My Mr. Darcy

Chapter 7

(Lizzie)

When she heard what he said his name was, Lizzie was stunned! So this was the man whose genius, and money, was behind this wonderful place where Gracie was getting such good care? This was the man who was supposed to be her "date" for tonight? This was a man who evidently had a past that he was running from? This was the same man who she kept running into? So many questions were going on inside her head at that moment. When he held out his hand for her to shake, she got to that smile of his reach to his eyes. "I'm glad that I can finally put a name with this woman I keep bumping into", Darcy chuckled. "Yeah, I know what you mean", she shyly smiled. Just as she was about to continue, Dr. Austen peeked his head in, looked at Lizzie, and said, "Can I speak to you for a moment." "Sure". She dreaded going out into the hallway to speak with him, because she knew it would be bad news. Lizzie looked at Gracie's tiny face, and said, "I'll be right back, sweetie. You take good care of Mr. Darcy, okay." Gracie looked at Darcy, then at her, and stuck out her thumb..."You got it!", and she smiled. It was that smile that held Lizzie together as she went out into the hallway.

(Darcy & Gracie)

As Darcy watched Lizzie step out of the room, he panicked. He was not used to children, especially ones who were sick. I mean his sister had children, so it wasn't like he had never been around children at all. He and Sophie had talked about having children, in fact it was a dream of both of theirs to one day be parents, however, right about the time they were going to try, the doctors gave her the grim diagnosis. So, there went their dreams. He would've loved to have had a little girl...she would've had brown hair, blue eyes, and looked exactly like Li....okay wait, how did his thoughts go from Sophie to Lizzie? And why was he thinking about have children with Lizzie? Okay, man, focus...focus... "So, Darcy, do you have kids? Lizzie doesn't have kids. She hangs out with kids up here. But she gots no kids of her own." He listened intently to Gracie. Even though she was young, she sure did speak well. And cut right to the chase! "So, Lizzie comes up here alot, does she?" "Yes, sir, she sure does. She visits all the kids, and plays music for us. One time she brought a triangle for me to play! That was soo cool. I've known her for a long time. She's been coming since I was 3, now I'm 4!", she held up her fingers and smiled! Darcy couldn't help but smile, "Wow, you're quite the big girl! Maybe one day when I'm up here, I can meet your mommy and daddy. I can tell them what a nice young lady you are!" Gracie looked down at her hands that were in her lap, "My mommy and daddy are in heaven. It's okay though, because sometimes I think they are watching over me, making sure I'm okay." Darcy's eyes started to well with tears, but didn't let them fall. "I'm so sorry, sweetie." "That's why I'm glad Lizzie comes and sits with me. Sometimes she stays the night...I think she thinks i get scared, but I'm a brave girl. Sometimes Lizzie gets scared, and sometimes I see her cry. But don't tell her I said that." Gracie was like a little angel! Darcy knew why Lizzie had singled her out. She was like a ray of sunshine. He also understood a little about what Lizzie did, and what a phenomenal job she was doing. Darcy was beginning to think that missing that "date" tonight, was turning into a blessing!

(Lizzie)

"I just wanted to let you know that we are going to do a procedure tomorrow morning on Gracie. It's nothing to be alarmed about. We are going to go in and remove a tumor that we have found. I knew you would want to know. I know that you have formed quite an attachment to Gracie, of course it's not hard to do." Dr. Austen was one of her favorite doctors that Gracie had. "Yes, I'm quite fond of Gracie. I'm beginning to think of her more like a daughter. I know that I shouldn't, but my heart has gone out to her since she first came here." "I know Lizzie. We have all been watching the bond between the two of you. She loves you, Lizzie. Have you considered adopting her?" Lizzie's eyes went wide! "Yes, I have, but I'm not married, and the state requires that she live in a 2 parent home. But I'm going to try my hardest to see what I can do. Wow, you are the first I've told this to." Dr. Austen took Lizzie by the hand, and said, "Good luck. We are all behind you one-hundred percent!" Hearing that, made Lizzie's heart jump for joy! She turned back around, and went back to Gracie's room.

"Hey you two, you didn't party without me did you?" Darcy laughed and said, "Nope, the party has just begun." "Great! Hey Gracie, Dr. Austen said that they are going to get one of those nasty tumors out in the morning. Would you like for me to stay tonight?" Gracie smiled, and said, "Oh yes please! We can have a sleep over!  Oh, hey Darcy? Would like to join our sleep over...pleease!" Darcy looked at Gracie, and then at Lizzie, "Oh I don't want to intrude on a "girls only" sleepover." Lizzie could tell Gracie wanted him to stay, and to be honest the adult company would be nice. "Darcy, it wouldn't be an intrusion at all. In fact we both would like it if you stayed. I mean, if you have nowhere you need to be or anything. The nurses can wheel in another bed for you, so it would be no trouble at all."

(Darcy)

It had been awhile since he had spent the night at a hopsital, but the way Gracie looked at him, and the way Lizzie didn't seem to mind if he stayed, there was a joy the surged through him. "Well, I've never crashed a sleepover before....until now!", he smiled at both of them. "Yea! This going to be so much fun!!!", Gracie was clapping her hands with excitment. "Well, it looks like I need to go home and pack a sleepover bag." Darcy leaned over, and kissed Gracie on the head. It seemed like the thing to do, and she didn't push away. "I'll be back in less than an hour!" "Okie-dokie artichokie", Gracie said, and then laughed. Darcy smiled, and went toward the door. A hand touched his arm, and he felt  it! He knew he would, and the crazy thing is, he liked her touch! "Thank you so much for staying the night it means alot to us...I mean Gracie. Sometimes she gets lonely and afraid. She needs all the support and love she can get." Darcy looked in her eyes, and uttered words that he didn't know would be a part of his vocabulary again, "She is one brave little girl. I'm staying because she asked me to. But I'm also staying because you need all the comfort & support you need. You need someone to lean on. So, if you want, you can lean on me." With that, Darcy turned, and walked out the door. When he got inside his car, he said, "Sophie, I'm keeping my promise to you. I'm slowly letting go, and I think I might be ready to find love again."