“Who’s in charge around here?” Kyle growled at the receptionist, who must have been used to people in crisis because she just smiled.
“I’ll find the nurse to speak to you. Dr. Reese is in with your daughter now.”
The receptionist disappeared into the maze of hospital rooms and corridors.
Hadley and Liam came up on either side of Kyle, and Hadley placed a comforting hand on his arm. “Dr. Reese is the best. He’s been caring for Maddie since she was born. He’ll know what to do.”
That was far from comforting. If only he could see her, he’d feel a lot better.
A woman in scrubs with balloon decals all over them emerged from a room and walked straight to Kyle. “Hi, Mr. Wade, I’m Clare Connolly, if you don’t remember me. We’ve got Maddie on an IV and a ventilator. She’s stable and that’s the important thing.”
“What happened? What’s wrong with her?” Kyle demanded.
“Dr. Reese is concerned about the effects of her high fever on her heart,” Clare said frankly, which Kyle appreciated. “He’s trying to bring the fever down and running some tests to see what’s happening. The last surgery should have fixed all the problems, but nothing is guaranteed. We knew that going in and, well, we’re going to keep fighting. We all want to win this thing once and for all.”
This woman genuinely cared about Maddie. He could see it in the worried set of her mouth. Nurses were never emotional about their patients, or at least the German ones weren’t.
“Thanks. For everything you’re doing. May I talk to the doctor?”
“Of course. He’ll want to talk to you, too. We all want to see Maddie running alongside her sister and blowing out candles on her birthday cakes for a long time to come. When Dr. Reese is free, he’ll be out,” Clare promised, and extended her hand toward the waiting room outside the pediatric unit. “Why don’t you have a seat until then.”
Clare bustled back into the room she’d materialized from, and Kyle nearly followed her because the waiting room was for people who had the capacity to wait, and that did not describe Kyle.
But Hadley’s hand on his arm stopped him. “Let the doctor do his thing, Kyle. You’ll only be in the way.”
Long minutes stretched as Kyle hovered outside his daughter’s room. What was taking so long? Pacing didn’t help. It hurt. Everything inside hurt. Finally, another nurse dared approach him, explaining that the hall needed to be clear in case of emergency. Wouldn’t he please take a seat?
He did, for no other reason than it would be a relief to get off his leg. Now if only he could find something to do with his hands.
People began filtering into the waiting room. Mac McCallum came to sit with Liam and Hadley, who promptly excused herself to fill out paperwork for Maddie, which she’d offered to do in Kyle’s stead so he could be available the moment the doctor came out with news. Hadley’s friend Kori came in and took a seat next to Liam.
They all had smiles and words of encouragement for Kyle. Some had stories of how Maddie was a fighter and how many people had sat with her through the night when she was known as Baby Janey. This community had embraced his daughter before they’d even known whom she belonged to. And now that they did, nothing had changed. They still cared. They were all here to provide support during a crisis, which is what the very best of neighbors did.
And then the air shifted, prickling Kyle’s skin. He looked up.
Grace.
She rushed into the room, brown curls flying, and knelt by his chair, bringing the scent of spring and innocence and everything good in the world along with her. As he soaked up her presence, he took his first easy breath since Hadley’s message to Liam had upended his insides.
“I came as soon as Hadley called me,” she said, her brown eyes huge and distressed as her gaze flitted over him.
The muffled hospital noises and people and everything around them faded as they focused on each other. Greedily, he searched her beautiful face for some hint as to her thoughts. Was she getting any sleep? Did she miss him?
She slid her hand into his and held on. “I’m sorry about Maddie. How are you doing?”
“Okay,” he said gruffly.
Better now. Much better. How was it possible that the woman who continually ripped his heart out could repair it instantly just by walking into a room?
It was a paradox he didn’t understand.
She climbed into the next chair, her grip on his hand never lessening. Her skin warmed his, and it was only then that he realized how cold he’d been.
“What did Dr. Reese say?” she asked.
Did everyone in town know the name of his daughter’s pediatrician? “He hasn’t been out yet. The nurse, Ms. Connelly, said her fever might be causing problems with her heart, but we don’t know anything for sure.”