Winter Legacy -5-

Nine months later found Erik at yet another party. He had become rather popular in the medical world for both his skills and his warm personality. However, this particular party was more personal, he had become very close with one of his co-workers and she'd invited him to a party at one of her friend's house.

Jamie Jolina, also known as Nurse Joy is a bubbly Resident. Every straight staff member at the Sacred Spleen Memorial Hospital is taken with her, but Jamie had eyes for only one man who had moved quickly up the ladder of success and she was not afraid to let him know it. 

"Did you have fun?" Jamie asked as she and the other guests prepared to leave.

"Of course I did, who knew that Hank was so outgoing?"

"I'm glad you did. So I'll see you at lunch?"

"Sure."

Erik kept his own beautiful blond wife at the back of his mind all the time, but there was something about Jamie that made him completely forget about Agnes, and he knew what it was. He had fun with Jamie, when was the last time he and Agnes had any fun? She was constantly snapping at him or talking to him like he was her child, Jamie on the other hand treated Erik like a man.

Agnes had no idea where her husband was, nor did she really care, he spent a lot of time at bars and parties with his colleagues but she always had dinner ready, no matter when he came home. Usually he just crawled into bed and was asleep by the time she tucked Erika in for the night. 

This night was no different, Erik came in, gave her the usual 'hello honey', pecked her on the cheek, bathed and went to bed.

Erika squealed when she made the light on her doll's head blink on, "Erika, how many times do I have to tell you not to play on the dirty kitchen floor?" She questioned, but the toddler never looked up from the toy. "You're just like your father." Agnes grumbled and scooped up the tiny girl and her toy, she deposited them in the living room and went back to fixing dinner, although she would be the only one eating.

Erik had left for work before the sun, telling Agnes that he would be home only long enough to get cleaned up as his boss was hosting a party. Agnes was sitting in the nursery with Erika when parents started bringing in their children for daycare. Agnes sighed, she was not in the mood to put up with the screaming toddlers. It was pretty obvious that she and Erik occupied the same home, shared a daughter and a bed but they had grown apart.

"There's the most beautiful woman in the world." Erik shouted as he whipped out a bouquet of red roses. 

"Oh Erik, you shouldn't have." Morgana mused as she inhaled the wonderful fragrance. "My husband had better be on his toes with you around." She winked. Erik grinned, Morgana was about to retire, he knew that if he impressed her, he could be in the running for Chief of Staff although he wasn't working at the hospital as long as most. 

"Where's Daddy?" Agnes asked her young daughter, she was exhausted after a long day at work and she was putting Erika to bed alone again.

"I'm here." Erik entered the living area. "I'll put her to bed after my bath."

Erika smiled up at her father, she loved the man to death, he played with her all the time and always showered her with attention whenever he was around. Tonight as he read to her, the toddler couldn't be happier, she missed him so much when he was away.

The next day Agnes was at her wit's end, it was as if the children got together and planned to make her miserable. They spent the entire day screaming and being uncooperative, one even ventured as far as to get oatmeal everywhere, eventually pushing the bown onto the rug where it shattered.

When the children were finally claimed by their parents, Agnes had to spend two hours getting the nursery cleaned, after all her own daughter had to sleep in there. She heard the door open and close, Erik was home.

She was not at all amused when Erik woke up their sleeping daughter. She decided to let it go, but after she ate and bathed she couldn't help but let her husband know what was on her mind.

"Erik, why did you wake her? I hope you plan on sitting up with Erika all night."

"Aggie, relax, she's fine. I hardly spend anytime with her."

"And who's fault is that?"

"Agnes, I really don't want to argue about this. Lately it's like you've been jumping all over me for everything."

"It's because I'm frustrated, you're never here. I'm stuck with Erika and other children all day and then you come home and you wake her up!" Agnes threw her arms in the air and stormed into the bedroom.

Erika, despite her late night was up bright and early the next morning, she immediately handed for her father who scooped her up and played with her. Erik and his daughter spent the entire morning together until his phone rang.

"Hello? A meeting now? Really? Yes, sure I'll be there."

Agnes had woken up shortly after she fell asleep, she'd been in the bathroom all morning but as soon as she'd given up on vomiting and went outside to get the mail she spewed vomit everywhere.