“Trey, do you think Sophie is doing well enough for me to get Chloe out of here for a little while?” Mia asked.
“She’s not spiking a high fever at the moment, but we still don’t know what’s causing it.” I looked over to Chloe then Sophie. “I don’t think there is a chance you’re getting her away from her daughter at the moment.”
“I agree, but whatever I say, can you back me up?” Mia asked.
“I’ll do whatever you need if it’ll help Chloe.”
Chapter 38
Chloe
“Hey Victoria, can you stay for a bit? I was thinking about getting Chloe out of this room for a few minutes,” Mia asked.
“I would be happy to. I’ll sit right here,” Victoria answered. “Chloe, why don’t you and Mia take a break and go get something to eat while Sophie is sleeping?”
“I’m not hungry, but I’ll walk with Mia down to the cafeteria,” I said, standing and tucking in Sophie and Amoeba.
“Come on, just a little walk-around.” Mia put her arm around me and steered me out the door.
I glanced back toward the room, chewing on my lower lip. “I hate to be away from her.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Victoria pulled a couple of files from her bag and held them up. “I promise.”
“Thank you, Victoria. I have my cell phone if she wakes up and wants me,” I said, still standing there. “We won’t be long.”
We rode the elevator to the first floor and got a hot tea in the cafeteria. Mia tried her best to keep the discussion light but, in the end, I just wanted to get back to Sophie.
“Did Jimmy visit his daughter during her stay in the hospital?” Mia asked. “Did he give you any support?”
“Mia, you know better than that. He hasn’t cared since almost the day she was born. He didn’t want her then, he doesn’t want her now.” I touched Mia’s hand. “Don’t let that get you upset anymore. I let it go, so you should let it go too.”
“How can a person not care about their child?” Mia squeezed my hand. “I wish Mom and Dad were here.”
“Yeah, that I’d love.” I looked around the room. “You were my mom and my dad for years and now you’re the best aunt in the world.”
“She needs more than an aunt. That’s why I wanted you to come here. The Hawthornes are amazing,” Mia sighed.
“They are pretty cool, but you know I have to go back.” I let go of her hand. “We don’t have green cards.”
“Let’s start the paperwork while you’re here. Then if you change your mind, you can come back.”
My mind wandered off as Mia spoke. I couldn’t tell her, after everything she’d done, that when I contacted Jimmy about Sophie being sick, he wanted no part of it. It was best just to tell her he was out of the picture.
“I want to get back. Should we bring Victoria anything,” I asked, “a coffee maybe?”
“I don’t think she’ll want anything, but if she does, I can come back.” Mia tossed our cups in the trash. “Can we at least look into getting your green cards?”
“Yes, we can.” I smiled but looked away quickly.
I didn’t want her to see on my face that I knew Jimmy was on the birth certificate, and he would interfere.
When we returned to Sophie’s room, I was surprised to find Sophie playing on the floor with Amoeba, and Trey and Victoria huddled over the files she’d brought with her.
“It looks like someone in here is feeling better.” I joined Sophie on the floor and put her on my lap, trying not to notice how Trey was looking at me.
“What are you two up to over here?” Mia asked, sliding into a chair next to where Trey sat. “Oh, nice. I see you have decided to get yourself out of the spotlight and get settled down. I’m proud of you, Trey.”
“Thank you, Mia, you and Parker inspired me to take the marriage leap,” Trey said, still looking at the file in his hand.