Page 43 of The Accidental Witch

Twelve

The elevator doors pinged open, forcing them to step out onto the sixth floor, where Robbie’s knees began to tremble.

But Greer pulled her close to his side and whispered, “Remember to act like you belong. Confident and sure. You’re not doing anything wrong, Robbie. You’re checking on a very sick little boy you love. In and out, that’s it,” he reminded before letting her hand go.

Swallowing hard, Robbie nodded her head, which didn’t feel like her head at all. The hair felt all wrong, but whatever. As Wanda said, in for a penny, in for a pound.

Forcing a confidence she didn’t feel, Robbie sauntered down the white tiled floor, passing room after room of sick children. The familiar beeps of the machines monitoring heartbeats and pulse oxygen sounded, almost louder at this time of night due to the quiet of the floor.

She whisked past the nurses’ station with a small wave of her hand, hearing, “Evening, Doctor,” from a petite blonde nurse as she did.

Softly exhaling, Robbie nodded and headed directly toward Josh’s room. On the threshold of his doorway, she drank in thesight of him, so tiny in the middle of that big sterile bed. He was bald now, all of those luscious chestnut-colored curls, his eyebrows, too, gone from the chemo.

He looked so frail, thin, almost translucent, but his Facebook page, updated by his mother, said he was on an upward trajectory. Robbie had to hang on to that, even if seeing him defied that prognosis. Wrapped in a blue and red blanket his grandmother, Tilly, had knitted him, he at least looked peaceful as he clung to the soft material.

The staff tried to let all of the children have some of their personal items, like blankets and stuffed animals, if the situation allowed. For Josh, it was Iron Man. A row of various Iron Man action figures sat on his bedside table so he’d see them every time he woke up.

She smiled, swallowing her tears as Greer gave her a nudge. “We’d better hurry. Didn’t you say he gets his meds for the night at eight?”

“Yes,” she whispered, taking another step into the room, noting where they’d hung cards from his classmates. Pictures of him with his family sat on the ledge under the window. The one she’d taken herself of Josh with the Iron Man actor she’d hired sat front and center.

A swag of Halloween cutouts draped across the window, bats, ghosts and pumpkins wafting in the breeze from the heater below.

Moving toward his bed, Robbie peeked all the way around the curtain to find Josh sleeping soundly. Breathing a sigh of relief, she scooted around the bed, tucking the blanket under his chin, running her knuckles lightly down his cheek.

Looking at his blood pressure and pulse ox on the screen told her he was in a good place for the moment, thrilling her. She’d learned quite a bit about what all those numbers meant,spending so much time here with the children, and his numbers said he was pretty solid.

“Oh, Josh,” she whispered, bringing his small hand to her cheek. “Sweet, sweet boy. Look at how well you’re doing. You’re gonna be out of here in no time flat. I just know it. It won’t be long before you’re playing baseball again.”

He stirred a little, the crisp sheets rustling. His eyes suddenly popped open, big and brown. He stared at her. “Who are you?” he whispered hoarsely.

Yeah.Who was she?

“Dr. Smith? Did you hear Josh? He asked who you are,” Greer said, putting a hand at her waist.

Thank God for Greer. If she couldn’t be left alone for fear someone would snatch her up, she was glad she had him looking out for her.

Smiling, the sound of the boy’s voice music to her ears, she whispered back, “I’m Dr. Smith, Josh. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you. Go back to sleep.”

But he grabbed her hand and hung on to it. “I don’t know you, but you sound just like my friend.”

Cocking her head, Robbie fought tears, the tremble in her voice clear. “Who’s your friend, Josh?”

He wrinkled his nose, his pale face full of gloom and sadness. “Her name’s Robbie. She used to visit me all the time.” He sighed. “She was really, really, really nice. But she don’t come to see me no more.” He shrugged as if he was trying to ward off the hurt he felt. “Maybe she don’t like anymore.”

It was all she could do not to burst into tears and reassure him how wrong he was. “Oh, I’m sure that’s not true. Whowouldn’tlike you? You’re smart and brave and you like Iron Man. She’d be nuts not to like you.”

“Then how come she don’t come to see me no more? Do you think she’s sick? I told my mommy I bet she’s sick. Robbie would never miss story time if she wasn’t sick. I hope she’s okay.”

How did she answer that? Diversion was the key. She plucked up one of his Iron Man action figures, dancing it toward him, and asked, “So I see youreallylove Iron Man, huh?”

Josh nodded, finally smiling. “Yep. He’s my favorite, then Thor. Then after Thor, I like the Hulk.” He roared to mimic the Hulk. It was weak and soft, but it made her smile.

She chuckled, brushing her hand over his cheek. “My favorite is Captain Marvel. Do you like her?”

Josh made a face. “She’s a girl. My mom says girls can be superheroes, too, but she’s not like Iron Man.”

Robbie nodded, giving a light poke to his tummy. “I see, but you know what? I think your mom’s right. I mean, because I’m a girl and all.”

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