AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I’m just staring at her as I feel my mouth part to ask a question. Any question at all. But I don’t have only one to ask. I have multiple.
My eyes are darting between her and the hospital in front of me.
Dare I ask why we’re having a birthday party here?
“Yeah,” I say, my eyes still lingering on the medical signs surrounding the building. “I’ve got the cake.”
Chapter fifteen
Batman has Leukemia?
Ifeelmylegsshaking as we walk through the hospital parking lot carrying bags of party supplies.
Is Aiden sick? Is Aiden’s dad sick?
We walk through the front doors and head straight for the check-in counter.
“Hey, Brandi,” Megan says in a sweet voice. One that I don’t hear too often, come to think of it. “Is Aiden awake?”
Brandi, who I’m assuming is the woman in scrubs sitting at the computer, smiles back at Megan. “He sure is. We woke him a few hours ago and already did all of the blood work until dinner time. So, he should be good to go for the next hour or two.” She stands from the computer chair and presses her palms on the counter, looking around at everything we’re holding. “I’m glad you’re doing this,” she adds, her voice now much softer and a lot less perky. “He’s been a little down lately.”
“That’s what Robbie said,” Megan replies with a sigh. “I have been trying to swing by after my shifts to see him since I know he’ll be awake, but it’s heartbreaking to watch him go through this.”
“It sure is,” Brandi says, extending a hand across the desk. Megan takes it and gives it a squeeze; a gesture that says so many things between a nurse and a patient’s parent. “Go on up. I’ll let them know you’re on your way.”
“Is Robbie here?” Megan asks as we start to walk away.
“Haven’t seen him yet,” Brandi says. Then, the conversation ends when Brandi picks up the ringing phone on the desk in front of her and we load ourselves onto the elevator.
Megan presses the button for the sixth floor and I’m quiet the whole ride up.
I look over to Leeah and Amanda who are holding the presents and decorations, both of them staring straight ahead at the elevator door like there’s a very interesting show playing in front of them. Megan seems to be about an inch shorter as she stands with her shoulders drooped. She looks almost defeated.
What am I about to walk into?
As the elevator doors open, Megan pastes a smile onto her lips as she straightens herself and seems to grow back to her normal height. Leeah and Amanda follow suit and we all step out and head down the hallway.
“Hey, baby boy,” Megan sings as she walks through the door to Exam Room 622. She sets the presents on the table along the wall that, I’m guessing she had the nurses set up before we got here, and walks over to his bed, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “How are you feeling?”
The boy in the bed looks so small. Pale white skin against his baby blue hospital gown. He looks to be about seven years old, maybe six. I can’t really tell.
This whole time.
Every phone call at the club.
My stomach sinks and I feel my knees want to buckle underneath me. Why is this boy so sick? What’s wrong with him? Does he have a really bad flu?
“Happy birthday, Aiden,” Leeah says as she walks over to the table and sets the cake down. “Batman cake just for you, buddy!”
I look at Aiden and notice the corner of his mouth trying to twitch upward into a smile.
I feel so sorry for him. For Megan.
Amanda wiggles the gift bags toward him. “We bought you a car,” she teases. “I hope you like Lamborghinis.”
Aiden actually chuckles, but then falls into a coughing fit. I twitch at the sound while Megan races to his side and grabs his hand. “Just breathe, baby.”
“I’m so sorry,” I hear Amanda say in a quiet voice. “I’m so, so sorry. I didn’t mean to-,”
