“Have you thought this out properly?”
Rodney turned to where his daughter was sitting cross-legged on his bed watching him go through his wardrobe, “Meaning?”
“Meaning the last time you had dinner with this woman you had Laura in your head,” Alisa reminded him.
Rodney rolled his eyes at her, “Hopefully this time it’ll be less traumatic.”
Alisa chuckled, shaking her head at the next shirt he held up for inspection.
“Dad, you’ve really got to buy some nicer clothes,” Alisa told him, she slipped off the bed and rummaged around, “Let’s actually try and co-ordinate for a change.”
Alisa chewed her lip and pulled out a white T-shirt before adding a dark red shirt, “This is the best I can do,” she told him, “I’ll get you something better for your birthday.”
“Brat,” Rodney murmured as he took the clothes from her, “Go away and annoy someone else.”
With a cheeky wave Alisa headed out the door leaving him alone. Little did his daughter know Rodney was dreading this, not only had his last date with Katie been with Laura in his head, the last real date he’d had that Alisa knew about was when Alisa was eight years old and that had been pretty much a disaster.
*********************************************
Rodney frowned as he studied the equations before him, he felt like he was constantly correcting other people’s work. Checking the time he shook his head in annoyance at himself, he had plenty of time before he was meeting Lila. They’d been seeing each other for about two months and he liked her, there was just one little thing – Alisa.
Every time he had a date Diane looked after his daughter which she loved but Lila kept talking about meeting her. Rodney had always had the policy that if he was dating it wouldn’t involve his daughter unless he knew they were serious, something that had never happened.
“Rodney,” Barbara, his assistant appeared, “The school is on the phone for you.”
He groaned, “What’s she done now?”
“I don’t think it’s that kind of call,” she told him.
Rodney winced; Barbara had six kids so he always took her advice on these sort of things, “Thanks,” he picked up the phone and took a deep breath before hitting the button, “McKay.”
“Dr McKay,” the woman on the other end stated, “This is Kara McGlone from Alisa’s school. I’m afraid Alisa isn’t well. She’s been having quite bad stomach cramps.”
Rodney sighed, “She had them a few times over the weekend but always seemed fine after ten minutes.”
“Well I’m afraid they’ve been with her all day,” Miss McGlone told him, “We need you to collect her as soon as you can.”
Rodney rubbed his eyes, “I’ll be there in about half an hour.”
Hanging up the phone he quickly dialled Diane to let her know she didn’t need to collect Alisa from school before he told Barbara where he was going.
“Don’t worry,” Barbara told him, “Call me and tell me how she is, Rodney. I’ve seen everything so if you need any help...”
“Thanks,” Rodney told her gratefully as he ran out to his car.
“Dad,” Alisa reached up to him when he walked into the nurse’s room.
Rodney picked up his daughter, feeling her wrapping arms and legs around him and burrow into his shoulder.
“Hey,” he whispered, “What’s wrong?”
“My tummy hurts,” Alisa told him tearfully.
Rodney made a few soothing noises as he rubbed her back, he turned to the school nurse standing nearby, “Do you have her things?”
“Here,” the young woman smiled at him before gently rubbing Alisa’s shoulder, “We’ll see you when you’re feeling better, Alisa.”
Alisa didn’t say anything; instead she cuddled closer to her father. Rodney continued to soothe his daughter as he carried her to the car.
“I’m sorry, Daddy,” Alisa whispered as Rodney placed her in the back seat of the car.
“About what, Lissa?” he gently stroked her hair.
“I was meant to stay with Kirsty tonight,” she shrugged, “Now you won’t get to have your night without me.”
“Lissa,” Rodney soothed, “It’s not your fault you feel bad and don’t worry about anything. Now, we’ll be home soon, you can get into your pyjamas and watch your cartoons on the sofa.”
“Rodney,” Lila purred over the phone, “I completely understand. Your daughter is important and if she’s ill then that of course she is your first priority.”
Rodney sighed in relief, he had no idea why Lila was dating him but it was things like this that made him grateful she was.
“I’ll make it up to you,” he promised.
“Actually,” Lila continued, “How about I make it up to you.”
“What?” Rodney frowned confused, he glanced over to where Alisa was curled on the couch with her favourite teddy, Starz – he’d actually been Lis’ bear and was only brought out these days when Alisa was upset or feeling ill.
