Page 18 of Stolen Kisses
Mandy furrowed her brow. “Of course. Doesn’t everyone in Blushing Bay?”
Krista laid Adam’s chart on the foot of his bed. “Well, Noah Sawyer is a friend of mine. I hope you don’t mind, but I asked him to take Adam fishing with us one day.”
Adam punched a tiny fist into the air. “Yes! That would be so awesome!”
Mandy shook her head. “Oh. I’m not sure. Adam’s never been on a boat and…”
“I would be there the entire time, of course. I’ve been on boats since I was probably a day old. We wouldn’t go too far out, and I’d make sure he was well taken care of. I promise.”
Mandy seemed to be absorbing the idea. She looked at her son and back to Krista. “That’s really nice. I trust you with him, so…” She nodded. “Okay. That sounds wonderful. Thank you so much.”
Adam cheered, resembling a seven-year-old boy for the first time in over a week.
“You’ve really been an amazing nurse to Adam,” Mandy said. “More than a nurse. I consider you one of our friends, and we don’t have a lot of those. I’m too busy with”—she looked at her son and back to Krista—“well, you know.”
A sudden surge of emotion flooded Krista’s veins. “I consider you two friends, too. And I will absolutely enjoy taking Adam fishing and also watching him for you so you can have much-needed time to yourself.” Krista pulled the clipboard back to her lap. “Now, about these discharge papers. Are you ready to go home?” she asked Adam.
He nodded enthusiastically. He looked ready, too. His skin had color again. The childlike spark was back in his eyes.
“Great. Then all I need is for you to sign on the dotted line.” She offered Mandy the clipboard with the discharge papers and a pen.
Mandy took them, signed on several lines, and then handed them back. “Done.”
Krista pointed at Adam. “Get dressed. You’re free!”
“Did you mean it when you said you’d come to my home and hang out with me, too?” he asked.
“Of course I did.”
“Because you’re the only thing I’m going to miss about being here.” He shot out of bed, no evidence of a sick child in sight.
Krista and Mandy laughed.
“I’ve got to go see a few other patients, but I’ll check back before you go.”
Mandy nodded and then she got up and wrapped her arms around Krista. “Thank you again.”
“You’re very welcome.” Krista waved and headed out the door, nearly running into Karen. “Oh.” Guilt stamped out the warm fuzzies she’d had a moment earlier. She prayed that Karen hadn’t overheard. Judging by the look in the head nurse’s eyes, she hadn’t. Krista’s crime of caring too much had gone unnoticed this time.
“Morning,” Karen said, peering over her glasses at Krista. “I hear our little friend is leaving today.”
Krista nodded. “All set.”
“Great. There’s a new patient coming up from the ER to take his bed when it’s available.”
“Oh?” Krista asked. “Do you know the diagnosis?”
Karen frowned. Krista knew the look and she didn’t like it. “MVA. Multiple fractures.”
Motor vehicle accident. Those were always a mixed bag. The fact that Karen only mentioned fractures, though, gave Krista hope. “Got it. I’ll let you know as soon as the room is ready.”
“Thanks.” Karen continued walking. Turning back, she looked at Krista. “You’re always my first choice for the more severe patients. You’re good with them.”
Krista swallowed. “Thank you.” And that was a brief glimmer of hope that maybe she was still in the running for the promotion.
—
Noah had always wanted to live on a boat. It’d been his dream for as long as he could remember. A house with a yard and a white picket fence had never appealed to him.
