Peds

Kayla eyed the clock that hung on the wall behind the nurse's station in West Two.

"Muffin duty today, Kayla," a heavyset nurse said, rolling a muffin cart in Kayla's direction. "It's tonight's after-dinner snack. Pass one out to each child and any of the parents who are visiting. The only rooms you should skip are 403 and 408, since those children are on strict diets."

She was at the mercy of the staff to help her along. Once little slip and these kids could suffer because of her.

Kayla wheeled the cart away from the nurse's station and headed toward the first room. The little boy was sleeping and his mother declined the muffin. In the next room, the little girl, clutching to her stuffed rabbit, nodded emphatically when asked if she liked chocolate chip muffins.

"Here you go, then," Kayla said as she handed the muffin over along with a napkin. Her mother and older brother both took one, too.

So far, so good.

Kayla went back to her cart and rolled along to room 403.

Strict diet, she thought, remembering the nurse's orders.

Kayla glanced inside the room. The little boy was on his side facing the hallway. The blanket was kicked off his legs. Tubes snaked from his hand and his mouth. The machines behind his bed beeped and whirred.

And, sitting close to the child's bed, holding his tiny hand, was Quin. His back was to her and his dark hair was untied, creating a curtain between his eyes and Kayla.

But if he'd been able to see, he'd have most definitely caught her staring.

There was something awe-inspiring about a guy Kayla's age who sat in a Peds ICU room with a little boy who was a stranger to him, holding his hand while he slept.

Kayla finished passing out muffins just in time for her break. Plopping down at the round table, she picked up the phone and dialed Hobbs number. The phone rang several times before Hobbs' answering machine picked up.

Kayla hung up the phone and dialed Star's number.

Star answered on the third ring.

"Hey, Kay." Kayla clacked open a can of Dr. Pepper. "Is Hobbs over there?"

"Umm..."

Kayla could hear music playing in the background.

"Hold on a sec," Star said, turning the music down. "I'm in my room. I heard a car pull up not too long ago. Maybe it was Hobbs. Or, it could have been Michael."

Kayla pulled an orange from her bag and peeled back the rind. Her day so far had been pretty uneventful. She really had nothing to talk to Hobbs about, but that didn't stop her from wanting to talk to him.

"Yeah, he's here," Star said a minute later. "Hold on."

The phone switched hands. Hobbs came on the line. "Hey. Did you get off work early or something?"

"I'm on break."

"Oh. Everything okay?"

"Fine. I just.. I don't know, wanted to talk to you."

"Oh." He sounded surprised. A good surprised.

Silence filled the line. Kayla peeled off a slice of orange and bit into it. "I guess i really don't have anything else to say. I just called to say, hi."

He laughed that easy Hobbs laugh. "Well, hi. And hey, Kay?"

"Yeah?"

"You can call me more often like this. You know, just to say hi. I kinda like it."

Kayla grinned wide. "I can manage that."