I watched the exchange with mild curiosity.
The man was wearing a hospital volunteer badge, and the nurse obviously knew him. Whatever my first impression suggested, he wasn't a stranger wandering through the building without permission.
He turned toward the playroom.
Then he noticed the little blue car sitting near Eli's doorway.
I had placed it on the windowsill earlier that morning after cleaning the bedside table.
Wade stopped.
He looked at the toy.
Then he looked toward me.
"That belong to somebody?"
I nodded.
"My son."
"He's a car man?"
I almost smiled.
"He used to be."
Wade's expression changed.
Not dramatically.
Just enough that I noticed.
"Used to?"
I glanced toward the room.
"He's been too tired to play much lately."
Wade looked at the little car again.
Then he held up his bag.
"Think he'd mind if I came by for a race?"
I hesitated.
The question was so unexpected that I didn't know how to answer.
He immediately added, "Only if the staff says he's cleared for visitors and you're comfortable with it. I volunteer here. I can ask the nurse."
That mattered.
He wasn't pushing past me or assuming that being kind gave him permission to enter.
He was asking.
I looked through the doorway.
Eli was awake, staring at the television without much interest.
I turned back.
"I suppose you can ask him."
Wade smiled.
"Fair enough."
He knocked gently on the doorframe.
"Hey, little man. I hear there's a professional race car driver in here."
Eli turned his head.
The biker stepped into view.
My son stared at him.
Wade was enormous, and Eli had never seen anyone who looked quite like him.
For a moment, I worried that he would be frightened.
Then Eli whispered, "Are you a giant?"
Wade looked down at himself.
He considered the question seriously.
"Only on Tuesdays."
Eli blinked.
"What day is it?"
"Thursday."
My son frowned.
"Then you're not a giant."
Wade sighed.
"Guess not."
Eli smiled.
It was the first smile I had seen that morning.
Wade held up the plastic bag.
"I heard you might be interested in a race."
Eli looked at the toys.
Then at me.
"Can I, Mommy?"
I nodded.
"If you're feeling up to it."
Wade glanced toward the nurse, who confirmed that an appropriate quiet activity was fine. He cleaned his hands, checked that the toys were suitable under the hospital's procedures, and arranged three small cars on the floor where Eli could see them.
Then he lowered himself beside the bed.
His knees made an audible popping sound.