Day 3: First Time Meeting The Parents
That weekend, Nick and Jamie were letting off steam in the backyard.
After an exhausting game of one on one soccer, Nick had popped inside to make them some iced drinks. Jamie was busy trying to climb the large tree which a tyre swing hung off, by the back fence.
Just as the ice cubes dropped into the soda and started to dance around, popping and cracking, he heard a yell and a dull thud from the backyard.
Panicked, Nick left the drinks and ran outside, seeing Jamie in a heap on the floor. His heart thudded in his chest as he wondered how hurt Jamie was.
As soon as he got close enough to see his face, Nick let out a huge sigh of relief, since Jamie was laughing.
"Are you okay? I don't think you'd be laughing if you'd broken anything." Nick crouched down to check him over.
Jamie sat up. "Yeah, it's a good job I fell on my backside! And these shrubs are quite squishy!" He giggled a bit more, before seeing Nick's expression. "What?"
Nick was brushing his fine brown hair off his forehead with a frown. "Uh, just let me have a look at this cut... I think a branch must have caught you on the way down. It's bleeding pretty heavily, if it doesn't stop we'll need to go to the ER."
Jamie put his hand up, feeling sticky wetness and suddenly went a shade paler. He gulped when he saw red fingers on both him and... his dad. Well, that little word made him smile a little, any way.
"Come on, let's get you inside and wash this blood off. We'll have a quick drink and see if it stops, otherwise we'll go to the hospital. We can get ice cream on the way back!"
"And burgers?" Jamie said hopefully, standing and brushing himself down.
Nick laughed, glad Jamie didn't seem to be too bad. "Yes, and burgers!" He rolled his eyes. "We can't forget those two important elements of first-aid, now can we?"
About half an hour later, Nick and Jamie were sat in the hospital, waiting to be seen. A nurse called out, "Jamie Henderson?"
Jamie flinched inwardly at his surname, since it always reminded him of his parents. Nick guided him over to the nurse and they followed her into a free cubicle.
The nurse smiled kindly. "Okay, so my name is Andrea. Are you dad?" She addressed Nick. Jamie interrupted quickly with a "Yes!"
Nick smiled and nodded. "Yes, I'm Nick Duval."
The nurse's eyes widened and she smiled mischievously, before turning to inspect the cut on Jamie's forehead. "So, what have you done to land yourself in hospital on a Sunday morning?" She said amusedly as Jamie blushed. "Er, I fell out of our tree."
"Did you now? Well, it is a little deep. It's a good job your dad brought you in. Let me just get a few things together and we'll see if we can glue it rather than have any stitches, but you have to promise me you'll take it easy this week while it heals, okay?"
"Yes ma'am." Jamie said sheepishly.
As the nurse got things ready, she carried on chatting. "So, what school do you go to, Jamie?"
"McKinley."
"Ah, yes. So, do you like it there?"
Jamie nodded. "Yes. We've only just moved here but I love my school. I've made some really good friends and my class teacher is so cool. He doesn't let any of the jocks bully me and he runs the glee club, too. He's an awesome dancer!"
Nick was distracted from the mental image of Jeff dancing when he saw the nurse smile broadly at this. "Well, you already know my son, then."
Nick suddenly realised the nurse had dark blond hair swept away from her face for work, with pretty eyes just like Jeff's. Exactly like Jeff's in fact. She threw Nick a wink as he flushed pink and gulped. "I think your dad does too."
Jamie looked intrigued. "What year is he in? What's his name?"
"His name is Jeff Sterling, I do believe he's your teacher!" She giggled.
"Cool!" Jamie exclaimed. "Just wait 'til I tell him tomorrow!"
Nick stood up, holding out his hand. "Uh, well it's very nice to meet you, Mrs Sterling. I don't know if Jeff mentioned it, but I took him out to dinner on Friday night."
She shook Nick's hand. "Please, call me Andrea. Jeff told me all about it, it's nice to put a face to a name. Why don't I finish up here, and you can tell me all about glee club, Jamie."
Nick sat back down and listened to Jeff's mum chatting away with Jamie, thinking he really liked this woman already.