1
The stack of magazines perched precariously in my arms was at risk of toppling to the floor. I quickly re-balanced the pile and set them down with a thump on the table.
"Oh, sweetie, that's too many."
"I'm okay, Helen. It's no trouble at all." I smiled at the woman sitting up in the hospital bed. "I was just on my way out when I remembered you were looking for something to read."
"I think I'll have enough to read for the next year," she chuckled. Helen was a new patient. She hadn't been here long enough to have read all the old magazines we had lying around. "You're done for the day?"
"Yeah, the little rugrats have worn me out," I replied. "Plus, I've got a late afternoon shift to get to."
"I appreciate you taking the time to drop these off, Becca dear."
"Like I said, it was no trouble."
With a smile and a wave, I made my way back to the children's ward where I usually spent my time. I saw Tracey, the head volunteer, and nodded at her in greeting. The harried expression on her face melted into a grateful smile.
"Thank you so much for all your help today, Becca," she said.
"No need to thank me," I said. "I love hanging out with the kids."
"So you'll be here the same time next week?" she asked. "They really look forward to seeing you."
"I look forward to seeing them, too."
Tracey waved me off and I went to get my purse. Although my cheeks were spread wide in a smile, I couldn't stop a small pang of sadness from hitting my chest. I loved coming to see the kids in the children's ward at the hospital. It was just, sometimes, I'd show up for my weekly visits, and there'd be a kid missing. We all knew what that meant.
I was fiddling with the contents of my bag to try and rid myself of those morbid thoughts when something caught my eye.
A dark figure was creeping along the hallways. It looked like a hunched over man, wearing a ball cap low over his eyes. He darted his head back and forth in a furtive motion.
What was some sketchy guy doing lingering in the children's ward? My mind immediately went to the worst case scenarios.
"Hey!" I called out. "What are you doing?"
The man jumped as he turned back to look at me. His face was shadowed beneath the ball cap.
"Do you have permission to be here?" I demanded. I wasn't about to let some sketchy guy sneak around like a creep. "Visiting hours are over."
The guy quickly turned around and tried to slink off. I hustled over to him with quick steps, even as my heart pounded. I reached him and grabbed his arm, ready to march him over to the nearest nurse's station.
He tried to shake me off but I kept my grip tight on his jacket. The man whirled around. I took a startled step back, wondering if maybe confronting him had been a bad idea.
He took off his cap, revealing longish sandy brown hair. Deep blue eyes, set in a handsome face, met mine. I started back, my grip loosening. If this guy was a creeper, he was the most attractive creeper I'd ever seen.
"You mind letting go?" he drawled in a low voice.
In response, I fisted his jacket tighter. I wasn't going to let him off just because he was good looking.
"You looking for an autograph?" he continued.
My brows drew down into a frown. "Autograph?"
He patted his pockets. "I'm sure I've got a pen somewhere."
Nonplussed, I stared at him. He was probably just trying to distract me.
"What are you doing lurking around in the kid's ward?" I asked.
