Chapter Ten

The next day, Lizzy decided to swing by the hospital to see Valentino. She waited until John was free, and they headed to Nairobi’s central hospital.

Kenya had some of the most advanced medical facilities in Africa—private hospitals that rivaled those in the West. This selection of impressive hospitals was available only to those who can afford it, with fees beyond the means of most Kenyans.

In contrast to the millions who relied on severely overcrowded and under-resourced government facilities, the central hospital tried its best to cater to the hundreds of patients who sat in the waiting rooms every day, under tremendous pressure to meet the needs of the Kenyan people.

John seemed as saddened by the overcrowded wards as Lizzy was.

It was times like these when Lizzy regretted not finishing her nursing degree. Every bit helped. Standing on the periphery didn’t feel natural or very helpful.

Little Valentino sat in a sea of chaos on an overly crowded children’s ward. His huge eyes lit up, and he tried to pull the nebulizer off when he saw Lizzy rounding the corner.

“Easy, little man.” Lizzy gently pulled his stubby fingers away and slid onto the bed, pulling him into her lap. Those same fingers clutched at her shirt, then her hair as he snuffled with excitement, babbling into the face mask.

Lizzy laughed as a nurse walked by.

“You can take it off. He’s been on it long enough,” the nurse said.

John leaned down and slowly slid the mask off Valentino’s chubby cheeks. Freedom from the mask released a chattering diatribe. Lizzy couldn’t understand much of what was said. All she caught was something about candy and a “twuck with big wheels.”

She grinned at John. “Hand over his gift—that might slow him down.”

Valentino’s excitement at the Spiderman backpack and coloring book and pencils brought a lump to her throat. These kids had so little to look forward to. Like the other children at the orphanage, Valentino would treasure those two small gifts for years to come.

He deserved so much more. A home with loving parents, food on the table, new shoes and clothes that fit, and a toy box all of his own. Instead, he was a lost little boy. A number in a system. A tick on someone’s checklist in an overcrowded ward.

John saw her swallow back tears and distracted the tyke by opening up the coloring box as Lizzy turned away. When she’d gathered her composure, Lizzy turned back, kissed Valentino’s sweet face and helped him color in a picture of the Transformers.

***

The kid got to Johnny. Correction—the kid and Lizzy’s reaction to the kid—got to him. His immediate protective instinct towards the tender scene took him unawares. He wanted to sweep them both away from the chaos. Take them to his Wyoming cabin far away. Far from the harsh realities of a world Johnny was all too used to.

And leaving that sweet boy in the room was like a kick to the gut. Lizzy stood, and panic lit Valentino’s wide brown eyes. She leaned down and spoke softly in his ear before singing a quick lullaby. The toddler lay back with such a resigned, flat look that Johnny had to turn away.

Sadly, Valentino knew what to expect in his tiny world. People left. Came back, then left again. Then new people took their place.

Johnny knew the uncertainty of that parentless childhood. He knew what if felt like to be alone at such a young age. He swallowed against the ache in his chest, took Lizzy’s hand and led her out of the bleak room. They sat in the darkened space in the underground parking, saying nothing.

Lizzy took a breath and placed her purse on the floor. “I hate leaving him there; he’s just so tiny.”

“Are they checking him out in the morning?”

“Thank goodness, yes. The Teens & Tots resident doctor will pick him up at seven. God, there are so many orphaned kids out there. How do I help them all?”

“It’s impossible, but you’re doing your best.”

“It’s not enough.”

Johnny picked up her hand and kissed her palm. “I love your big heart, but you need to pick your battles, otherwise it will break you.”

She stared back before tracing his temple with a tiny finger.

“Why do you do that?”

“What?”

“Touch my scar?”

“Because I want to make it better.”

“Jesus.” He grasped her wrist and pulled her onto his lap. They paused, staring at each other before he crushed her lips to his. Her hair fell over Johnny’s hands as he grasped the back of her head, seeking a better angle. He stroked her temples, in time with his tongue stroking hers, and she moaned against his mouth. She tasted like spearmint gum and glossy strawberries.

Lizzy sucked his bottom lip before pulling back. He loved that she was as out of breath as he was. “What are we doing, John?”

“What we do best—loving on each other.”

“There’s no love in this equation if we’re going to continue…whatever this is.”

“Don’t say that.”

“I mean it. You won’t break my heart again.”

He lifted her off his lap and reached for the ignition. “You think that’s what I’ll do?”

“I have no idea. I thought I knew you, but I don’t know anything anymore.”

Not trusting a reply, he backed out and circled to the exit. Lizzy latched her seatbelt and he looked away. Then he opened his mouth, as surprised as she was at what came out.

“I want you. I want to bury myself in your tight little body. If you don’t want the candles and poetry thing, then let’s just screw like rabbits.”

“Gee, that’s romantic.”

“That’s honest. Just being friends with you will be too tough. I want to touch you every second of the day. No games, Lizbug. That’s me, putting it out there.”

They pulled up at a red light.

“Fudge buckets. I’m speechless…”

Johnny said nothing, just gave her a heated stare, letting her know what he wanted to do to her. Lizzy licked her lips and his pants grew tight.

The light changed.

She turned in her seat. “If we do this, it means no commitments and no promises. What we do in Kenya, stays in Kenya.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“We’re strictly friends—with benefits.”

He placed a hand on her leg and squeezed. “Whatever you say.”

She nodded, seeming happy with that arrangement, and he smiled to himself as his fingers stroked her thigh. Lizzy had just made a deal with the devil. Once he got her between the sheets, she was never getting out.