Chapter Seven
"Any word yet?" Jake asked, giving Sammie up to Frank as he sat down in the waiting room.
"No. They're running numerous tests on her. The doctors are looking for nerve and brain damage." He hugged Sammie, kissing the top of her head. "How're you doing, sweetie?"
"Fine, thank you," she answered sweetly. "Can I see Miss Minya now?"
"Not yet, baby. We have to wait until the doctors say it's okay," he explained.
Jake got up and walked across the small waiting room and switched on the television. "Monica sent Alex to check on a lead Cody got from the timer switch. She'll come by the hospital to report directly to you with what she finds."
"Good."
"Look, daddy," Sammie said, pointing at the television. "It's Miss Minya!"
Flashes of the diva's videos swept across the screen before a news announcer appeared. "We've just received word that Minya has been rushed to the Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, after being electrocuted in her home studio. A source close to the diva has admitted that Minya has been receiving death threats and is currently under police protection. We will keep you updated as we receive information."
Donovan uttered a foul oath under his breath. "Who would divulge that information? Who would be so stupid?"
"I don't know, Frank. Sashka and Dalton know how important it is to keep this under wraps." Jake smiled when Sammie crawled down from her father's lap and walked over to Jake for him to pick her up.
"She's grown attached to you quickly," Donovan said, tugging at one of Sammie's curls.
"Hey...kids love me," Jake said, grinning. "Sashka and Dalton will be here soon. They left right behind me."
"Well, we'll be here for a while. You better warn the switchboard that news has gotten out that they have a celebrity here."
Jake nodded. He sat Sammie down on the chair and went in search of the nearest nurse's station.
************
"Sir?"
Donovan looked up to see a petite, redheaded nurse. "Yes?"
"Is there a Sammie here?" she asked.
"Me! I'm Sammie."
The nurse looked at the child and smiled as she knelt down to her level. "Well, you must be very special, because Miss Sheridan is asking for you."
Sammie turned to her father with questioning eyes. "She's talking about Miss Minya, sweetie."
"Can I see her, please?" Sammie pleaded.
"Of course you can, but I can only allow two other people at this time."
"Jake, let's go," Donovan instructed.
"Hold on," Sashka interrupted. "We're Minya's friends, we should be allowed to go."
"Yes, you are her friends," Donovan agreed. "But she's asking for my daughter, so I'm making the decisions. We won't be long, I promise." He picked up Sammie and left the room, followed closely by Jake.
The nurse led them to Minya's private room. "Now, don't stay too long and don't get her excited," she instructed.
They entered the room and found Minya sitting up in the hospital bed. She smiled when she saw them approach the bed. It had been eight long hours since she arrived at the hospital and Donovan was amazed at how good she looked. Her left hand was bandaged and she bore bruises on her cheeks where he had slapped her while trying to resuscitate her.
"How are you feeling?" Jake asked, leaning against the window by the bed. He looked around the room that was already filling up with cards, flowers and gifts.
"My head hurts back here," she said, fingering the back of her skull. "I must have banged it when I collapsed; gave myself one heckuva goose egg. What I can't figure out is why my face is black and blue and it feels like a herd of elephants sat on my chest."
Donovan and Jake looked at each other and shook their heads. "Sorry," Jake said. "I guess we were a little overzealous when we were performing CPR."
"You did that? You saved my life. How can I ever repay you?"
Jake laughed. "Don't thank me...thank him. He wouldn't give up on you."
She held out her right hand. "Thank you, Frank."
He took her hand and squeezed it gently. "No thanks needed. Now, isn't there a certain little girl you wanted to see?" He placed Sammie on the bed with Minya.
"Come here, sweetie," Minya said, holding out her arms. She hugged her tightly and kissed her cheek. "I'm so sorry if I gave you a scare."
Sammie nodded. "You went away...like mommy." Her eyes filled with tears although a smile touched her mouth. "But you came back." She buried her head against Minya's chest.
Minya couldn't hold back the tears that formed behind her eyes. When she looked up at Donovan, his eyes shined with tears unshed as he turned away from her. "Oh, baby. I'm so sorry." She rocked Sammie in her arms.
"I'll go out so Sashka can come in," Jake said.
"You don't have to do that," Minya said, calling the nurses station. "Will you ask my secretary and my producer to come in, please? Yes, I know, but I promise it's fine." Moments later, Sashka and Dalton entered the room.
"How are you, Minya?" Sashka asked as she entered the room.
"I'm doing fine, Sashka. The doctor said there was no permanent damage. I'm ready to go home, but he insists I have to stay. At least until morning, and he'll reassess my status." Sammie, who sat staring at a basket of flowers that contained a cuddly teddy bear, distracted Minya. "Sweetie, would you like that teddy bear?"
Sammie nodded. "Could I hold it, please?"
Jake plucked the teddy bear from the arrangement and handed it to Minya. "You would be doing me a big favor if you would take care of him for me. He needs a good home and someone to love him."
