Page 46 of Planned Seduction
Vicky shrugged. “It’s taken a while to get it. At first, I was hurt ’coz I thought he didn’t like me anymore. But now I understand it’s the cancer he doesn’t like. He doesn’t know how to deal with it. Neither does his mum. That’s why she won’t let him come see me.”
“You must miss him.”
“I did. We Skype and FaceTime a lot now, and he tells me what’s going on at school. He promised to come visit as soon as I get out of hospital this time. And”—she turned to Daniel—“he’s going to bring all the Harry Potter DVDs so we can watch them together.”
“Cool,” Daniel said with enthusiasm. “Did you finish the last book?”
“Yep.” Vicky looked at Amy. “Daniel gave me all the Harry Potter books. I started reading them in hospital, and when I felt too sick to read to myself, Daniel read to me.”
“So, what did you think?”
“I loved number four. And number five. When I got home, Theodore and I read the seventh book together. Theodore’s my little brother,” she told Amy.
“Did he like the books?”
“Very much, although he was a little young to understand it all. I had to explain a lot of it to him.” Amy imagined Vicky had explained a lot of things to her little brother, and not just about Harry Potter.
“Well, then,” Daniel said, “I guess I’m just in time.”
“For what?” Vicky’s eyes grew large.
“To give you this.” He handed her a wrapped parcel.
She pushed herself up slowly. Amy saw how much effort it cost her. But the child’s smile was enormous. A touch of pink shaded her pale cheeks.
“I know what it is,” she exclaimed before she’d even opened the present. “And it’s perfect. Thank you. Theo will love this, too.”
Little fingers worked at the sticky tape until she had the paper off. She held it up and grinned in delight. “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.”
Daniel’s smile was just as large.
Amy stared at her friend, her heart filled with silly warm fuzzies. What a sweetheart. Without a doubt, he was the nicest man she knew.
Holding the book like a valued treasure, Vicky looked at Daniel. “Last time I saw you, you told me I’d encouraged you to do something. Have you done it?” She winked, scrunching up the right side of her face.
Daniel winked back. “I’m in the middle of it.”
Amy followed their conversation with curiosity.
“Is it working?”
“Too early to tell. I’ve made some progress, though.”
Vicky looked at Amy then back at Daniel. “You won’t give up, will you?”
“And let you down? Not a chance.”
“Well, let me know how it works out, okay?”
“Okay,” Daniel agreed. “Now we’d better let you get some rest.”
The dark circles under Vicky’s eyes stood out on her abnormally white skin. “I think I need it.”
“I’ll be in soon to see you again.”
And no doubt drop off another gift.Amy smiled at the thought. “Nice meeting you, Vicky. Hope you feel better.”
“See you soon, slugger.”
