Love Comes Silently(Senses 1) (2 page)

“Bring her around to the door,” she said as she pointed, and Ken carried Hanna to where the lady had indicated. He heard a buzzing, and then the door opened and a nurse met him and led him through to the emergency treatment area, where he laid Hanna on a bed. He expected to be given a hard time and told to wait, but the nurse began immediately taking Hanna’s temperature and vital signs, and then wrote them on a chart as she asked questions.

Ken answered every question. No, she didn’t have allergies. She’d been fine a week ago, but she’d gotten a cold that had steadily gotten worse. Ken explained what he’d been giving her and everything he’d done since Hanna had gotten ill. “I’ll have the doctor stop by right away,” she said and then hurried away.

“Honey, I need to move the car so other people can get help. I won’t leave you for very long, I promise,” he said, holding her small hand in his. Hanna nodded, and Ken hurried out toward the entrance after telling the receptionist where he was going and that he’d be right back.

Ken flew to the car, parked it, and was back inside in two minutes flat. The doors opened, and he walked to Hanna’s bed at the same time as the doctor. “We’re going to start an IV to get her rehydrated and see if we can’t bring that fever down,” he told Ken after looking Hanna over thoroughly. “We’re going to run some tests to see exactly what’s wrong.” The doctor stroked Hanna’s hair out of her eyes. “I’ll order a bed, and we’ll get her into a room as quickly as we can.”

Ken nodded as he reached for Hanna’s pale hand and held it in his. This little girl, who he’d adopted just two years ago, when Hanna was four, had quickly become the center of Ken’s whole world. They’d been looking for a place away from the city where he could raise Hanna in a more rural, down-to-earth setting when he’d found Pleasanton. The town looked ideal, nestled against a small, protected cove on Lake Superior. The views and landscapes were breathtaking, and Ken had been looking forward to painting everything around him. Maybe he would, but first he had to get Hanna better. Little else mattered right now except her.

His phone rang, and when Ken snatched it out of his pocket, he saw it was Mark. He answered in a rush. “I’m at the hospital in Marquette with Hanna,” Ken began without preamble.

“What happened?” Mark asked, and Ken heard what sounded like a crowd of people in the background.

“Her temperature spiked and she hasn’t been getting better, so I brought her in. They’re going to admit her and run some tests.” The thought chilled Ken faster than the air outside. She’d been sick for a while and she hadn’t been getting better. What if something happened to her and he should have brought her to the hospital sooner?

The noise behind Mark quieted. “She’s going to be all right. You did the right thing, and they’ll be able to help her,” Mark explained logically in his usual reasonable tone. “I stopped for dinner with some friends and I’m heading your way. I have everything packed and I’ll be getting on the road in a few minutes. I’ll get a hotel tonight and I should be there by early afternoon at the latest.”

“Thanks, I’ll see you then,” Ken said, feeling a bit better knowing Mark was on his way. “I have to go. The doctor just returned. Call me later tonight.” Mark agreed, and Ken hung up, shoving the phone back in his pocket. Ken returned to Hanna’s side, holding her hand and watching as the nurse spread paindeadening cream on her arm and put in the port for the IV. Hanna gasped and then began to cry. “I know, honey, but it’s almost over and this will help you feel better.” He continued holding her hand as the nurse rolled a machine to Hanna’s bed and proceeded to attach it to the port.

“You were a very good girl,” the nurse said in a level voice before leaving. She returned almost immediately with what looked like a blood kit and began to prepare Hanna’s arm. Hanna rolled her head toward him, and Ken saw the fear and confusion in his daughter’s eyes. He knew he’d do anything to prevent this. Hell, he’d let them poke
him
with needles for days if it meant Hanna didn’t have to endure it. “I’ll be gentle, I promise,” the nurse said. “I have a daughter about your age, and she has a doll just like yours,” the nurse said as she continued working. “What’s her name?”

“Emily,” Hanna answered, and Ken let go of Hanna’s hand so she could cuddle her doll. The nurse inserted the needle and began drawing the blood.

“Did you get her for Christmas?” the nurse asked as she switched vials.

“Daddy got her for me,” Hanna explained in her weak voice as the nurse withdrew the needle, putting a Band-Aid with Oscar the Grouch in its place.

