come back.”
“Oh. Then I’m surprised she moved on if she wanted to see her boy.”
“I’ve thought about that. I think my promising to watch out for him gave her the strength to move on. Though I don’t know what I can do. I can barely make rent.”
“What about her family? The baby’s father?”
“I called the convenience store where she worked. Kari was raised by an elderly grandmother who’s now in a nursing home, and the baby’s father is dead.”
“I know some people. They have influence and money.”
She glanced over. “The Elements. This baby isn’t magical.”
“Neither am I.” We had reached the nursery. “Let’s go find him.”
“Don’t you have an appointment?”
“I’ve got fifteen minutes.”
She nodded, her expression uncertain. “Okay. Let’s find Kari’s son.”
It turned out that Elysia didn’t need any Elemental clout to get in to see the baby; all she needed was me. I had become quite the celebrity around the hospital, and all it took was for me to vouch for Elysia.
“I’m glad someone has finally come to see the little guy,” the nurse told us as we followed her down the hall toward the NICU. “It’s good to know he has a godmother. He’s doing well, but be prepared for him to be in here another month. That should give you time to get the paperwork together.”
“Paperwork?”
“Didn’t you sign legal documents when you became his godmother? I imagine you would have to go through the regular adoption process without them. But I’m not a lawyer, so I can’t say.”
Elysia looked over at me, her expression alarmed. I suspected she hadn’t intended to adopt the baby when she agreed to look out for him.
“Here we are.” The nurse stopped outside a door, and turned to face us. “Will you be going in, as well, Miss Daulton?”
“No. I have an appointment in a few minutes.” I turned to Elysia. “But I’ll be back to get you.”
“Thank you, Addie.” Elysia gave me a tentative smile, clearly nervous about seeing the baby she saved.
I returned her smile and headed to the Burn Unit. Elysia was proving to be a good, person after all.
Working for the hospital was an eye-opening experience for me. Forgotten past or not, I was pretty sure I had never used my talents to help. That was probably why the satisfaction it brought me was so unexpected. I sometimes wondered if this had been Rowan’s plan all along—not just to help the burn victims, but to show me what doing good felt like. Whether his intent or not, it had worked.
Dr. Albright, head of the Burn Unit, and my point of contact within the organization, rose to his feet and extended a hand. These short meetings had become a routine, and one I looked forward to.
“Another successful week, Miss Daulton.”
I stood and took his wrinkled hand. “Thanks to you.” It was because of this caring man that I got the chance to prove alchemy’s worth on a grander scale.
“And where did you find this humility?” His care-worn face creased into a grin. We had discussed on more than one occasion the hubris of the alchemist, the necessary arrogance to believe I could do the impossible.
“I am not so proud that I can’t give credit where credit is due. You gave me this opportunity, against a lot of opposition. I appreciate it.”
“Bah. At my age, I see no point listening to the windbags who think they know best. Usually, it’s what’s best for their pocketbooks.”
I smiled. Dr. Albright had opened up with me over the last few weeks.
“Besides, Dr. Brant typically knows what he’s talking about.”
Dr. William Rowan Brant, one time volcanologist, and now a major backer of the Burn Unit. I didn’t think Dr. Albright knew he was also the Flame Lord. But I wasn’t sure.
“I’m also grateful to him for this opportunity,” I said.
“Remind him that he still owes me a bottle of cognac. I knew my Bearcats would win.”
I laughed. “I’ll tell him.”
Dr. Albright walked me to
“Oh. Then I’m surprised she moved on if she wanted to see her boy.”
“I’ve thought about that. I think my promising to watch out for him gave her the strength to move on. Though I don’t know what I can do. I can barely make rent.”
“What about her family? The baby’s father?”
“I called the convenience store where she worked. Kari was raised by an elderly grandmother who’s now in a nursing home, and the baby’s father is dead.”
“I know some people. They have influence and money.”
She glanced over. “The Elements. This baby isn’t magical.”
“Neither am I.” We had reached the nursery. “Let’s go find him.”
“Don’t you have an appointment?”
“I’ve got fifteen minutes.”
She nodded, her expression uncertain. “Okay. Let’s find Kari’s son.”
It turned out that Elysia didn’t need any Elemental clout to get in to see the baby; all she needed was me. I had become quite the celebrity around the hospital, and all it took was for me to vouch for Elysia.
“I’m glad someone has finally come to see the little guy,” the nurse told us as we followed her down the hall toward the NICU. “It’s good to know he has a godmother. He’s doing well, but be prepared for him to be in here another month. That should give you time to get the paperwork together.”
“Paperwork?”
“Didn’t you sign legal documents when you became his godmother? I imagine you would have to go through the regular adoption process without them. But I’m not a lawyer, so I can’t say.”
Elysia looked over at me, her expression alarmed. I suspected she hadn’t intended to adopt the baby when she agreed to look out for him.
“Here we are.” The nurse stopped outside a door, and turned to face us. “Will you be going in, as well, Miss Daulton?”
“No. I have an appointment in a few minutes.” I turned to Elysia. “But I’ll be back to get you.”
“Thank you, Addie.” Elysia gave me a tentative smile, clearly nervous about seeing the baby she saved.
I returned her smile and headed to the Burn Unit. Elysia was proving to be a good, person after all.
Working for the hospital was an eye-opening experience for me. Forgotten past or not, I was pretty sure I had never used my talents to help. That was probably why the satisfaction it brought me was so unexpected. I sometimes wondered if this had been Rowan’s plan all along—not just to help the burn victims, but to show me what doing good felt like. Whether his intent or not, it had worked.
Dr. Albright, head of the Burn Unit, and my point of contact within the organization, rose to his feet and extended a hand. These short meetings had become a routine, and one I looked forward to.
“Another successful week, Miss Daulton.”
I stood and took his wrinkled hand. “Thanks to you.” It was because of this caring man that I got the chance to prove alchemy’s worth on a grander scale.
“And where did you find this humility?” His care-worn face creased into a grin. We had discussed on more than one occasion the hubris of the alchemist, the necessary arrogance to believe I could do the impossible.
“I am not so proud that I can’t give credit where credit is due. You gave me this opportunity, against a lot of opposition. I appreciate it.”
“Bah. At my age, I see no point listening to the windbags who think they know best. Usually, it’s what’s best for their pocketbooks.”
I smiled. Dr. Albright had opened up with me over the last few weeks.
“Besides, Dr. Brant typically knows what he’s talking about.”
Dr. William Rowan Brant, one time volcanologist, and now a major backer of the Burn Unit. I didn’t think Dr. Albright knew he was also the Flame Lord. But I wasn’t sure.
“I’m also grateful to him for this opportunity,” I said.
“Remind him that he still owes me a bottle of cognac. I knew my Bearcats would win.”
I laughed. “I’ll tell him.”
Dr. Albright walked me to
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