the beneficial accident

xv

kenzie lay in her bed as a notification popped up on the top of her phone.

it was from her reminder app and when she read the title her heart sunk into her stomach

how could she have forgotten

her eyes filled with water as she grabbed a large coat and scarf and bolted out of her house and into the cold snow.

she ran the short two minutes to the orlando residence and sprinted inside without even knocking.

john had mentioned his parents and sisters were out of town so she wasn't too worried about barging in unannounced

she slipped off her boots and ran up the stairs all in one swift motion abruptly turning into her boyfriends room

"j-johnny" she pants out of breath

"woah kenz what are you doing here, are you ok?" he asks concerned jumping up from his bed to check on the girl

"no not really. i need your help" she says after catching her breath

"of course anything" he smiles and she pulls him into a tight hug catching him by surprise

"kenz what's wrong?"

"well umm today is my uh well it's my dads birthday and usually maddie goes with me to visit him but she's not here and i just don't think i can do it by myself. can you come with me?" she asks quietly her eyes filling with unwanted tears that she tried her best to de-surface

"of course princess" he says lifting her chin with his pointer finger and planting a soft kiss on her lips

"just take a right turn here" kenzie says directing the boy

"so tell me more about your dad so i know what i'm getting myself into" johnny says placing his hand in kenzies

"ok well he's got the sweetest personality, he loves to joke around and he always sees the bright side of his condition, oh and i can tell he's definitely gonna love you."

johnny smiles softly at her nodding his head

"he sounds great"

"he really is" kenzie says not removing her gaze from the boy

"oh shoot turn left here" she says abruptly averting her gaze to the road

the boy turns swiftly into to hospital parking lot and pulls into the lot near kenzie's fathers room

"welcome back mackenzie. i see you have a new friend today" a man at the front days says as the pair enters the hospital

"hi phillip, yes this is johnny" she replies pointing to her boyfriend

"well isn't he cute, anyways your dads doing great today and the nurses have all pitched in on a group gift so if you wanna stay for him opening that, that will be around 6 when the first shift ends."

"ok thank you phillip your the best" kenzie smiles walking past him and down the hall

"his room is right up here" she says pointing to a door with the number 518 on it

"you ready" she asks the boy as he slips his hand in hers

"i was born ready" he jokes back turning to the door and swiftly twisting the handle and shuffling inside

"hey dad!" kenzie chirps happily running over to give her father a hug "happy birthday"

"thanks kiddo, are taller than the last time i saw you, because you look taller" he smiles widely at his daughter