Chapter 17
“His fever is 104, but we’re doing everything we can.”
The doctor was bald except for a fringe of blonde hair. He held a thermometer in his left hand, staring at Linda with an air of finality.
Linda looked around the hospital room. A machine beeped away next to Joseph’s crib. She shook her head. “I can’t believe this. How did it happen?”
The doctor touched her shoulder. “From what I can tell, the infection started in the ulcers from his chicken pox. Now it’s in his shoulder and forearm. You’re lucky you brought him in when you did.”
Hyperventilating, Linda watched a dark-haired woman walk across the room with a hypodermic needle, stopping next to Joseph’s crib. She pushed the needle into a port on Joseph’s IV line.
The doctor patted Linda’s shoulder. “We’re using the best antibiotics available.”
The nurse injected the hypodermic into Joseph’s IV line. Joseph stuck out his lower lip and moaned.
“Why is he doing that?” Linda asked, her eyes welling up. “What’s wrong?”
The doctor slid the thermometer into the breast pocket of his lab coat. “There can be some discomfort when the antibiotic enters the bloodstream. A little burning but it’s normal.”
Linda turned away and saw the receptionist standing in the doorway, holding a clipboard and a pen. Her face looked softer. She wasn’t the gatekeeper anymore, just a gray-haired old woman—maybe someone’s grandma—coming in to make sure everything was running smooth.
Linda stiffened. The woman made her sit for hours until Joseph’s fever got so high he passed out.
“What are you doing here?” she snapped. “You know, my husband still hasn’t brought our insurance card. Maybe you should kick us out and send us to the county health department.”
The receptionist’s face paled. She looked at her feet. “I’m sorry to interrupt doctor, but we need you up front. There was an accident with a school bus. Ambulances are on the way.”
“Did you ask them if they have their insurance card?” said Linda. She held her right hand out toward the receptionist, rubbing her index finger and thumb together. “Money is all that matters, right?”
The doctor nodded at the receptionist. “Tell them I’ll be right there.”
The receptionist looked at Joseph. “I’m sorry,” she said, and then she stepped out the door.
“Well, that makes everything better,” Linda said. Tears streamed down her face. The nurse handed her a tissue. She wiped her eyes, turning to see the doctor staring at her.
“Do you need something to calm you down?” he asked.
Linda blew her nose. She shook her head. “No. I’m fine. My husband is bringing our insurance card. Everything is going to be fine.”
There was a long pause as the doctor and the nurse looked at her. Linda was sure they were going to call security and have somebody drag her away. The doctor sighed. “Well, if you need something, let me know. In the meantime, try to get some rest.”
Linda wiped her nose with the tissue. She sat in the chair next to Joseph’s crib. The doctor and the nurse slipped out of the room. She stared at Joseph, noticing how much he looked like Danny. That big jaw. Those long eyelashes. Even his hair was like Danny’s. Especially now, since Danny hadn’t gotten a hair cut in so long. Loose curls fell around his shoulders. Danny said he looked like a girl with his long hair, but she didn’t care. She thought it made him look like an angel.
Her hand went to her chest, feeling for her necklace. Unclasping the gold chain, she slipped it off, taking care not to tangle it in her hair. The necklace felt warm in her hand. She remembered how proud Danny had been when he gave it to her for their one-year anniversary.
“It’s solid twenty-four carat,” he’d said as he’d slipped it on her neck and placed his hand over the medal as it lay against her chest. She could almost hear him now, whispering in her ear, “My dad gave my mom one of these when they first got married. It’ll keep you safe.”
Linda stared at the medal. Engraved around the outer edge of the gold medallion were the words, “Saint Michael the Archangel Protect Us.” The words circled a relief of an angel holding a sword. She flipped it over, reading the words Danny engraved on the back.
Always with You ~ Danny The chair creaked as she pushed to her feet and reached over the rail of the crib, carefully lifting Joseph’s head. His lips parted and he took a shaky breath as she slipped the chain around his neck. She lay her hand on his chest, leaned over the rail of the crib and whispered, “You’re strong like your daddy. You fight and make mommy and daddy proud of you.” Tears ran down her face and she lifted her hand from Joseph’s chest. She stared at the Saint Michael medal he now wore. One of her tears fell on it. She rubbed her thumb over her tear until the medal gleamed, and then she put her hands on the rail of the crib. The metal rail felt cold as she raised her gaze to the ceiling.
Send someone to watch over him. Send an angel to protect him and keep him from harm. Please.