“I’ll come make you dinner,” Lila told him, “That means you don’t have to leave her and we still get to have dinner together.”
“I...eh...” Rodney stammered a little, “That’s nice of you but...I...”
“You still have to eat, Rodney,” Lila reminded him, “And I am a wonderful cook.”
Rodney sighed, “Sure. Alisa will be in bed by about seven, come over then.”
“You won’t regret this,” Lila told him before she hung up.
Little did he know that she was wrong and this would be something he would always regret agreeing to.
“Okay,” Rodney covered Alisa with her quilt before placing Starz in beside her, “You get some sleep and we’ll call your Gran and Granddad tomorrow.”
Alisa cuddled her bear, “My tummy still hurts.”
“I know, Lissa,” he whispered, “We’ll go see the doctor tomorrow morning.
Alisa nodded but grabbed his hand before he could leave, “Daddy, will you read me a story.”
Rodney checked the time and nodded, “Okay, how about I read some more of the Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe?”
Alisa smiled and snuggled up to him when he sat against the pillows with her, falling asleep before he was half way through the chapter. Marking his place in the book, Rodney set it on the bedside table before he slid off the bed. As she cuddled down with a sigh Rodney gently kissed his daughter’s forehead, frowning a little as he saw the grimace of pain on her face.
He’d take her to the doctor in the morning.
Rodney watched Lila as she buzzed around his kitchen; she was making some kind of pasta dish and chatting away about her day. They’d met at a conference, Rodney had been astonished when she started talking to him and was even more surprised when she agreed to have dinner with him.
“Daddy?”
The small plaintive voice made Rodney turn to find Alisa wandering in with Starz dragging behind her.
“Lissa,” Rodney crouched down to her, “What’s wrong? Why are you up?”
Alisa glanced at Lila, “Who’s that?”
Rodney winced, he’d hoped Alisa would sleep until morning and not come down while Lila was in the house but he had no choice now but to introduce them.
“This is Lila,” Rodney picked up his daughter, “She’s a friend of mine who came to see me tonight.”
“Hi, Alisa,” Lila smiled at the girl.
Alisa looked Lila up and down suspiciously before she whispered loudly to Rodney, “What’s she doing?”
Rodney laughed slightly, “She’s making us dinner. Now, why are you down here?”
“I’m thirsty,” Alisa told him, “And my tummy still hurts.”
Rodney gently rubbed her back, “We’ll get you some water and something that will help your tummy, and then you go back to bed.”
“Okay,” Alisa whispered.
Setting her down Rodney quickly got some painkillers and water for her, Alisa took the pill and liquid quickly.
“Bedtime now,” Rodney told her.
“I’ll tuck her in,” Lila offered, smiling at him, “If you don’t mind stirring.”
Rodney hesitated for a moment but finally nodded and quickly kissed Alisa’s head again, “Night, Lissa.”
Lila walked beside Alisa as they headed back upstairs to the little girls room. Alisa climbed back into bed and cuddled her bear.
“Now,” Lila said as she sat beside the bed, “Time to sleep.”
Alisa nodded, “Goodnight.”
“Good girl,” Lila practically purred, “And remember, if you come back downstairs tonight then I will take this bear and you will never see it again.”
Alisa stared at the strange woman, clutching her bear tightly, “This was my Moms’.”
Lila leaned into the child, “And if you interrupt us again it’ll be mine. Okay?”
“Okay,” Alisa whispered, clutching her bear to her fearfully.
Lila stood up and gave her a warm smile, “Good girl. Goodnight.”
Rodney smiled at Lila as he finished dinner, “That was great.”
Lila laughed slightly, “I promised, didn’t I?”
“Well before dessert I need to check on Alisa,” Rodney told her, “I’ll be back in a minute.”
“I’m sure she’s asleep,” Lila said, trying to stop him.
Rodney shook his head, “I just want to check on her. She wasn’t well all day.”
Before she could say anything else Rodney disappeared upstairs to check on his daughter and Lila hoped the little girl was sleeping because Lila needed to keep McKay sweet. She needed him to make sure she got promoted because without his knowledge Lila was sure she wouldn’t get her job.
Rodney gently pushed open the door to Alisa’s room sure she was sleeping because she would have been down a few more times if she wasn’t. To his horror he found Alisa doubled up in pain, crying softly.
