Healing Hearts (New Hope Falls #6) - Kimberly Rae Jordan Page 0,88
butter and banana in because if, by some miracle, Bryson did feel like eating, that particular combination was sure to make him happy. And if there was something Ryker really wanted to see that morning, it was a smile on the little boy’s face.
Thankfully, visiting hours had started by the time he finally got to the hospital. He made sure he had his visitor badge on—the one they’d done up for him the previous day after he and Sophia had arrived at the hospital—then made his way into the building, juggling the duffle bag, the bag of food, and the tray of drinks.
When he got up to the unit where Bryson’s room was located, several nurses greeted him by name. Well, by the name they knew him as.
“Hey there, Doctor Bennett,” one of the middle-aged nurses said with a warm smile. “Haven’t seen you around in ages. How’s it going?”
“It’s going fine, Dianna,” he replied as he stopped walking, knowing it was only polite to engage in a bit of conversation with her. “How are you doing?”
The woman had been the PICU supervisor even back when he’d been working in the hospital, and he had always enjoyed working with her. She was professional but also warm and friendly. Parents and patients always responded well to her comforting nature.
“Are you working here again?” she asked, her gaze going to the badge he wore.
“Nope. I’m here as a friend of a patient, not as a doctor.”
“Ah. Well, lucky friend,” she said with a smile. “You’ve always been a favorite doctor among the kids. Who’re you here with?”
“Bryson Haldorson,” he said. “He just came in last night with a possible meningitis diagnosis.”
A look of concern crossed her face, but Ryker knew better than to ask her for any details. He’d get them soon enough when he had a chance to talk to Sophia.
“He still in the same room?”
“Yes.” Her brow furrowed as she hesitated before saying, “If you could get the boy’s mother to rest at some point today, it would be a good thing. She looks like a stiff breeze could blow her over.”
Ryker nodded. “I suspected she wouldn’t get much rest last night. I’ll see what I can do.”
“Is she your…girlfriend?” He knew why the question was asked hesitantly. If he’d still been working as a doctor there, it would have been out of line. But since he wasn’t there in a professional capacity, it was more acceptable.
“No. Not a girlfriend. Just a close friend.”
“Okay. Well, if you could help her out, that would be a good thing for her and for Bryson.”
“Definitely,” he agreed. “I did bring her breakfast, so I’ll get in there and see how they’re doing.”
“So nice to see you again, Ryker,” Dianna said. “Don’t be a stranger.”
If only he could be, he thought as he headed to the door of Bryson’s room. From the moment he stepped through the door, he could see why Dianna had been concerned.
Though Sophia smiled when he walked in, she looked pale and exhausted. He returned her smile, then looked at the bed where Bryson lay, his eyes closed, presumably sleeping.
“How’s he doing?” he asked as he set the bag with her things down on a chair near the window. He put the bag of food on the small table next to the chair. His fingers itched to check the chart, but he didn’t.
“They said he’s producing good amounts of urine now, so they’re not concerned about dehydration.”
“Has he been awake?” he asked as he moved to stand next to the bed, categorizing the boy’s appearance.
He was still frail-looking, but at least the sunken look and the dark circles under his eyes weren’t quite as stark as they’d been when Ryker had seen him at the house the day before.
“Yes. He woke up twice through the night, and he did throw up a couple of times, but his fever isn’t as high as it was.”
Ryker ran his gaze over the monitors, glad to see that the numbers indicated the boy was stable. He looked back at Sophia. “Has the doctor been by yet?”
She shook her head. “Just the nurses.”
“The doctor—or maybe several doctors—will be by sometime this morning to check Bryson over and to talk to you.” He moved back to where he’d set the bag of food. “But first, let’s have something to eat.”
As he pulled the food out of the bag, Sophia got up and came to the table. She peered down at the food. “You’ve brought a lot.”