him.
Chapter 2
Dakota looked up at the dreary gray concrete complex, wishing she didn’t have to come here by herself. If her parents had survived a fatal car crash several years ago, she wouldn’t be here alone. The couple had been coming home from the theater late one evening when a semi jackknifed into their car, killing them instantly. Shortly after their deaths, her parents’ employer-paid medical coverage had been terminated.
Dakota had been left in charge of her eight-year-old sister, Danielle, who had Down syndrome, after their guardian/ grandparents had both passed away three years ago, her grandfather dying first. Everything had fallen solely on Dakota’s shoulders, just as the young woman had turned twenty-one. She was sixteen years older than Danielle.
Danni now resided at the Center of the Courageous Heart, a renowned specialized facility in Carson that treated a variety of complications arising from Down. Medicare and Medicaid paid for a good portion of Danielle’s care. Because Dakota had insisted on a private facility for the child, she was responsible for all medical services the government agencies didn’t cover.
Dakota stopped outside Danielle’s door and said a silent prayer, asking God to keep her anxiety-free. She visited her sister practically every day, but she was overly tired this Friday evening. Working and going to school took a toll on her, but she didn’t want her adorable sibling to feel any negative vibes from her. The place was as cheerful as the staff could possibly make it, but there were times when an air of gloom presided.
Just in case Danielle was napping, Dakota quietly stepped into the private room, looking straight ahead at the double bed. Her heart instantly leaped for joy. Danielle was awake and her face was lit up with the same brighter-than-gold smile she always wore for her kin. These were the kinds of moments that took away Dakota’s breath.
“Kota,” Danielle cried, opening her arms wide.
Scooping up Danielle into her arms, Dakota gave her a huge hug, receiving in return loving embraces and jubilant kisses. This sweet, warm child was superaffectionate. If Danni hugged or kissed someone, they knew she had handed out a little chunk of her loving heart. Dakota didn’t believe her sister would ever run out of the pieces of her authentic self she exuberantly shared with others.
Dakota smiled at Danielle, lodging into her sweet little arms the brown teddy bear gift she’d brought along. Danni had quite a collection of stuffed toys and she loved each one. However, she did have a favorite: Daisy Dolly, a freckle-faced, red-haired rag doll had been Danielle’s companion for years.
“Thank you, Kota.” Kissing and hugging the bear, Danielle held it close.
Although Danielle had Down syndrome at birth, some of the more serious physical complications hadn’t appeared until she was nearly four years old. Then all of a sudden, Danielle got sick more frequently, her health compromised to the point where she eventually required constant skilled nursing care. Home health-care nurses cared for Danni at home as long as it had been possible. Then the younger girl started to need the kind of professional assistance the older sibling was hardly equipped to provide.
Danielle called out Dakota’s name again, pointing at the cabinet where the DVDs were kept. “Happy Feet,” she exclaimed, giggling softly.
Dakota retrieved the movie, smiling as Danielle took the disk from her hand and inserted it into the DVD player. Dedicated professionals worked hard to help her be as independent as possible. She attended school within the facility, also participating in field trips and other special events when her health permitted.
“Can I have an orange soda, too?” Danielle spoke well. Although she sometimes had difficulty with pronunciation of complex words, she was able to communicate effectively. It was rare for her to not get her point across. Danielle was learning American Sign Language and Dakota had taken the class, too. It felt good to spend that kind of time with her sister.
Danielle hit the play button. As Dakota lay down beside her sister, sharing the same pillow, she held her hand. The siblings had seen the movie umpteen times, but neither one had tired of it. It made them laugh hysterically.
Once Happy Feet concluded, Danielle expressed a desire to play cards, the game of War. Dakota retrieved a deck of cards from the nightstand drawer. She then positioned the portable table across the bed. The two sisters played numerous board games, but Dakota never just allowed Danielle to win. She had to earn the winning spot in every matchup.
Dakota smoothed back Danielle’s thick brown hair. It was soft and wavy in texture, much like hers. “Do you want a snack before we start?”
Danielle looked thoughtful. “Tuna sandwich and chips, please, Kota?”
Rewarding Danielle for her polite request, Dakota tenderly kissed her forehead. Using the red-tipped call button, she summoned the nursing station. When the desk clerk came over the loudspeaker, the food order was placed. “A tuna sandwich with lots of mayo, potato chips and an orange soda, please.” Although all the regular staff members knew Danielle’s likes and dislikes, Dakota always made sure she clearly expressed her sister’s desires in case a new employee or a temp responded.
While Dakota and Danielle waited for the meal, they began the fun card game. Dakota let Danielle shuffle the cards.
“My card is bigger.” Danielle clapped, laughing.
Two more cards were slapped down on the table.
“I win again,” Danielle said happily.
Dakota wrinkled her nose. “My card is going to beat yours this time,” she said, placing the card face up on the table. “See! I told you.”
Danielle looked as happy to see Dakota win as when she won.
Her favorite card was the queen of spades. Dakota had no clue why Danielle liked that particular card so much. The competitive little girl would always sigh hard when the black queen was trumped by her sister with a king or ace. Whenever Dakota was dealt the queen of spades, Danielle didn’t seem to mind. She loved her big sister and looked at her as a best friend.
Departing was hard for both sisters a couple of hours later. Whenever possible, Dakota waited until Danielle drifted off to sleep before she’d leave. The visits were normally done in two-to-three hour increments, but at times they lasted longer. Dakota also tried her best to take Danielle outside the facility for a full day at least one weekend day a month when she was physically up to the challenge.
Attending church regularly at the facility chapel also occurred. Once the religious services were over, they’d go to a local park, with a beautiful lake, and paddleboats. The girls had a blast rowing across the lake. When Danielle grew tired, Dakota had to do the work alone, but she didn’t mind one iota. A variety of sandwiches, fruits, cookies, chips and drinks were brought along on the outings, neatly packed away in a small cooler. But boating and a picnic didn’t hold a candle to Danielle’s love of dance and music.
Mona Cassidy, a professional dance instructor, didn’t charge Dakota one red cent for lessons for Danni. What she earned off students at her private dance studio made pro bono cases affordable. It was a gracious gift. Mona, in fact, taught dance to several of the kids residing at the center. She had also offered Dakota lessons so she could tap-dance with Danielle. The sisters had fun making up easy dance routines to do together.
Danielle also loved to sing and play guitar. No formal lessons for her yet, but she had been given a secondhand instrument she loved to sit and