“Lissa,” he ran over to her bed and gathered her into his arms, “Lissa?”
“Hurts,” she cried, her hand pressing hard against her stomach.
“Why didn’t you come tell me?” Rodney asked confused, Alisa would never stay silent if she was upset or hurt.
“She told me not to,” Alisa whispered, “Or she’d take Starz.”
Anger filled Rodney but he managed to keep it contained as he hushed her. Wrapping the quilt around his daughter, Rodney lifted her into his arms before carrying her downstairs.
“Is she alright?” Lila rushed over as Rodney placed Alisa on the couch.
Rodney turned on her, “Get out of my house now.”
“What?” she asked innocently.
“You frightened my daughter so she didn’t come down to tell me how bad she was feeling,” Rodney snapped, “Now get the hell out of here.”
Lila tossed her hair grabbing her bag and jacket, “It was getting boring anyway.”
Rodney ignored her while she left focussing on his daughter as he called an ambulance.
Rodney paced the waiting room; he couldn’t get the sound of Alisa calling his name and crying in fear as they took her to the operating room. Her appendix had burst and if he’d waited any longer to call the ambulance...he shook his head trying not to think about it.
“Rodney,” Diane called as she jogged over to him.
He stared at her, “What are you doing here?”
“Scott called,” she replied.
Rodney frowned, remembering that he’d seen Diane’s husband as he ran through the ER with Alisa on the gurney.
“How is Alisa?” Diane asked moving him to a seat.
He shook his head, “This is my fault.”
Diane frowned at him, “No it’s not. There was no way you could have known.”
Rodney sighed, “It is,” he quickly told her about the night.
Diane gently rubbed his shoulder, “It’s not your fault, Rodney. It’s not your fault.
Rodney rubbed his eyes; Diane was sleeping on the seats next to him as the sun streamed through the windows.
“Dr McKay,” the doctor appeared.
Rodney and Diane jumped up moving together to the woman standing there still dressed in scrubs.
“Alisa?” Rodney gasped fearfully.
“Your daughter is fine, Dr McKay,” the doctor, Rodney was almost sure her name was Greenwich, “We’re just moving her into recovery and you can see her.”
Rodney sighed, feeling Diane gently rubbing his arm as relief flowed through him.
“Okay,” Diane said softly, “I’m going to go and pick up some things for Alisa; I’ll also tell the school what’s going on when I take Kirsty. You call her grandparents and try to get some sleep.”
“Thank you,” Rodney whispered as he rubbed his hand across his face, “I don’t know what I would have done without you, Diane.”
She gently squeezed his hand, “You won’t have to find, Rodney. You two are part of the family.”
*********************************************
“How was your date?” Alisa asked as she sat across Rodney for breakfast the next morning.
Rodney looked at her blandly, “Good morning to you too.”
“Come on,” Alisa rolled her eyes, “How was your dinner? I’m just curious if I’m getting an evil step-mother.”
Rodney frowned at her, “What is your problem with Katie Brown?”
Alisa shrugged, “She’s too nice.”
“She’s too nice?” Rodney demanded in confusion, “What does that mean?”
Alisa started to eat her breakfast, “She doesn’t exactly get sarcasm, Dad. She just looks at you with this...this...”
“This?” Rodney motioned her to continue.
She bit her lip thoughtfully, “Kind of like a confused rabbit.”
“Alisa,” Rodney scolded.
“You’re telling me you haven’t noticed?” Alisa said, ignoring him.
Rodney grimaced at her, “I happen to like nice.”
“Please,” Alisa scoffed, “You like people who argue back with you, which let’s face it Katie Brown won’t.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Dad, from everything I’ve been told by Gran, you, even the woman herself in the movie she left, you and Mom argued constantly,” Alisa reminded him, “We argue constantly. You fight with John, Carson, Dr Weir...do I have to go on? These people are your best friends.”
Rodney’s frown didn’t leave his face, “So you’d prefer if I dated someone like...say Laura?”
“No way,” Alisa cried with a roll of her eyes, “Then you two really would be like divorcing parents.”
Rodney laughed softly before fixing his daughter with a piercing stare, “I like Katie, Lissa and I’m seeing her again for dinner tonight. You don’t have to like it.”
She shrugged, “Good. Because I don’t.”
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