Her mother took her place next to the bed, smiling down at Taylor encouragingly. A strand of her hair clung to her cheek and her mother brushed it back behind her ear.
Taylor asked worriedly, "Are you okay?"
" You are the one on the table."
Taylor laced her fingers together on her flat belly. "Been here, done this. It's the results, I'm worried about, but I shouldn't think too far ahead."
The doctor started testing her reflexes, took her temperature and her vitals. Stuck a needle in her arm and drew vial after vial of blood.
When Taylor and her mom arrived back at their home, Taylor asked, "Can we have take out for lunch?"
" I don't want you eating junk food."
" Mom, I heard Dr. Dunne when she thought I couldn't. I know I have to go to the hospital on Monday, so can we just have pizza tonight. Please?"
Her mother sighed and smiled. "Fine. As always you have me wrapped around your little finger."
Taylor hugged her mother to her chest tightly. "Oh, Mommy, I love you so, so much."
Her mother smacked a wet kiss on her cheek.
Taylor stepped back hurriedly, laughing. "Gross, Mom!"
They split ways at the stairs. Taylor stopped on the first step. "I am going to read a little, or do you need help with anything?"
" No. Now that we are having pizza, I don't have much to do except pick up the phone and place an order for delivery."
" Remember. Hawaii for me, with triple cheese, please."
" I'll always remember." Her mother hurried down the short corridor toward the kitchen. "I'll call you when the pizza gets here."
Taylor rushed up the stairs and then across her bedroom. She skinned out of her jeans and pulled on a pair of comfy boxers. With a sigh of relief, she crawled into bed. She was feeling a little dizzy and breathless, but she did not want her mom to notice. She wanted to enjoy the last few days of normality, because she had a feeling that once she checked into the hospital, there was an enormous possibility she would never return to the comfort of her room, and her welcoming bed, with the comforting pillows, and the perfect body-fitting hollow in the mattress. After she fluffed the cushions behind her, she stretched over the edge of the bed, her t-shirt sliding up her waist, to reach for her book on the bedside table.
Daimhin should have turned his back the moment her t-shirt slid up her waist. He wanted to brush his fingers over the pale skin exposed by the crumpled up shirt. He wanted to kiss her just to see if her lips were as soft as they looked. His rampant thoughts jolted him. He tried to order his thoughts, and he had no idea how he was going to concentrate on anything for the rest of the day, but he had to get to work.