The boy laughs while trying to stop the attack and when Carter finally lets him sit back, he hits his shoulder, saying, “Guess who this is?”
“Shut up! You mean you actually do have a life outside of here?” he teases.
“Yes, I do…” he deadpans.
“Don’t lie,” I jump in on the conversation. “I can only imagine how he throws his life into the hospital. I bet he’s here even on his days off, huh?”
“Dude! All the time. You’d think he was the sick person in this situation.”
“What? Is it a crime that I like to hang out with you?”
He looks at him like he’s crazy. “I’m eleven. You’re how old? Yes, I’d say it’s a crime that hanging out with me is more fun than your real life.”
“Don’t worry. He was the same back in high school. It took years for him to actually notice me and ask me out,” I tease, winking at Carter.
“Okay, that’s enough of bash on Carter time. Kyle, I’d like for you to meet Evangeline.”
I reach out my hand to shake his, and instead, he gives me a fist bump, and after we hit, he blows it up.
“I taught him that,” Carter brags.
I can’t help but smile at the man, and the doctor Carter has become. If his other patients are anything like Kyle, Carter has left quite the impression on these young kids just like he did on me so many years ago. I’d be lying if I said those feelings from the past don’t come creeping back in.
“Dr. Donovan,” a nurse calls from the door. “You’re needed in the tent.”
“I’ll be right there,” he responds. “Okay, man, now you’ve met her, you know I’m not lying, so there. Now I have to get back to, I don’t know, saving lives, possibly yours,” he boasts out.
“Was his ego always this big?” Kyle asks, looking at me.
“No, I think that’s something he’s earned over the years,” I answer.
Carter grins at me then we say our goodbyes and walk back to the tent.
“He’s a pretty cool kid,” I say.
“Yeah. Let’s hope we can find him a donor today.”
“We will. I feel it.”
He leans down to give me a hug goodbye. For the first time, I almost panic. I’m not ready to say goodbye, so I blurt out, “Want to read those letters tonight?”
He leans in, whispering, “Hell yes, I do. I’ll be over at seven. Sounds good? I’ll bring food.”
I let out a sigh of relief. “Sounds good.”
