Whippet Tales May 2013 Edition 1 VOL.1, Issue 1, May 2013 | Page 22

me,” And then he added, “We should get a picture taken together next time just so all the guys believe me when I tell them about you.” “You're planning on telling them about me?” “I'd hate to know what you have to say.” “All sorts of horrible things.” They both shared a secret smile as Lila's mom came into the room and took Lila back to her room. Lila had been visiting Joel for several days and now she was happy to be out of the hospital – and her wheelchair. She went to see him again the day after she was released from the hospital, bearing cookies and good news. As she entered his room, she saw him stretching as he woke up from a nap. “Morning, Sleeping Beauty.” “Is this your way of telling me I'm beautiful?” “Is this your way of being full of yourself?” “So you do think I'm beautiful. I knew it.” Lila rolled her eyes and smiled. “I have good news. My father will be coming to take a look at you and take your case into his hands. He thinks, from what I've told him, that he has a solution for your problem. And as a bonus, I brought you cookies.” “What type?” “Black licorice. Your brother said they're your favorite.” “There's Joe for you, saying the only kind I don't like when you ask for my favorite.” Lila grinned. “I'm just kidding. I brought peanut butter cookies.” Joel's smile grew noticeably bigger. “Now you're talking.” As they ate cookies and told jokes, Lila couldn't help but notice how she'd never quite met anyone like Joel before – and she liked it this way. The day came when Joel was prepared for heart valve surgery with Lila's father as his surgeon. Lila's father had already made it clear that he would not give up on Joel and that any services he offered Joel, including the surgery, would be free. After all, Joel had saved his only daughter's life. Lila was there for Joel until her father forced her to leave when he began the operation. It was better that way, she was sure, or she would have surely passed out from the sight that she would have been subjected to. She never had been good with blood and gore. She sat for several hours, waiting and praying. She knew this surgery was very dangerous and not guaranteed to work, but she believed in God and her father whose hands she had asked the Lord to bless. When her father came out to her with news that Joel was doing good so far she breathed a sigh of relief. Joel would need lots of rest and time before her father could be 22 Whippet Tales 2.0 May 2013