Page 31 of Dead Sure
Tennyson
Ten winced as a nurse cleaned and irrigated the cut on Everly’s arm, but his daughter barely flinched. Everly’s Little Mermaid nightgown was stained with blood, both her own and Aurora’s. The nurse spoke quietly to her as she worked.
Aurora, who sat beside Everly was being worked on by a nurse of her own. She was still crying for Fitzgibbon. Thankfully, Ronan had texted to say he and Fitz were on their way. He’d done what he could to help Aurora, but the only thing that could soothe her was her father.
“You’re gonna glue my skin together?” Everly asked the nurse.
“I am. The glue will form a hard shell around your cut that will keep it from becoming infected.”
“That’s super cool. Me and Aurora know this kid at school who likes to put glue up his nose so his nostrils stick together. One day, he couldn’t get them unstuck and he had to go to the nurse. Remember Aurora?”
Aurora stopped crying and giggled. “Kenny P. is famous for sticking things up his nose.”
The nurse gasped in mock horror. “We don’t ever stick anything into our noses, ladies.”
“We would never,” Everly said, setting a hand over her heart. “Right, Aurora?”
“Right. Oww!” Aurora let out a yelp as her nurse cleaned her cut.
“I’m sorry, sugar plum. We have to make sure no germs get into that cut. Now comes the glue.”
“Is it gonna hurt?” Fresh tears poured down Aurora’s cheeks.
“Not at all.”
Aurora watched cautiously as the nurse applied glue to the gash on her arm. “That didn’t hurt at all.”
Aurora shook her head.
“You’re gonna be good as new in a few days, honey. I promise. Same for your friend. You should take it easy tonight and probably stay home from school tomorrow.” The nurse winked at Ten.
“Sounds good to me.” Everly moved so she could lay down on the gurney. Aurora joined her.
“You’re next, Mr. Grimm.” The nurse who had worked on Everly was the one helping Tennyson.
Ten flinched as the nurse started to clean his left arm.
“Your families are here,” a voice said, outside Ten’s room.
“Daddy!” Everly and Aurora said at the same time, as Ronan and Fitz came into the room.
“How are you doing, honey?” Ronan asked, setting Everly’s pink bag on the foot of her bed.
“I’m okay, Daddy. My arm is a little sore, but I’m tough. I’ll be just fine. Nurse Kerry said so.”
“I’m not tough. I cried, Daddy.” Aurora reached for Fitz, who sat on the edge of the bed and hugged her tight.
“Of course you’re tough,” Fitz said. “Tears are just your pain leaking out of your body. If it helps, I cried in the car.”
“Because you were scared?” Aurora set both hands on Fitz’s cheeks.
Fitz nodded. “I was scared, but look what good hands you were in. You look good as new.”
“I’m okay, but my nightgown is ruined. It’s got my blood on it.” Aurora gagged again.
Fitz’s eyes widened. He held his hands out in front of Aurora’s mouth, looking as if he were going to catch her vomit in his hands. “I brought clothes for you to change into.”
“Okay, Mr. Grimm, you’re good as new too.” Nurse Kerry straightened up. “And you are?” she asked, pointing to Ronan.
