She motioned back over her shoulder. “I should, um, sit with Mom, she’s a little... frustrated. But, um, maybe we’ll talk more later?”
Ollie nodded. “Yeah, that’d be good.”
Jaz tucked a strand of her dark hair behind her ear and turned back to where her mom sat, still swiping at her phone screen, still with what was probably her normal scowl plastered on her face.
And Ollie took his seat again, keeping an eye on the double doors where Sam had disappeared not too long ago. He clasped his hands together in his lap—glad for once tonotbe shaking—and he waited.
Chapter 16
Sam sat rigidly in a hard-backed chair next to Barry’s bed, one hand clasped in his uncle’s and the other sitting on his lap. He knew it was almost time. The nurse had come in just a few minutes ago to let them know.
But he wasn’t ready.
He blinked back tears and tried to smile as Barry looked up at him, shaking his head weakly.
“Now, kiddo, don’t you worry, not for one second. These doctors, they’re the best in the country. And...” Barry paused and closed his eyes, letting out a long breath.
Sam’s stomach clenched, and he reached up with his free hand and wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes.
When Barry looked up at him again, his expression was resolute, and Sam swallowed back the lump in his throat and nodded. “You’ll be okay.”
His uncle’s signature grin was a bit subdued, but it made Sam feel better nonetheless. Barry squeezed his hand. “I’ll make it through. And then, you’ll have to introduce me to this boyfriend of yours.”
Sam nodded and smiled. “He can’t wait to meet you.”
“Boy, kiddo, I’m... so happy right now. I’ve missed you. And... I missed seeing that smile of yours.”
There were words Barry hadn’t said—not with Sam’s dad standing right there, right on the other side of the bed. But Sam could read them clearly in his uncle’s expression. And his chest felt so full with emotion that he could barely breathe. He bit his lower lip, which was starting to tremble, and then squeezed Barry’s hand again.
“Barry, we’re all ready for you.”
Sam turned toward the voice to see nurse Janice poking her head in through the curtains. She pushed open one side and stepped in, flanked by two other nurses whom Sam hadn’t met yet.
“Alright, Sam. Now you hang in there, kiddo, and I’ll do my best, and I’ll see you on the other side.” Barry smiled at him again, and Sam just nodded as he stood and let go of his uncle’s hand.
Sam’s father cleared his throat, and to Sam’s surprise, when he spoke, his voice held the tiniest bit of concern. “I’m sure they’ll take good care of you. We’ll be here when you wake up.”
Barry nodded and reached out to take his brother’s hand as nurse Janice stepped up and began to disengage the brakes on the rolling hospital bed. “Thanks for being here, Chuck. I’ll see you soon.”
And then, he was gone, the nurses wheeling him off down the corridor and around a corner. Sam stood, unable to move. His heart pounded in his chest, and he felt vaguely lightheaded. He shoved his hands in his pockets and forced himself to take several deep breaths.
Another nurse he didn’t recognize touched him gently on the arm and said a few words, maybe directing him back toward the waiting room, he wasn’t quite sure. But when a large, heavy hand set roughly on his opposite shoulder, he flinched away, his stomach twisting into knots.
“Pull yourself together, Samuel. You look like you’re going to cry.” All the concern from earlier had left his father’s voice, and the older man’s usual gruff tone had returned, sending a wave of some strong, uncomfortable emotion through Sam.
From next to him, the nurse cleared her throat quietly. “Right this way. Here, follow me,” she said, her voice kind and soft.
Sam let out a short, shuddering breath and then nodded. “Yeah, sure. Um, sorry, I just...”
“It’s okay, take your time. We can walk slowly if you need to. I know this can be difficult.”
“The exit is this way?” Sam’s dad asked, already starting to move ahead of them.
“Yes, just to the right, down the hallway. You’ll see the nurses’ station and double doors,” the nurse said.
“Thanks.” And then he was gone too.
It was almost a relief. Except Sam could still barely stay upright, all his grief and worry and uncertainty making him dizzy. The nurse seemed to know, and she looped her arm through his, taking his hand.
