Tricks of Fate

Chapter 12

[Iris]

I could finally breathe! The second I heard his voice my body reactivated. My lungs woke up and my heart started beating again. I ran to his bedside and looked down at him. His normally energized green eyes looked so tired. I wanted to hold him in my arms till he was good again than never let him go.
It was insane. I mean I'd just met the guy, but I don't know what it was about him that attracted me to him. I mean sure, she's gorgeous with a capital G but this felt like more than a crash caused by a physical attraction. It felt like we were connected on a whole other level and I think it had something to do with Nora if that was even her real name.

I made a mental note to ask my dad for help finding her parents. Her parents. That felt so weird. I couldn't imagine her belonging to anyone but me. The first night when she called me "mommy" it felt so natural, so meant to be. Looking down at Barry, I remembered how she called him "daddy", and this connection I have with him... It all felt too **connected** to be coincidental.
"What's on your mind?" he asked looking up at me worried. I chuckled at the irony of him being worried about me.
"Nothing that can't wait. Now you..." I said, passing my fingers through his hair, "... mister need some rest. I'm gonna go check on your daughter, 'daddy'. " I teased and he laughed.
"Do not call me 'daddy'." he breathed out between chuckles.
"Or what?" I challenged.
"Or I might just have to show you what 'daddy' does to bad girls," he smirked.
I felt like I'd been whiplashed. The flirty remark, the way his lip turned up at just the right angle. Gosh if I weren't a decent woman I would have taken him up on his offer right there and then.

To my relief (and that of my reputation) a knock at the door brought me back to my senses and I cleared my throat before asking the visitor to come in. A kind-faced, green-eyed, red-haired woman walked in followed by a strong-jawed, grey-haired man. By the similar features, I could tell that these were his parents. They rushed to his side worried and I took a minute to step back and let them have their family moment.
"Mom, dad. What are you doing here?" Barry asked, confirming my suspicions.
"Well, Dr. Snow called us and said you were in the hospital again so we rushed to see you. What happened Barry? Are you alright?" the woman asked her eyes wide and shimmering.
"I'm fine, a little weak but otherwise fine. It was nothing really." Barry answered.
"That was definitely not nothing," said Dr. Snow joining us in the room. She was the one who examined Barry when he came in and, having recognized him from his earlier visit, called his parents.
"Twice in three days, I might just have to give you a permanent room Mr. Allen." she jokes. She approaches him and starts examining him again and for some reason, a little twinge of jealousy makes its way from my mind to my chest. I brush it off, telling myself it's her job, but my heart won't have any of it. My mind is thinking rationally, he's a guy who I just met and who wants to be my friend. In my heart, however, he's already mine and seeing her petite, gloved hands on his athletically toned body was doing things to me that I couldn't explain.
"I'm sorry to interrupt..." I cut in, trying to make my escape as polite as possible.
"...but if you won't be needing me anymore I really should get going."
"Gosh where are my manners, I'm so sorry." Mrs. Allen apologized walking towards me with her hand outstretched "I'm Nora Allen and this is my husband Henry." she greeted.
Nora. The name rang through my mind. Coincidence? I think not. My journalistic instinct kicked in and baby Nora became a story with one too many open chapters for my taste.
For the moment I smiled and shook Mrs. Allen's hand introducing myself in turn.
"I'm Iris, Iris West," I said.
"West?" she asked with a chuckle
"Barry isn't that the..."
"Mom!" Barry cut her off, making us both jump out of our skins.
"I'm sorry." he apologized sheepishly. "Iris do you really have to go?" he asked, his pleading eyes turning my heart into moosh.
"I'm sorry Barr but I do," I said walking towards him.
"I have someplace I need to be and someone I need to pick up. I'll be back to see you tomorrow OK?" I explained and he nods with a smile. I planted a kiss on his forehead then smiled down at him before I got up to leave.
"If you don't mind me asking." Mr. Allen senior interrupts,
"Are you by any chance related to a Joseph West?" he asks.
"Yes, sir I am. He's my father." I smile, pleasantly surprised.
"Well what do you know!" he chuckles "We were college buddies but we lost contact a few years back. Tell him I say hi and that he shouldn't be a stranger."
"I will. I'm sure he'll be happy to hear from you." I said "Now if you'll all excuse me I really should be going. It was very nice meeting you. I'll see you tomorrow Barr, get well soon." I added, making my exit once all the formalities had been exchanged.