Page 6 of Wildflower Hearts
“He is the president of one of the largest airlines in this city. I have no idea why he spends his money on such frivolous matters, but what can I say? The man is a charmer.”
“More like a snake in the grass,” she muttered. She shifted the phone to her other ear as a nurse approached to hand her a clipboard. She flipped it open to scan the contents. “Mother, I hate to cut this stimulating conversation short, but I have patients to check on, and I’m already behind.”
Her mother let out a disgruntled sigh. “I was calling to extend an invitation to your sister’s engagement party tomorrow night, but I suspect you’ll be too busy for that, won’t you?”
“I’m afraid so.” She snapped the folder shut. “I’m scheduled on thirds all week, and a couple of new patients came in today. I’m booked.”
“Why can’t you get out of it? Your family is more important than some thug who’s there because he got shot stealing a TV or something.”
“Your never-ending compassion melts my heart, Mother. I need to go. Please refrain from calling me at the hospital again unless it’s an emergency.”
“Lyla Hamilton, do not hang up this phone. We are not done talking!”
“I have to go.” She spotted a nurse motioning at her. “Congratulate Amelia for me. I would call her, but some of us have to work, even on their birthday.” She hung up the phone and rolled her shoulders before spotting Melissa smirking at her. “What is it?”
“I’ve never heard you talk to your mother with such,” she paused as if searching for the right phrasing, “big brass balls before.”
“If she calls back, please tell her I’m too busy to take her call.”
“Is that all I can tell her?”
She shot Melissa a scolding look but smiled. “Yes, thank you.”
“Nurse Hamilton?”
“Oh yes, sorry, Diane.”
“It’s okay. I understand.” The woman’s eyes glanced between her and the phone. “It’s the Kingsley kid. You better take a look at him.”
“Excuse me.” She slid past Billy’s two children, smiling at them before she handed Nurse Rosen her folders and stepped next to the bed. The family hovered silently near Noah. “What seems to be the problem?”
“It’s not exactly a problem, Nurse Hamilton. We changed his medication and placed Mr. Kingsley in a more comfortable position. It was after that he began to come around.”
“He’s regaining consciousness?”
Rosen looked disinclined to answer. “His eyes shifted behind his lids, and he whispered a word or two.”
“In deep REM sleep, your eyes shift involuntarily. Has anyone tried to establish a physical connection with him?”
“No, I wasn’t sure what you’d…”
“No, that’s okay.” She stepped beside Noah, leaning over him as she slid a small flashlight from her scrubs pocket. “Mr. Kingsley?” She gently lifted his eyelids, testing with the light for active pupil movement. “Noah, can you hear me?” She glanced down as his lips moved, but no sound came out. “Noah, if you can hear me, I need you to respond in any way possible.”
She glanced down to see his fingers twitch and turned her attention to his family. “From what I can see, he’s reacting positively to the new medication. The spasms have stopped, and his pupils are reacting to light stimuli. That’s a good sign.”
“So, he’s coming around again?”
“Slowly but surely. It might take a few more days for the medication to take effect.”
“Our little brother will be fighting to leave this place soon.” Elias grinned over at his brothers. “Noah has never been a big fan of hospitals.”
“Most people aren’t, Mr. Kingsley.”
“I thought I told you to call me Elias.”
“Yeah,” Mark agreed with a nod of his head. “Call us by our first names. We hate that mister crap. Thank you for everything, Lyla.”
“Not a problem. I’m just doing my job.” She looked at Noah and smiled, brushing a piece of his hair away from his face. Elias noticed the movement but said nothing while watching her closely with a curious look. “Oftentimes, patients in deep unconscious states respond best to physical stimuli. It might be a good idea to talk or touch him.”
