“Need anything?”
Marcus thought.
“No bikes.”
“Wasn’t going to say.”
“Good.”
“Flowers?”
“She’s seven.”
“Stuffed animal?”
“Hospital has enough.”
Roy shrugged.
“Just go.”
Marcus looked at the hoodie.
“Yeah.”
The next afternoon, Lily was having a bad day before Marcus even arrived.
A resident physician had asked if he could look at her incision.
Lily said no.
He explained he needed to.
She cried.
Emily negotiated.
Eventually Lily allowed Dr. Patel only.
Then physical therapy returned.
She refused again.
By three o’clock, everyone was tired.
Ellen entered.
“He’s here.”
Lily immediately pulled the pink hood down.
“Where?”
“Hall.”
“Is he really big?”
“Yes.”
“Bigger than Dr. Patel?”
“Much.”
“Does he have motorcycle?”
“Not in the hospital.”
“That would be weird.”
“Very.”
Lily sat straighter.
Then panic returned.
“Wait.”
“What?”
“What if he thinks I’m ugly?”
Ellen lowered herself to eye level.
“Do you want me to send him away?”
Lily looked toward door.
“No.”
“Okay.”
“Can Mom stay?”
“Of course.”
“And you?”
“Yes.”
“Door open.”
“All right.”
Ellen stepped out.
Marcus stood at the end of the hallway beside the volunteer coordinator.
He looked almost exactly like the photograph, only larger in person.
Six-foot-three.
Broad chest.
Gray beard reaching toward sternum.
Black sleeveless motorcycle vest over charcoal shirt.
Dark jeans.
Tattooed forearms.
His scalp hair was cut short, revealing part of an old pale scar near the right side of his head.
A nurse who did not know him gave a second glance.
Marcus noticed.
He smiled without humor.
Perfect.
Ellen approached.
“She may tell you to leave.”
“Then I leave.”
“She may not talk.”
“Fine.”
“Do not touch her.”
“I know.”
“No promises.”
“I know.”
“Don’t tell her she’s brave unless she says she feels brave.”
Marcus looked at Ellen.
“You’ve become bossier.”
“Twenty years.”
“Terrible.”
She smiled.
Then looked down.
“You brought it.”
Marcus opened vest slightly.
Pale pink.
“Leah threatened me if I didn’t.”
“You told her?”
“Had to ask where hoodie was.”
Ellen led him.
The first thing Lily saw was his boots.
Then jeans.
Then the black vest.
Then the enormous beard.
Marcus stopped in the doorway.
Lily’s visible eye widened.
He did not enter.
“You Lily?”
Her voice came muffled.
“Yes.”