She shook her head and chewed on her bottom lip, grabbing hold of Elijah’s hand. “I’ll go later.”
Taking a deep breath, I followed James and Frankie, hoping I would hold it together.
As we reached the small private room that Sam was in, James let go of Frankie’s hand and went over to the nurse who was writing on the chart at the end of Sam’s bed. Yvetta looked up and her face broke into a smile as she spotted us. She held out her arms and without hesitation, Frankie ran into them leaving me standing in the doorway, my eyes drawn to Sam’s body lying motionless in the bed.
His face was as white as the sheets that were pulled up to his chest, but he looked peaceful as his chest slowly moved up and down. He wasn’t hooked up to any machines to help him breathe, which had to be a good sign, and the heart monitor next to his bed beeped rhythmically; I would have thought he was simply sleeping if I didn’t know any better.
“Maisie,” Yvetta’s soft voice floated into my ears.
I looked over to see her beckoning me over, holding out her hand, not unlike James had done to Frankie. Her other arm was wound tightly around my son, who was turned toward the bed, watching Sam carefully.
“Five minutes, that’s all,” the nurse said a little sternly to James, who rolled his eyes.
When the door clicked shut, Frankie looked up at James who had moved to the other side of Sam’s bed.
“Why won’t he wake up Grandpa?”
James looked down at Sam and then back to Frankie. “He needs to sleep to get better.” His eyes were soft and his voice gentle and I knew he was going to be an amazing grandfather, just as he was evidently an amazing dad.
“But I want him to wake up now,” Frankie said, pulling away from Yvetta. “I start practicing lines for my school play next week. I’m Grandpa Joe and I want him to help me to learn them.”
“Maybe Grandpa and I can help you,” Yvetta said, her voice breaking.
Frankie didn’t look at her, but stared down at Sam and shook his head vigorously.
“No, I want Daddy.” He laid a tiny hand on Sam’s cheek and leaned down to his ear. “Please wake up Daddy. Please. ”
His plea was heart rending and all three of us gasped in unison. I moved quickly to take Frankie into my arms, but he shrugged me off and cupped Sam’s face with both of his hands.
“No,” he cried. “I want to stay with my dad. I want my dad to wake up.”
“Frankie.” Yvetta’s call of his name was hiccupped out in a sob as she clutched a hand to her chest.
“Daddy please.” Frankie continued to sob. “Please wake up, Daddy, please.”
I couldn’t stand the torment that my baby was going through and wished I hadn’t thought it was a good idea for him to come in and see Sam. It was too much for his little heart to endure.
“We haven’t finished our puzzle,” Frankie cried as James managed to pull him away from the bedside. “He needs to help me finish it.”
The last words were said through tears and sobs to his grandfather, as James enveloped him in his arms and hugged him tightly.
“I’m so sorry, Maisie,” James said, his own eyes full of tears. “I thought it would help him.”
“Baby, please don’t cry.” I swiped under my nose with the back of my hand as I reached for Frankie.
He turned in James’ embrace and almost threw himself at me, wrapping tiny arms around my waist. We stood locked together for a few minutes, until his crying subsided and all that he had left to offer were sniffles.
“Let me take him,” Yvetta offered. “You stay here with James.”
I looked over at the bed and then down at Frankie. “I don’t know, I think maybe I should take him home.”
His grip around me tightened. “No, I want to stay.” He looked up at me, his eyes, so like Sam’s, pleading with me.
“Shall we go and see if we can get you some breakfast?” Yvetta asked, bending down to his level. “Maybe Uncle Elijah and Auntie Amy will come too.”
Frankie nodded and letting go of me, took his grandma’s hand. “You’ll come and get me if Daddy wakes up?” he asked me.
“Of course I will.”
