“Great news.” It was the best of all possible outcomes, yet I couldn’t help wondering who would be there with her during the day when her mother needed to work. “I’m assuming the hospital has some kind of plan set up to take care of her after she goes home?”
“I wish we did. Her mother has no insurance, so it’ll be whatever the state can provide. We do have patient advocates who will be in touch with her mother and guide her on how to apply for all the help available to her.”
Anger boiled inside me. “I hope that’s enough, but if it’s not, I’m setting up funds to assist families with their medical bills.”
“That can literally be life-saving. Medical bills can bankrupt people.” Dorothy squeezed my arm. “You have no idea how far-reaching all your help is.”
“I’d better start my rounds. See you later.” I grabbed the cart, its shelves filled with books, and ignoring a glowering Gabriel, headed down the hallway.
“Please listen to me.” Gabriel obviously didn’t get the message that I wasn’t in the mood to talk to him, and continued to rapid-fire at me. “Don’t be mad. I did it because I care about you and could see you’re still hurting. I know you miss your sister.”
The more he talked, the tighter my sweaty grip grew on the cart handle. Outside Haley’s room, I stopped and faced him. “I can’t talk about this right now. I have to do my job.”
“But we can later?” Gabriel took me by the shoulders. “Will you listen to me?”
Old Ronan might’ve told Gabriel to fuck off, might’ve walked away without a second thought. But the new Ronan was smarter than that. He wanted Gabriel snuggled in bed with him and kisses and laughter. Old Ronan didn’t know about love, but the new Ronan did and wasn’t about to give it up.
“Yeah. Later.”
“Promise?”
“Yeah.” With a lighter heart because I knew I’d forgive Gabriel, I covered his hand with mine. “Promise.”
My smile no longer forced, I wheeled my cart into Haley’s room. “Good afternoon, princess. I heard some good news today.” I stopped short, seeing a woman sitting by her bedside. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know Haley had a visitor. I can come back.”
Haley’s big brown eyes grew round. “No. Stay. This is my mommy. I’m going home tomorrow.”
“I heard. But you still get to pick a book today, and you can leave it when you go home.”
The woman stood. “I’m Layla, Haley’s mother. She told me all about you—Ronan the book man.” Her frank gaze met mine. “You’re here on a community service project, I was told?”
“They filled you in?” The bitterness was something that would linger with me for life, I feared.
“Anyone who comes near my daughter, I’m going to question.” She lifted her chin. “I have that right.”
Layla couldn’t have been more than twenty-five, which meant she had Haley when she was about seventeen. Almost a child herself. She sure as hell must have had to grow up quickly.
“I agree,” I told Layla, “you do. But you wouldn’t ever have to worry about me being close to your daughter.”
“I watch the news, so I know who you are. And yeah, initially when I found out I wasn’t happy to have you near her. But Haley has told me how nice you’ve been to her and all the kids, and when I spoke to Dorothy, she said you set up a trust to benefit the children’s ward. Maybe you’re just throwing money around to make yourself feel better, I don’t know. But you didn’t have to do it, so I’m grateful for everything it’s going to accomplish.”
She had guts and balls, something a single mother taking care of a sick child on her own in New York needed. And I admired the fuck out of her.
“I’m sure it looks that way to you and probably everyone else, but meeting kids like Haley and the others showed me what real courage is. And it highlighted how much help the hospital needed. I had the means, so it was a natural next step.”
“I understand.” She glanced over at Haley. “I’m so grateful for what they did for her. I’m just a little overwhelmed.”
“I know. And if you need help, I’m happy to—”
“I don’t take charity, but thank you.” She lifted her chin. “We’ll be fine.”
Frustrated, I shook my head. “And I don’t give charity. I’m thinking about help for Haley when she comes home.”
“I have a neighbor who can watch her during the day when I’m at work.”
“Mrs. Palumbo?” Haley piped up. “She smells funny.”
Layla’s lips twitched. “That’s not nice, sweetie. Did you pick out a book you can finish by tomorrow morning?”
