Chapter 4 The care

"Chicken nuggets!" Shantal exclaimed with excitement. "Wings too!" She added after looking into another plate. "They are my favorite." She said with a slight grin and sat on the chair. She fixed her eyes on Donald.

"I know." Donald said with a smirk.

"Huh?" Shantal asked, dumbfounded.

That was when he realized what he had said. 'Oh sh*t.' Donald cursed inwardly. He was getting excited and almost blew it.

"Chicken is nice." Donald said nonchalantly, trying to hide his guilt. He knows so much about her and she has no idea. He wouldn't want to show that to her. That would definitely creep her out and make him look like a stalker.

Shantal noticed how he got uncomfortable for seconds. He was quick to compose himself though so she brushed it off.

"What else do you like, Miss Stanley?" Donald asked after he swallowed a nugget.

"Chicken. I like chicken in general. However it is made. I also love pizza, lasagna and nachos." Shantal said.

This was information Donald already knew about Shantal. But he had to pretend otherwise.

"How about you, Mr Moore, what is yours?" Shantal asked.

"Donald." Donald said after sipping from his drink. "Call me Donald or Don for short. Mine is almost the same as yours." He added, not giving too much details about it.

Shantal waited to hear more. When she realized that was all he had to say, she responded. "Okay."

"Most people address me as Shanny instead of Shantal." Shantal added with a small smile. "You can address me by any."

"I like uniqueness. I will stick to Shantal for now." Donald said. 'Before I find a better one when I make you mine.' he thought inwardly.

After their dinner, Shantal suggested leaving.

Donald was not going to allow that. He claimed she needed to be cared for until she is completely healed and he feels responsible for that. Besides, no one was home to help her out.

The soft bed and amazing dishes of the restaurant made her accept the offer. She wasn't a great cook herself.

1:00 am.

That night, Shantal woke up in the night feeling chilly. She got up and closed the windows and went back to bed, covering herself with the huge blanket on the bed. It didn't do much because she was still cold. Her throat felt dry and she needed water to drink.

She left the guest room and went to the kitchen to get some. She was still shivering from the cold.

"Why is the weather so cold tonight?" She asked herself, Robbing her arms to generate some warmth on her skin.

"Is it?" A voice asked from the leaving room.

It made Shantal jolted in her stance and almost screamed. She didn't realize there was someone there until then. She turned to the direction of the living room and saw Donald, sitting shirtless in the dark. It was the dim light from his laptop that illuminated him.

" Why are you awake by this time? You need to rest." Donald said. He got up and walked to the kitchen area and on the light.

"I - I wan..." Shantal gulped. Seeing the man shirtless made her lose the ability to speak properly. He had pajama pants on. She gulped again. "Water. I came to get some water." She finally said, trying to avoid his eyes.

"Hmm." Donald said. He noticed how his well built body had an effect on her. Her cheeks turned into the cutest shade of pink. Donald brought out a glass and got the water for her. He was looking at her from The side as she kept stealing glances at him. She would quickly look away when he turned to her.

"Here." Donald handed her the glass of water.

"Than - thank you." Shantal stuttered before accepting the glass.

When their hands brushed, Donald felt Shantal's hand felt warm. With a furrowed brow, he reached for her forehead.

"Jeez. You are burning up Shantal. That explains why you are feeling cold." Donald said, retrieving his head.

"Oh." Was all Shantal said. Sipping from her glass of water.

"Did you take your medication after dinner?" Donald asked.

Shantal had totally forgotten about that, since the soreness and headache had stopped. "No." She shook her head. Feeling like she was so careless.

"Then it is a good thing I will be here to always remind you of that." Donald said, feeling utterly proud of himself. "Where are they?" He asked.

"In the bedroom." Shantal pointed.

They walked back to her assigned room and Donald watched as she took the medication and lay down. He left and came back soon with his laptop to continue the work he was doing. At the same time, monitor Shantal's temperature to make sure it went down.

He sat on the couch and went back to his work, occasionally checking on her. Only he was sure her temperature was back to normal before he left the room.

***

The next day, Shantal was seated on the bed, looking at her phone in disbelief. It was a text from her boss, Miss Ty.

Miss Ty: (I heard what happened. Get well soon. You can come back after full recovery.)

"Wow." Shantal said. She read the text again and again. Miss Ty that doesn't entertain excuses or show any human sympathy sent her this? It was unbelievable. She finally texted back.

Shantal: (Thank you, Miss Ty.)

After the text, Camilla called her.

"Oh no." Shantal exclaimed. She hasn't talked to her since last night. All she wanted to do then was to have breakfast and go to the hospital and also take some for her father and sister. She crossed her fingers and hoped their father was doing well before answering the call.

"I knew I could count on you Shanny." Camilla said immediately with excitement laced in her voice.

"Father will be taken into surgery by 9:00 am. I hope you can make it?" She added.

"What?" Shantal asked. Bemused.

"I have to go now. He is waking up. Let me tell him you have paid for his transplant." Camilla said and ended the call.

Shantal was confused. Was she to be happy or to try to get some answers to her confused state? For one, she knew she did not get a penny from anyone. Heck, she just woke up from sleep.

"Who paid for my father's surgery?" Shantal asked herself out loud.