Read Online Fallen Angel by Patricia Puddle - Free Book Online Page A

wear it.”
    The nurse pealed back the
bed covers. “Just hop into bed, so I can put your pressure
stockings and socks on.”
    “ Pressure
stockings?” Eloise’s jaw dropped. “You’re joking?”
    The nurse held out the
long, white stockings. “Nope.”
    Eloise climbed into the
bed. “Jeez, I hope no one I know sees me.”
    Madeline rolled her eyes.
“Elle, how old are you, twelve?”
    “ It’s alright
for you to say,” said Eloise. “You wouldn’t like to look like a
granny. I mean, what if someone from school sees me.”
    “ That’s
highly unlikely,” said Madeline.
    As soon as the nurse had
finished, Eloise pulled the covers over her legs. “It’s going to be
a long six hours with this pain in my stomach.”
    “ It’s less
than five hours now,” said the nurse. “Oh, and you’d better take
that necklace off. You’re not allowed to wear jewellery in
theatre.”
    Holding the crucifix,
Eloise scowled. “You’re kidding me, right? This isn’t just
jewellery. It’s my protection.”
    “ Give it to
me,” said Madeline, holding her hand out. “It’s only for a few
hours.”
    Eloise shook her head.
“No, Grandpa gave it to me. He said I should always wear it. And
whenever I’ve taken it off, something bad has happened.”
    The nurse sighed. “Well
you can’t have an operation if you don’t take it off.”
    Madeline rolled her eyes
and began unfastening the chain around Eloise’s neck. “That’s just
superstition, Elle. You shouldn’t take any notice of Pop. He’s a
silly old man.”
    “ He’s so
not.” Eloise snatched the crucifix from her mother’s hand. “Dad
wouldn’t like you saying that about his father. Anyway, if I can’t wear my gold cross, I want to hold it.” Keeping it in her
hand, she turned on her side away from her mother and the
nurse.
    Nathaniel grinned.
Madeline would have a pink fit if she knew Pop was a fallen angel
and that her daughter was a descendant of one.
    The nurse gave Madeline a
sympathetic smile. “Once you’ve spoken to the surgeon and
anaesthesiologist, you can go and have lunch, or go home for a few
hours if you like. Just be back at three o’clock if you want to
talk to Eloise before her operation.”
    “ I’ll stay
here if that’s all right,” said Madeline, fussing over the pillows.
“My daughter needs me.”
    Eloise glanced over her
shoulder. “No, I don’t. My belly hurts and I’d prefer to suffer on
my own. I hate it when you fuss over me. I’m nearly eighteen, not
eight. You may as well go shopping or something. Besides, I’ll only
be a grouch all day.”
    Madeline stroked Eloise’s
hair. “Okay, honey, but phone me if you need anything.”
    “ I just want
this over with, so I can get out of here. I so hate
hospitals.”
    As the nurse put a blood
pressure cuff around Eloise’s arm, Nathaniel went for a quick check
around nearby corridors and rooms to make sure Devlin or Lucifer
weren’t sneaking about. When he flew back to the ward, the nurse
had already placed the pulse oximeter onto one of Eloise’s
fingertips and stuck the metal heart monitor electrodes onto her
chest, but he knew what was coming next. Eloise always fainted
whenever she saw blood and she was about to experience things she
definitely wouldn’t like.
    As soon as Eloise saw a
needle in the nurse’s hand, she flinched.
    “ It won’t
hurt,” said the nurse. “It’s just to stop you getting a blood
clot.”
    “ But I
thought the pressure stockings were for tha....”
    Before Eloise had a
chance to finish her sentence, the nurse jabbed the needle into her
belly. “They are, but this is an extra precaution.”
    Eloise’s face went pale,
but at least she hadn’t fainted. “Oh, you’re right. I hardly felt
that.”
    “ That’s a
change,” said Madeline. “You normally pass out.”
    “ Mum, stop
embarrassing me,” said Eloise, frowning at her mother.
    The nurse pulled Eloise’s
ponytail back and popped a net hat on her head.
    Madeline chuckled.