lovable. And she was content waiting on someone who appreciated how great she was to come along.
She had come to Virginia to go to school leaving everything and everyone behind in Kansas. After she graduated, she had thought about moving back home, but it was simpler to build the foundation there where she already had contacts and references. She had also assumed she would meet someone and fall in love and get married right away, but that had not happened yet. Eight years had passed quickly, and she was still nowhere close to having a family of her own.
Some days she got really homesick, but most of the time she kept herself busy working, shopping, and cooking. She loved to cook, especially her mama's recipes. When she filled her apartment with familiar aromas, it always took her heart back home.
When the plane arrived in Wichita, she ran through the airport to the car rental location. She drove to the Via Christi Regional Medical Center. After parking the car, she walked through the front door. Her mother and brother were waiting. They all hugged each other tightly each of them afraid to let go.
They held each other's hands as they took Lucy to her father's room. She looked at him. He looked so weak and pale, nothing like the vibrant man he usually was. She walked over to his bed, and kissed his cheek.
"Daddy, you hang in there," she begged. "I love you so much!"
Tears dripped off her face and onto his blanket.
Doggie Kisses
Charles "Chuck" Garmin had loved Wichita his whole life. He was born and raised there. His parents created the Garmin Global Positioning System and got very wealthy from it. Now, he ran the company. Since it was Saturday, he was at home instead of the office. He answered his phone.
"This is Mr. Garmin, Yes?"
He took out a pen and jotted down the information.
"I see. Okay, Thank you for calling."
He hung up and made another call.
"Hello, Stevens' Florist? Yes, this Mr. Garmin. One of my quality control inspectors is in the hospital. Can you fix up something cheerful and happy for his room? No, no delivery needed. I will pick it up in a couple of hours and take it to the hospital myself. Thank you."
Mr. Garmin walked in the door carrying a huge array of flowers. Mrs. Butler greeted him and thanked him for coming.
"Hello, Connie, how is Jim?"
"Hi, Chuck. They think he might have had a stroke."
"Oh, that's terrible. Is there anything I can do?"
Lucy wanted to know who this sweet man was. She had never seen him before and was pretty sure she would have remembered that cutie patootie.
"No, we are okay right now. You have never met our Lucy, have you?
"I don't believe I have," he answered nodding in her direction.
"Lucy, this is your dad's boss, Chuck Garmin,"
"Hi, nice to meet you," she answered.
He waved quietly to everyone and excused himself.
As the hours dragged on, everyone got more exhausted. Lucy tried to get her mom to go home and get some sleep, but she refused to leave. She told her to take her brother, Robert, to the house instead. They hugged Mama and left.
As she pulled up to the family home, her heart leapt with joy. She opened her front door, and their dogs welcomed her with sloppy kisses. She was super glad to see them because she missed her dogs all the time.
A couple of days later, her dad woke up. Everyone was so relieved. Lucy went into his room and threw her arms around him. It was terrific news, but her dad did not like being in the hospital at all. He thought he was well enough to go home, and kept insisting that they take him out of there.
The doctors were pretty sure he would be able to go home by Christmas, but that was still a few days away. How would they be able to tolerate him that long?
Lucy was looking out the window and saw Chuck in the parking lot. He was carrying a basket Oh what a beautiful man! He's probably gay or married. Or both.
When he walked in the door, she paid close attention to his friendly smile and the manly way he carried
Nikita Storm, Bessie Hucow, Mystique Vixen