,” the nurse says, “it’s good to ask for help when you’re stuck, right?”
“Uh uh.”
“And what about your dad—does he help you with your homework?”
“He helps meeverynight. And when we’re done, I get ice cream.”
“Ice cream!” Penelope says. “No way.” She shoots me a quick wink. “I don’t believe you. You get ice cream every night? I didn’t think any girl was that lucky.”
“It’s true. We have different kinds too so he lets me choose. I like strawberry but I also like chocolate, and cookies and cream, and fudge brownie, pretty much any ice cream.”
“Maybe you and your dad can have some ice cream tonight. I’m just going to check how he’s doing and if he’s okay, he gets to go home today.”
Penelope approaches me, stethoscope in hand. Here’s my chance. Let’s hope there’s some truth to the saying, third time’s the charm.
She presses the cool chest-piece against my back. “Take some deep breaths for me.”
As I breathe in and out, her sweet scent gets me all worked up. I must keep my cool.
“What are you doing?” Kailee says, her expression full of curiosity.
“I’m listening to your dad’s heart and lungs. I want to see if they sound okay. Since I can’t see them, I have to use my ears instead.”
“Cool!” Kailee says. “What does it sound like?”
“Here, come listen for yourself.”
“I can?”
“Of course. Come here.”
Kailee approaches excitedly. She glances nervously at me and I nod, letting her know it’s fine.
She stands in front of Penelope, who kneels down and carefully tucks Kailee’s hair behind those big, adorable ears. Then, ever so gently, she inserts the earpieces.
Kailee's face erupts into amazement, eyes growing huge and mouth hanging open.
“I hear it!” she says with a glee.
“What does it sound like?” Penelope asks.
“It sounds like a really good heart to me.”
Penelope looks into my eyes and says, “it does to me too.”
Kailee’s forgotten all about the plan. Penelope’s charm has that effect on both of us.
Kailee’s still listening. She seems captivated. Maybe this will become a story she repeats at dinner parties—the day she fell in love with medicine.
I lean down and pluck one earpiece from my daughter’s ear, and whisper, “Operation Dinner. Commence. Out.”
My daughter jerks comically and plants a palm on her forehead.
Penelope takes notice. “What’s going on?”
Kailee leans in and whispers in my ear. “Copy.”
Then she looks at Penelope and says, “I think you should have dinner with my daddy. He’s really, really, really nice. And he’ll let you have ice cream.”
