"You don't have to."
"It's the least I could do. She always wore those ugly pony tails. She's pretty, Mr. Black, just like her heart." She was crying more. "I should have known. I should have told her to stay with me, but I...I didn't know."
He came around the bed. "I don't think anyone knew, but he called with the test results and she's clean. There's no infection, just scars."
Cleo held her hand. "I'll be back with some gowns for her. Is there anything you might need for her?"
"Nothing I can think of. Did you find anything out at the store?"
She dug through her purse and pulled out a torn piece of paper of a Laundromat sales slip with a name and number on it. "This is all I got. They plan on selling the Laundromat to this guy. The stopped the nurses from coming to see Nanna. I heard him talking to the doctor on the phone and he was lying to the doctor saying he had gotten a private service for Nanna's care instead of the doctor's appointed nurses."
"What was the doctor's name?"
"Rucker. Dr. Rucker."
"Do you know the hospital she was rushed to last time?"
"The one nearby. Henry Ford."
"Thanks Cleo. Go ahead and get the stuff for her."
Cleo started to go past him, but she stopped noting the concern expression on his face as he stared longingly at the bed. "I'm sorry I didn't trust you last night and even today."
"I'm sorry I didn't trust you."
"She's a good girl and don't deserve to be hurt. She's never done anything to anyone. If I'd known this was happening to her, I'd done more. Much more. Thank you for helping her." She leaned over and kissed his cheek. "You're a rare man, Mr. Black." When she was gone, he went to the bed.
Would Cleo still think like that when he broke Nicole's heart? All of his help wouldn't be for naught. That kind heart of hers would be useful in persuading her to give him her virgin heart. She would fall for him as soon as she opened her eyes and want to give her heart to him for his goodness. Cleo would tell her how he went out of his way to help her out and provide for her, and she would love him.
#### James came over shortly after Cleo left. The woman had changed Nicole from the ugly hospital like robe the nurse had brought to a nice long gown. She'd brought over five other gowns of different styles and colors. In addition to this, Cleo had brought a bag the size of a duffle with every hair instrument ever used. After an hour of washing pressing and curling, she had gotten Nicole to look like a sleeping beauty with her natural shoulder length hair so soft and beautiful Ethan couldn't help but run his fingers through it once Cleo had left.