“That’s wonderful. You hold her tight. I know this is a strange place, but as long as Emily and Daddy are with you, there’s nothing be afraid of.” The nurse stood up, and Ken gave her a smile. “All done,” the nurse pronounced and left the room once again, leaving Ken and Hanna alone.

“Close your eyes, honey, and try to rest. They should be in soon to take you up to your room. You won’t have to get out of bed or anything,” Ken explained, and Hanna held her doll closer with one arm, the other hooked to a machine. Eventually, Hanna closed her eyes and fell asleep. Almost as soon as she did, they arrived to take her to her room. Ken gathered their things and walked alongside the bed; Hanna never opened her eyes.

The room was nice, if sparse, and to Ken’s surprise, there was a sofa that the orderly explained folded down into a bed. “Parents often spend the night with their children. I’ll be back in a few minutes to make up the bed for you.”

“Thanks, I really appreciate that,” Ken said before sitting down. He stared at his sleeping daughter, his heart pounding as he thought of all the possible things that could be wrong with her. He hated that she was sick and that Mark wasn’t here when he needed him. Ken stood up and walked toward the door, dimming the lights before stepping out into the hall to call the one person he knew would understand.

“Carrie?” Ken said when his call was answered.

“What is it?” his friend asked immediately. She was the person he most regretted leaving behind. “Something’s wrong—I can hear it in your voice.”

“Hanna’s in the hospital. She’s been sick and wasn’t getting better, and when I took her temperature, it was really high. I’m so worried. She just lies there.”

“Is she sleeping?” she asked.

“Yes. They’re running tests and won’t know anything until tomorrow. They’re making arrangements for me to sleep in the room with her.” Ken swallowed hard, but the lump stayed firmly lodged where it was.

“It’s okay. She probably has a bad case of the flu and the tests will confirm that,” Carrie soothed. “Just get some rest and make sure she’s comfortable. That’s all you can do, and when you hear something, call me right away. I can be there if you need me,” she said, and Ken appreciated that, but he knew it wasn’t that easy for her to get away from her own family. Talking to her, while helpful and what he needed to hear, only reinforced how alone he felt.

“I’ll call as soon as I hear anything,” Ken promised, hanging up as the orderly approached. He made up the bed and brought a few blankets and a pillow for him. “Get some rest if you can,” he said with an encouraging smile before leaving the room. Somehow, bed or not, Ken knew this was going to be a long night.

K
EN woke with a start, wondering where he was. Hanna lay quietly in the bed, and he remembered where they were and why they were here. He stood up, walked to his daughter’s bed, and placed his hand on her forehead. At least the fever seemed to be down, and Hanna appeared to be resting comfortably. Opening the door to the room, Ken quietly stepped out and wandered down the dimmed hallway to the nurse’s station, where the night shift was working, talking in hushed tones. One of the nurses saw him approach and smiled.

“We have coffee if you’d like some,” she told him in a hushed tone.

 

“Thank you,” Ken said. “Hanna’s fever seems to be down.”

“That’s good. I’ll be in soon to check on her,” the nurse explained, and then she stood up and disappeared into a small room off the desk, then returned with a paper cup. “Here you go.”

Ken smiled worriedly and nodded, sipping from the cup. The smooth coffee slid down his throat, soothing him with the familiar in a place that scared him, purely because Hanna had to be there. The nurse went back to work, and Ken wandered back to Hanna’s room, leaving the door open slightly for a bit of fresh air before sitting on what he’d used for a bed, sipping the coffee and watching Hanna as she slept. The nurse came in and checked her, and confirmed that Hanna’s fever was indeed down before leaving again.

Caffeine or not, after he finished the coffee, Ken must have dozed off again because he awakened when the door to the room opened. “I’m Dr. Helen Pierson, and I’ve been assigned your daughter as a patient,” she said remarkably pleasantly before lightly touching Hanna. “Sweetheart, I’m the doctor and I need to listen to your lungs and heart.” Hanna opened her eyes, and Dr. Pierson helped her sit up. She listened to both her chest and back before laying her back down. “Thank you,” she told Hanna, who closed her eyes again. “The results of the tests haven’t come back yet, but I expect them in the next couple of hours.”

“You suspect something,” Ken stated, and he could see a flicker in the doctor’s eyes.

