"How is my favourite Daughter today?"
"A bit better than yesterday."
I always call her my favourite even though she is my only child. Normally it makes her smile, but not today. I guess she is in too much pain.
"Have the Doctors said anymore about your hands?"
"Only that they are not as badly burnt as they first thought, and that given time they will heal OK."
"That's great news, I was really worried."
"Me too, but this pain is a bitch, though it is easing off. They have given me stronger painkillers."
I slumped down into the chair next to her bed, I was physically and emotionally drained, the last few days had taken their toll on me. As I sat there I thought about the call I had received telling me the bad news.
"Mr. Ford, this is Doctor Claire Harding from Memorial Hospital, your Daughter has been admitted to the burns unit."
She had said it in a matter of fact manner, no preamble or warning of what was to come. Time stopped still as I tried to process what she had just said. All sorts of things ran through my mind, but it took me several seconds before I asked the obvious question.
"How badly is she burnt?"
When she told me it was just her hands I was relieved. So not life threatening and not disfiguring. The Doctor then explained what had happened to my precious Daughter, apparently she had knocked a kettle of boiling water over. An hour later I was at the hospital.
"Daddy you look tired."
"I am, I was just thinking about your accident. It could have been a lot worse."
"It would have been better if I hadn't reached for it as it fell over. That meant that I burnt both hands rather than just one."
"Yes, that wasn't the smartest thing you have ever done, but I guess it was just a natural reaction to grab it."
"Don't worry, I will not be doing that again."
That made both of us laugh. As we finished there was a knock on the door, and then Doctor Harding entered.
"It's good to see that you have both found something to laugh about." She didn't wait for us to reply before looking at Mary and adding, "You can go home soon."
Mary looked delighted, but all I could think about was who was going to look after her. My face must have betrayed my worry.
"Daddy, you don't look happy."
"I am glad you are well enough to come home, but with your bandaged hands you will need twenty four hour care."
My Daughter now understood my concern.
"Check with your insurance, a lot of policies will pay for a nurse to look after sick people at home."
I hadn't thought about that.
"Thank you Doctor, I will give them a call."
Mary was now smiling again. I smiled as well, but it was forced, I had a nagging feeling that it was too good to be true. After the Doctor left I phoned them. They were very sympathetic but the policy excluded it. We were covered for a long hospital stay, and for nearly every test you can think of, but not for a home nurse.
"Daddy, what are we going to do?"
"I don't know. I just wish your Mother was still alive, she would have taken good care of you."
When I saw the look on my Daughter's face I knew I had said the wrong thing. Her Mother had died two years ago but she was still coming to terms with it. Me and my big mouth.
"Sorry, I know how much you miss her."
I could see she was struggling not to cry as she said, "I am a big girl now, at twenty years old I shouldn't react like this when you talk about her."
I didn't say anything else, I just hugged her. I then held her arm for a couple of minutes until she calmed down. When she gave me a big smile I knew she was OK.
"Don't worry, I will think of something. When I leave I am going to speak to the Doctor, she might be able to offer some advice."
It was late when I left but Doctor Harding was still in her office. I explained the situation to her and she listened sympathetically.
When I had finished she said, "So you have no women relatives that can look after her?"
"None. My Aunty June would have been able to but her husband is frail and she spends all her time looking after him."
"In that case you only have two options, you pay for some help or you do it yourself. I can give you the names of some agencies you can call to find out the cost."
After getting the phone numbers from her I thanked her for her time and help.
"I hope they are suitable, but I must warn you they will be expensive."
Expensive was an understatement. The first one I called gave me a rate that seemed excessive, but I could probably just about afford it. However what they quoted was for a day, but I thought it was for a week. When I realised my mistake I almost had a heart attack. The second one was slightly cheaper. They were very keen for me to hire them but I said I needed to consider it.
The next day I was at the hospital early, just after eight. Mary was still asleep. I sat in the chair next to her bed, watching my beautiful Daughter. Since her Mother died I have always been there for her, always looking after her. It was then that I made my mind up, I would have to get a loan. With a bit of luck I would be able to borrow the amount I needed.
When she woke I told her my plan.
She was horrified, "It's too much money to borrow."
I shrugged my shoulders before saying, in as confident a voice as I could manage, "It's not a problem, I can pay it back OK."
"Is there nothing else we can do?"
"I could look after you, but you wouldn't want that, so it's not really an option."
"YES it is."
I was surprised by her reaction, before she was almost crying, now she was grinning like the Cheshire Cat. Then the grin turned into a frown.
"But will you be able to get time off work?"
"I think so. I have a two week holiday booked for next month. I might be able to bring it forward."
"That would be perfect. The Doctor said the bandages should come off in about two weeks."
I was apprehensive when I called my boss, but I needn't have worried.
"Jim, your priority is your Daughter. You can take the two weeks whenever you want."
I felt as if a weight had been lifted off me. The day got even better when I spoke to Doctor Harding about it.
"I am glad it is now sorted out. If it's any help to you I can keep Mary in hospital for another two or three days. Strictly speaking she is fit enough to be discharged today, however nobody will question a few extra days."
I thanked her profusely, then I went to Mary to tell her the good news. Three days later I took her home.
"It's going to be a bit uncomfortable for both of us until we get used to it."
"I know, but I am sure you will take good care of me."
"Come and see you room, I tidied it up yesterday."
"Thanks, but first I need to..."
She didn't complete the sentence, instead she just looked down at the floor, obviously too embarrassed to continue. When she raised her head I gave her a big smile, then I nodded. We both then went to the bathroom.
"I am going to have to put my hands up your skirt so that I can pull your knickers down. Are you OK with that?"
"Yes Daddy," but she sounded nervous.