Page 2 of Wildflower Hearts
“I’ll try to be as quick as possible. In the meantime, visiting the cafeteria or getting some water might be in your best interest. The fountain is located down the hall past the elevators.” She gave them a soft smile and stepped inside, shutting the door softly behind her.
Noah Kingsley looked younger than twenty-six years old. Lying on the hospital bed, tubes going in and out of his fragile body, he was handsome with brown hair and soft features. He looked so innocent that she couldn’t help but feel sympathy for everything he suffered. She did when it came to patients, even when she didn’t know anything about them, sometimes not even their names. Lyla scolded herself. The man was older than her by a mere two years. He had undoubtedly seen more things than she could imagine. Noah might look innocent, but from the looks of his family, he was anything but that.
Moving closer, she checked the machines for his vitals. His heartbeat was strong, the beeping of the machine steady. She gently lowered his wrist to his side. She exited the room, head down as she shut the door, but the sounds of a heated conversation made her look up. She caught sight of Dr. Moore as he talked to the group.
“I understand that you’re upset, but-”
“You don’t know shit. That’s my brother in there, my family, and you won’t tell me what is happening. Stop feeding me medical bullshit, and tell it to me straight!”
“Mr. Kingsley-”
“My name is Elias. Address me by my name. Don’t treat me as if I’m just another paying face.”
“If you can’t control the volume of your voice, Mr. Kingsley, I will have to ask you to leave.”
“Dr. Moore?” She watched the older man turn toward her. She could have sworn a mixed look of relief and annoyance flashed across his gray-haired features. “The patient is in steady condition. I don’t see where letting his family see him or sit in his room for a while could hurt.”
He let out a disgruntled sigh. “I have another operation to attend to now. Would you be so kind as to explain the necessary precautions, Nurse Hamilton?”
“Of course, Doctor.” She waited until he was gone before she focused on Elias. “Sorry about that. We’re understaffed due to the winter season, and it can be a bit stressful.”
“That doesn’t excuse him from being an asshole.”
“Sometimes it’s best to turn the other cheek, so they say.”
“Some of us believe that turning the other cheek only gets you slapped harder.”
“Are you all family?”
“That’s Billy and Mark. The clinger there is Mark’s wife, Debra.”
She watched in amusement as the woman threw Elias a look of annoyance.
“And this is Billy’s wife, Shannon, and their two kids.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “Can we see Noah now?”
“Yes, but he’s in a drugged-induced coma. He lost a lot of blood, and the operation went long. You were lucky the ambulance reached him when they did, especially in this weather.”
“What else is wrong with him? The doc said something about rehabilitation.”
“Mr. Kingsley has fractured ribs and a broken tibia in his right leg. Dr. Moore placed metal pins and adjusted the lining of thebone. He’ll have to go through months of physical therapy to regain the use of his leg.”
Elias swore under his breath, running his hands through his hair, and she watched him close his eyes.
“From here on out, your brother will need around-the-clock care. He won’t be able to do many normal things for a while. I can imagine he won’t be in the best mood when he wakes up. The medication and staff tend to make even the best quite irritable.” She tried to flash a comforting smile. “All that said, your brother is doing well. His vitals are strong and steady. That’s an excellent sign.”
“How much longer will he have to stay here? We want him home.”
“I can’t tell you an exact date, but in this situation, you’re lucky if he’s discharged within a month. That doesn’t include outpatient therapy. He’ll have to return every week for that.” When they nodded, she stepped toward the door. “Come inside. It’s okay for the kids to see him as well.”
They thanked her as they walked by, their expressions serious but full of hope.
Elias was the last to enter. He stopped directly beside her, his gaze landing on Noah in the hospital bed. “Thank you for being straight with us.”
“I’m doing my job, Mr. Kingsley.”
“Call me Elias.” For the first time, he smiled, and it was an expression of honest gratitude. “I appreciate the honesty.”
She returned the smile. “You’re welcome, Elias. If you need anything, there’s a call button by the bed and a nurse at the station down the hall. If you have any more questions, don’t hesitate to ask for me,” she tapped her name tag, “and I’ll come as soon as possible.”
