smile in check. Finally he’d found someone just like him—wanting nothing more than a good time, even if she’d done her disappearing act again. One of these days, maybe, he’d actually wave her off or even accompany her out of his apartment, instead of turning round and finding she’d done a bunk. Again.
And it was no end of irritating to realise he missed her, too. Somehow she’d grown on him in unexpected ways. She’d probably just popped out to get breakfast.
But, goddamn the woman, couldn’t she have left a note?
He closed the cubicle curtain around the bed to create a little privacy, trying to focus on the matter in hand. ‘So what’s the problem, Jodi? The meds dosage is being titrated so it’s going to be different on different days until he stabilises…but you sounded panicked on the phone. Something else bothering you?’
‘I overheard one of the nurses say that a couple of the kids here had gone down with some
sort of vomiting bug. I need to get Jamie off this ward now.’
Great. That’s all they needed: a compromised child and-a virulent gastro bug. ‘Yeah, the anti- rejection drugs do silly things with Jamie’s immune system. He’ll be vulnerable.’
‘You’re the only one with authority to discharge him. Mitchell said he’d sign a self-discharge form if you...disagreed.’
‘I won’t. Why would I?’
She paused. ‘Oh, I don’t know...’
‘In case I was difficult? Right?’ Max pulled at his shirt collar. Something was irritating him, but he couldn’t tell whether it was outside his body or more than skin deep. He shrugged. Checked the charts. ‘Jamie’s doing fine. I’m still a little concerned about getting all the dosages right, but I agree he’d be better off at home than at risk here. You can bring him in to Outpatients and we’ll take it from there.’
‘You hear that, baby? We’re going home,’ she whispered to Jamie, her voice thick with tears. ‘I didn’t think this day would ever come.’
The little guy jumped up and down on the bed—thrusting an old fire engine into Max’s hand, those brilliant blue eyes blazing with mischief.
Suddenly an image popped into Max’s head of him and Mitchell—not much older than Jamie—in some sort of den they’d constructed with a clothes airer and a sheet in their old house. The one they’d been dragged away from in such a hurry that fateful night.
Under the sheet they’d been laughing about a shared joke, chatting in twin-speak, the strange gobbledegook language they’d made up. He’d forgotten. Forgotten they’d once had such a strong bond that no one else had even understood them. Just the two of them, inseparable. Emotion clogged his throat and he sucked in air.
So many things he’d blocked out in order to cope. It was easier to push everything—everyone— away than risk emotional overload. Easier to forget than to drag everyone down with him.
Their mother’s face had been a mix of emotions as she’d popped her head under the sheet and laughed in confusion. ‘You two, what a pair! You’re always up to something. Would you one day let someone else into your private jokes?’
The memory was infused with the pungent smell of flowers. Was that her perfume? No... He tugged at the memory to try make it more real, but the more he tugged the harder it was to grasp. It disappeared into a mist, leaving him heavy-hearted and face to face with a red fire engine and a toothy smile. ‘Max...play.’
Taking the fire engine out of her son’s hands, Jodi ran it along the bed frame. ‘I don’t think Uncle Max has time to play, right?’
It was an invitation to leave. He was torn. He wanted to sit here and play with his brother’s son for a few more minutes. Be a part of their lives. But he didn’t know if Mitchell would take kindly to that. Instead, he had to let them all go. The irritation seemed to thicken the back of his throat now, his words struggling to come out. ‘No, ’fraid not, buddy. Uncle Max has to go. But I’ll see you...’
Jodi nodded. ‘At Outpatients.’
‘Yes.’ He turned to go, but realised he needed to say something more. ‘I’m really sorry for how everything has turned out.’
She gave him a shy smile. ‘You mean you and me? Or you and Mitch?’
‘I should have treated you better. But I’m glad you’re with Mitch now. You both seem happy.’
‘We are. He’s not that bad, you know.’ She winked.
‘That’s what they said about Attila the Hun.’ When she laughed again