Page 46 of Saving Forever with the Hockey Captain

Maria talks about the crossword puzzle he helped her finish.

Keisha talks about the confidence he gave her before her exam.

Jacky smiles because he remembers every name on the meal trays.

Somewhere along the way...

Captain Jamie Walker quietly disappeared. Now he's simply Jamie.

The realization follows me all the way down the hallway.

His door is half open.

I hear his voice before I see him.

"...and tell your wife if she keeps bringing homemade cookies to this floor, half the nurses are going to adopt you."

A man's laughter answers.

It’s Mr. Franklin, the retired school principal who is recovering from hip surgery across the hall.

"I'm serious."

Jamie smiles. "I've already eaten three."

"You've eaten one."

"Details."

I step into the doorway and Jamie looks up immediately.

"Morning."

"Good morning."

He glances toward Mr. Franklin. "I was losing an argument."

"I noticed."

Mr. Franklin points toward Jamie. "He cheats."

"I negotiate."

"Same thing."

Jamie looks genuinely offended. "I'd like that to be stricken from the record."

"I'll see what I can do," I say, setting my tablet on the counter.

Mr. Franklin chuckles all the way back toward his own room. The hallway grows quiet again.

Jamie watches him disappear before looking back at me.

"How's Keisha?"

I stop pulling off my stethoscope. "She passed."

His smile is immediate. "I knew she would."