Sammie hugged the bear fiercely. "Thank you, Miss Minya." She kissed the diva's cheek softly and whispered, "I love you."
Minya hugged her tightly and whispered back, "I love you, too, darling."
"Sashka, you need to give the switchboard a list of names that can be put through to the room," Minya instructed.
"Of course, I'll get right on it," she said, leaving the room.
The phone rang, just moments later. "Wow, that was fast," Jake commented while Dalton picked up the phone.
"Hey," Dalton greeted the person on the other end. "Oh, really? Man, she's gonna be way disappointed. She's been so looking forward to this." He paused and listened to the person on the other end. "Okay, I'll tell her. Goodbye, Ricky."
Minya raised a brow. "Ricky? What did he say...it didn't sound good."
"He's come down with the 'flu and has to back out of the awards show this weekend," Dalton explained.
Minya looked crestfallen. "Oh, Dalton, that's awful. Although, I expect he found out about the threats and is avoiding me like the plague."
"It has been on the news," Frank admitted.
"What?!"
"The report said it was someone close to you that gave them the information," Jake supplied.
"Shi..." Minya stopped, remembering Sammie was in the room. "I mean, shoot. And what am I going to do about the awards show? I'm doing a duet. A duet! I need a man."
"Well...." Dalton started.
"Shut up, Dalton. I don't mean I need a man in a sexual way! I need a man that can sing."
"Daddy can sing," Sammie informed her.
"He can?" She sounded intrigued.
"Don't get any ideas, because he won't," Donovan replied.
"I can sing," Jake admitted.
Minya turned to look at him and he grinned sheepishly. "Are you any good?"
He shrugged. "It all depends on what you consider good."
"And you would be willing to go out on stage with me?"
"What better way to keep an eye on you during that chaos called an award ceremony," Jake stated.
"Actually, that's a good idea," Donovan said, contemplating the scenario.
"Yeah, well, first I have to hear him sing." She sighed and lay back on the bed. "Too bad I can't get out of here so we could check you out, Jake."
The door opened and Sashka entered, carrying a large flower arrangement. "This just arrived while I was at the nurse's station." She handed Minya the card.
Minya opened it and immediately handed it to Donovan. "It's from him."
Too bad I missed. Take heart in knowing I won't fail the next time.
"Nice," he said. "Jake, go check out this florist. See what you can find out."
"On my way," he said as he flew out the door.
"Sashka, make the arrangements to travel to LA tomorrow morning. I don't care what the doctor says." Minya watched Frank and Sashka exchange looks. "And don't give me that 'she's not in her right mind' crap, because I am. I'm just tired of living with the threat of this lunatic. I want a distraction...and performing is always a distraction."
"Okay, Minya, if that's what you want. I'll arrange for the jet. We'll leave tomorrow."
"Good. Make arrangements for a studio when we get there. I need to see how Jake will work out. Also, have the two spare bedrooms at my apartment made ready for company. One of them is for Sammie, so make it a happy place for her."
"You got it." Sashka hurried from the room.
"You do like to give orders, don't you?" Donovan asked, amused.
"Oh, like you don't?" she sassed.
"It's my job."
"And it's hers to do things for me. After all, that's what a personal assistant is for."
"Touché, Miss Sheridan."
"You are an infuriating man, did you know that?" She scrunched her face up at him.
"Ah, so quickly the gratitude disappears." He grinned at the horror stricken look on Minya's face.
"I'm sorry. I never meant to imply..." she began.
"I'm just joking. I do that occasionally."
"Thanks for sharing that revelation," she said, laughing. "Now what?"
"Now, we wait for the information Alex and Jake are going after." He explained.
"And in the meantime," Dalton interrupted. "You should get some rest, little lady. I'll go help Sashka by making arrangements for studio time." He kissed Minya on the cheek. "See you in the morning, kiddo."
"Bye, Dalton."
"Daddy, can we sleep with Miss Minya tonight?" Sammie asked innocently.
Frank choked. "I don't think so, Sammie. It might be better if Monica and Alex stay with Minya tonight."
"Aw...too bad," Minya said, winking at him. "Frank? Are you blushing?"
"I don't blush."
"Hmmm...if you say so. But your cheeks say otherwise." She grinned.
He rolled his eyes heavenward. Alex and Jake couldn't report back soon enough to suit him. "Behave yourself and go to sleep."
"Only if you and Sammie crawl in the bed with me," she insisted.
"Oh, now you're trying to bait me, aren't you?"
"Who, me?" She asked innocently.
"Okay," Sammie said, crawling under the blanket. "Come on, daddy."
Donovan sighed loudly and sat on the edge of the bed. He picked up Sammie and lay down on the bed with her in his arms. Minya smiled brightly as she pillowed her head against his chest. Who would have thought just a day or so ago he held this woman with such contempt and now he held her in his arms. What have you gotten yourself into now, Donovan? He asked himself.
To be continued...