Priceless(25)

“It’s okay. Believe me, I understand your frustration.”

“And I see now why you looked so beat when I got here.” He met her gaze. “What’s the plan?”

“A transfusion in the morning and then we wait to see if it helps,” Beth explained. “A little prayer wouldn’t be misplaced, either.”

Mack nodded. “Okay, then.” He held out his hand. “Want to go with me to pay Tony a visit?”

“I was on my way when you got here,” she said, taking his hand because right now she desperately needed the contact with someone who shared her dismay. She also needed the little spark that came with it, the reminder that no matter what happened with Tony she was alive, that she would still be here fighting for other kids down the road.

Mack gave her hand a squeeze. “How about we take a little detour to the chapel on the way?”

She met his gaze. “You read my mind.”

It was a habit of his that she was starting to take for granted. Moreover, instead of making her uncomfortable, it was beginning to feel very, very good to have that kind of connection with someone.



“Dr. Beth’s really pretty, don’t you think so, Mack?” Tony’s huge eyes were focused intently on Mack’s face.

Mack tried to ignore the question. He wasn’t getting drawn into that discussion with yet another matchmaker. Instead he held up the assortment of comic books he’d brought with him. “Look at these, Tony. I had no idea there were so many cool new superheroes out there.”

Tony’s gaze remained unrelenting. “You didn’t answer my question, Mack. Don’t you think Dr. Beth is really pretty?”

Mack sighed. “Yes, she is.”

“Maybe you should ask her on a date or something. I’ll bet she’d go.”

Mack had enough trouble convincing Beth to slip out of the hospital for an occasional meal on the run. An actual honest-to-goodness date was probably out of the question. He didn’t want to ruin his image with Tony by admitting that, though.

Tony studied him worriedly. “She didn’t turn you down already, did she? Did you say something to make her mad?”

“No, kid, I haven’t bombed out entirely with the doc, but she’s pretty busy, you know. She has a lot of responsibilities around here.”

“I know. That’s why I think she needs a date, to get her mind off things, you know what I mean? Sometimes she seems real sad.”

“I’ve noticed,” Mack said. In fact, some days he wondered how she stood it. Today had to be one of the worst since they’d met. Even he was shaken by the grim outlook for Tony’s future.

Earlier, when they’d been on their way from the chapel to Tony’s room, she’d gotten a beep and had taken off at a run with a terse apology and no explanation. He was dawdling in Tony’s room now, hoping she’d eventually turn up. If that beep meant the kind of emergency he suspected, he thought she might be in need of some company this evening, maybe even another dinner someplace that wouldn’t remind her of the hospital.

He turned his attention back to Tony, whose energy had obviously faded. He was resting against the pillows, which were barely a shade whiter than his pale complexion.

“How are you feeling, pal?”

“Kinda tired,” Tony confessed.

Mack was taken aback by the rare admission. Usually Tony was all bluster when it came to his health. For him to admit that he was feeling tired meant he had to be exhausted. Mack recalled what Beth had said about a transfusion, but he knew the word on that hadn’t gotten to Tony yet.

“Get some sleep. You want to be rested when your mom gets here after work,” Mack told him.

“But you just got here,” Tony protested weakly. “And you brought all those awesome comics.”

“They’ll be here when you wake up, and so will I,” Mack promised. “Now close your eyes and take a nap.”

Tony struggled to keep his eyes open. “Hey, Mack.”

“What, pal?”

“Could you maybe sit here next to me?”

“Sure,” he said, lowering himself carefully to the edge of the bed. He’d noticed that too much movement seemed to make the boy wince. It was yet another sign that his condition was worsening.

Mack was barely seated when he felt Tony’s hand slip into his and hang on tight. Tears immediately stung the backs of his eyes.

“It’s okay,” he said softly. “You can sleep. I’m right here.”

“Can I tell you something?” Tony asked sleepily.

“Anything, pal.”

“You won’t tell my mom or Dr. Beth?”

“No,” Mack promised.