Chapter 202
After leaving the hotel, I zipped over to the hospital, but as soon as I stepped into the ward, I walked into a tug–of–war between a nurse and Jason.
The nurse was like, “Oh thank God you’re here, Ms. March! Please talk some sense into this patient. He’s hell–bent on checking out today and won’t listen to reason.
The phrase “checking out” gave me a jolt, and seeing his stuff all packed up really hit me in the feels.
Once I got the nurse to give us a minute, I sat down face–to-face with Jason. Looking at his bandaged legs, I said helplessly, “You know, if you don’t take care of those wounds, they’ll scar. You want to give Grace a heartache?”
Jason shook his head, while stuttering, “I’m just a… rough guy, not into… that sorta thing.”
He didn’t come right out and say it, but I knew he was trying to save me the hospital bills.
I patiently explained, “I’m doing pretty well financially right now. Why don’t you just follow the doctor’s orders?”
Jason turned his head away, all stubborn, and after what felt like forever, he blurted out, “Xaviera’s… already had it… tough. I must… check out.”
He was so darned determined that it was hard to argue with him.
Just then, the door swung open and in came Darren; he went back, standing at the doorway with a gentle look on his face.
Sensing the tension, he paused, then walked over with a fruit basket in hand.
“I got some good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?”
Jason, who’s not exactly Mr. Comedy, said offhandedly, “What good news… could there possibly… be?”
“Ta–da!” Darren pulled out a paper like a magician, announcing, “Just got this from your doc. It’s a subsidy certificate for patients in need. Fits your bill perfectly, Jason.”
Jason looked puzzled at Darren and asked, “What’s it for? Can it save money?”
“Sure can, a good chunk of it,” Darren reassured him, laying a hand on Jason’s shoulder. “So, you better stay put in the hospital and do as the doctor says, alright?”
With just a few words, he eased Jason’s worries, and the guy settled down on the bed like a good boy.
I seized the moment to exchange a knowing glance with Darren, and we stepped out of the ward.
“So, is that subsidy for real?”
11:41
Chapter 202
Darren, seeing my skepticism, admitted, “Of course. Professor Yearwood’s all about integrity; wouldn’t dream of lying.”
I knew snagging that subsidy was no small feat, yet I could only muster a thank you, at a loss for what else to say.
“Hold off on the thanks. There’s something else I wanna run by you,” Darren glanced at me, saying, “The chief said Jason needs to stay here for at least four or five days. You’re swamped with work and can’t be here all the time, so it’s probably best to get a carer for him to handle his daily needs. What do you think?”
It turns out Darren and I were on the same wavelength, and I’d already asked Wallis to scout for a reliable male nurse on the down–low, since the industry’s full of dodgy characters.
When I told Darren about it, he was genuinely surprised, “Can I just say that I’ve found an experienced male nurse for him. If you’re cool with it, he can start tomorrow morning.”
Wasn’t that just a godsend?
“I can’t thank you enough,” I blurted out, all over the place, “Let’s grab dinner sometime.”
Darren flashed a smile and sighed, “You really should eat properly. Haven’t you noticed that you’ve lost weight?”
“Really?”
I’d been running around like a headless chicken these days and hadn’t given a second thought to my weight.
“By the way, I heard that the Temple family’s demon has joined your team?”
The words “Temple family’s demon” immediately brought Timothy Temple to mind. I said, “Yeah, Timothy is now our art director.”
Darren’s expression faltered slightly as he remarked, “He’s had a temper since he was little, so brace yourself.”
“Well, Timothy’s a lot better at his job than we thought,” I didn’t let on about Timothy’s true identity as a FreeMan, and just told it like it was, “And as for his temperament, he’s
straightforward and honest. Not bad at all.”
“What about me, if he’s all good?“.
