a walking cast now, and that should be coming off in a bit. He’ll have to do some physio, though, because he’s lost muscle in that leg.”
“I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to be back to normal.” Sophia knew that she’d be thrilled when she and Bryson were back to normal. When that would be, she had no idea.
Since neither of them had eaten all the lasagna, Ryker left to get them something for a late dinner. She’d thought he would just go to the cafeteria in the hospital and grab a couple of sandwiches, but when he returned, he had a takeaway bag from a restaurant.
“Hope you like Chinese,” he said as he set the food on the table. “I suppose I should have asked before I left.”
“Chinese is fine,” she told him.
Bryson was awake again, but he wasn’t interested in eating anything. He did accept the other cup of smoothie that Ryker had brought, however. She really hoped that this was the start of his appetite returning. The day he asked for actual bananas with peanut butter, she’d know that he was officially on the mend.
Ryker let her dish up her food first, then filled his plate. They took their plates over by Bryson’s bed so that they could interact with him too.
“When can we go home?” Bryson asked.
Sophia’s eyes widened. It was the first time that he’d asked about that. Emotion swamped her, making her eyes sting with tears at this latest evidence of his improvement.
“There are a few things that need to happen first,” Ryker told him.
As he laid out what those things were, Sophia was grateful that he could explain them in a way that Bryson would understand. She wasn’t sure she would have been able to do that, but she supposed that Ryker’s ease with Bryson came from his experience as a pediatrician.
After they finished eating, Ryker read with him again while Sophia curled up on the small armchair by the window, grateful that he wanted to spend time with Bryson like that. And now there was the prospect that Ryker actually wanted to be there for both of them.
Sophia let her gaze linger on the two of them, and she prayed that she wasn’t reading the situation wrong. Bryson needed someone like Ryker in his life, and she couldn’t deny that she did as well. That he had taken her revelations in stride gave her hope. She knew she wasn’t a great catch, but if Ryker would let her, she’d love him as fiercely as she loved Bryson. And if he’d love her even a quarter as much, she’d be happy.
Bryson was beginning to nod off when the nurse popped in. She was friendly and listened with interest when Ryker explained what was in the insulated cup that sat on the table across the bed.
“Well, it’s definitely good to hear that he’s drinking now,” she said. “Even if it is a peanut product.”
Ryker held up his hands. “I promise, I’m making sure that there is no transfer to anywhere outside this room.”
“I should reprimand you.” But then the nurse sighed. “The ridiculous thing is, we’ve had peanut products in the vending machines and the cafeteria, and you’re not the first to bring in peanut-based food. But at least you know enough to take precautions. At this point, I’m just happy he’s taking something by mouth. He hasn’t been particularly interested in eating or drinking more than a couple of mouthfuls at a time.”
“I’m hoping that this will help jumpstart his appetite,” Ryker said. “We’ve got to start somewhere.”
“We certainly do,” the nurse agreed. “Not that we want to see him go, but you know he needs to be well enough to leave the PICU for a step-down unit before they’ll consider letting him go home.”
Sophia watched as the nurse looked over the monitors and tried to get Bryson to talk to her. But Bryson being Bryson, he only gave her wary looks and single word answers spoken in a whisper.
“I’ll be back later to check on him,” the nurse said to her. “Get some sleep.”
“I’ll try,” Sophia said, though that would be a first. What she wouldn’t give for a night with the two of them in their own beds at the house.
Once Bryson had fallen asleep, Ryker began to gather up the bags he’d brought with him. “I’ll bring more smoothies for him tomorrow. Here are some cinnamon buns and cookies for you to snack on if you get hungry.”
“Thanks.” She had a