“Happy for you, obviously. Any change in Ray?”
“No, noteven after the doctor talked to us. He won’t even sit with Jake.”
“Shit. Sorry Sunshine. Listen, I’ve gotta run. Call me later?”
“I will. Have a good practice. Love you.”
“Love you. Bye.”
I hang up and take a deep breath. As I turn to go back into the room, a woman approaches me. “Hello. Are you with the other patient?”
“Sorry?”
“I’m two doors down with the newest patient. My name is Debra.”
“Oh, hi. Yes, I’m with Jake. I’m Summer. Nice to meet you.”
“I heard you had success this morning?”
“We did,” I smile. “He’s conscious after the second round.”
“So there really is hope. Thank goodness. I’ve heard the statistics, but to know it works, to have proof—well, it’s more real. Thank you.”
“I wish you the best of luck. Stay hopeful. It really can happen. I’ll be here all week, but I should get back inside. It was nice to meet you, Debra.”
“You too, Summer,” she smiles before returning to her room.
I open Jake’s door to find Zander talking to him. He smiles when he hears me enter and gets up from the seat. He offers to put some hockey on the tv for Jake, so I thank him and take my seat again.
Ray leaves promptly at 5pm with a quick goodbye. I look over at Zander as he shakes his head. “What do we do with him?” I ask. “He didn’t even wish Jake a happy birthday.”
“Have patience. Be kind. I’m hoping when Jake opens his eyes and talks, that will force Ray to confront this. Until then, keep talking to Jake. We’ll keep him company.”
Leigh comes in close to 6pm to check on Jake. “The night nurse will be on shortly. I don’t think you’ve met her. She switchesoff with Sandra. I already talked to her about the information you gave me, so she’ll keep playing something from the list overnight. He won’t have a bath tomorrow because of the procedure, and I’ll be back in the morning. Do you have any questions?”
“Yeah. With the door closed, will she be able to tell if Jake stirs?”
“Yes, come with me and I’ll show you.”
Getting up, I follow her to the nurse's desk. There are monitors I never noticed hidden behind the counter. They show Jake’s vitals, and she switches on a camera so you can see Jake. She zooms in on his face and then out. “We can see everything from here. If the other family leaves, she will open Jake’s door, since we turn down the lights with the sun setting.”
“Thanks for showing me. Will someone call if he wakes?”
“Absolutely. The first call is to Dr. Crosby. The second call is yours.”
I go back into the room as she packs up. “Do you mind if we wait to see the night nurse? I’d like to talk to her before we leave,” I ask Dad.
“Of course, darling,” Zander replies.
Sitting with Jake again, I tell him his dad went home for the night and I'll be leaving soon, but I'll be back in the morning to spend the day with him.
A new nurse knocks and enters a few minutes later. “Hello, you must be Summer. I’m Faith,” she smiles.
“Hi. Yes, I am.”
“Nice to meet you.” She looks over at Zander. “Hello, you're Zander, then?”
“Yes,” he smiles.