“We need to wait until we have the test results, and then I’ll be happy to discuss anything you’d like. I don’t want to speculate at this point. She’s resting well, which is excellent, and her fever is definitely down, so that’s a good sign. We’ll just have to wait a little while longer,” she explained. “I’ll be by with the results as soon as I have them.” She gave Ken a reassuring smile and then left the room.

His phone vibrated in his pocket, and Ken fished it out and walked into the hallway to talk so he wouldn’t disturb Hanna. “I just got on the road and I’ll cross the Mackinac Bridge in less than an hour,” Mark told him.

“I’ll be at the hospital in Marquette. When you stop by the house, would you please grab some fresh clothes and my shaving kit for me?” Ken asked, peering into the room because he thought he heard Hanna, but she was still asleep.

Mark didn’t answer right away but after a moment he said, “Okay. I’ll see you in a few hours.” Mark disconnected, and Ken shoved the phone back into his pocket. He didn’t have time or the energy for Mark’s drama at the moment. He knew Mark hated running errands for anyone, but at the moment, Ken really didn’t care. He also knew Mark had a good heart and he’d realize that Ken needed the help about two minutes after hanging up, and then he’d feel guilty.

Ken went back into the room and was greeted by Hanna’s blue eyes. She still looked tired, but she was awake. “Are you hungry?” he asked her, and she nodded slightly. “Let me call and get you something to eat,” Ken told her before picking up the phone. He talked with the person who answered, and he promised to send up a tray. “You can watch television if you want,” Ken told Hanna before turning it on and finding the Disney Channel. Ken didn’t normally allow Hanna to watch much television. When they lived in Grand Rapids, they’d spent their time outside, or doing things together. Hanna would draw and color her pictures while Ken painted his. Hanna wasn’t his biological daughter, but their interests and talents couldn’t have been better aligned. Hanna had the makings of a talented artist; Ken could see it already. She drew beautifully, but she also saw things that other people didn’t.

“Can I color?” Hanna asked as she looked away from the television.

“Mark is on the way, and once he gets here, he’ll sit with you for a little while and I’ll go get your art stuff for you,” Ken said. He’d gotten her everything he could think of that was appropriate for her age. Ken settled in the chair next to her bed, and they watched the television together until Hanna’s breakfast came. She ate a little and then pushed it aside.

“Aren’t you hungry?” Ken asked.
“It’s icky,” Hanna answered, making the “I’d rather go hungry than eat that” face that Ken knew well. The nurse chose that moment to make an appearance.

“I have some fruit cups, would you like one of those?” she asked, and Hanna nodded. The nurse left and then returned with two small packaged fruit cups. She handed one to Hanna and the other to Ken, who set it aside for later.

“What do you say?” Ken prompted.

“Thank you,” Hanna said as she pulled off the cover. The nurse then took Hanna’s temperature and vitals before saying good-bye and leaving the room.

Hanna was just finishing the mandarin oranges when the doctor returned. Ken tried to read her face, but he couldn’t. “It looks like you’re one sick little girl, but we’re going to make you better,” the doctor said with a smile for Hanna. “Would it be okay if I talked to your daddy for a few minutes? I promise not to keep him too long.”

“Okay,” Hanna said innocently as she looked at Ken, who pasted as sincere a smile on his face as he could, even though his heart pounded in his chest and his stomach clenched. Ken left the room and followed the doctor down the hall to a small office around the corner. The doctor motioned Ken to a chair and then sat next to him.

“The reason Hanna has been sick is because she has the flu, as you probably suspected,” the doctor began. “But the reason she isn’t getting better is because we found that she has pediatric leukemia, which has weakened her immune system. We don’t know how advanced the disease is at this point. We’ll need to run more tests.”

The news hit Ken like a sucker punch to the gut. He could barely breathe at all. Closing his eyes, he tried to push away the thoughts that flooded his mind. Never in a million years had he considered that Hanna might have cancer. Ken tried to hold back the tears that threatened to overwhelm him, especially as images of attending Hanna’s funeral flashed in his mind.

“Mr. Brighton,” the doctor said quietly, and Ken took a deep breath to try to help get his rampant emotions under control. “Take whatever time you need.”

Ken reached for a tissue and wiped his running nose. “Where do we go from here?”

 

“We’ll begin with tests and then develop a treatment plan,” the doctor explained.

“Should we have her transferred to Ann Arbor?” Ken asked. He was willing to do whatever it took to make sure Hanna had the best care possible.