Jake slowed and turned into the parking garage for the children’s hospital. He felt a knot in his stomach but tried to ignore it. He didn’t want to risk looking at Abby. If there was even so much as a tear in her eye he might lose his composure.
“Here we are!” he announced.
Emily and Wyatt were in car seats in the middle row of the minivan. Jake preferred driving his Volvo but the minivan was better for family use.
He found a parking space near the entrance, and everyone unloaded.
As they trekked through the bright corridors following the purple trains painted on the walls, Jake marveled at Wyatt’s strength. The boy marched bravely wearing his Incredible Hulk backpack over both shoulders. Wyatt had insisted on packing his own special bag with a few books and toys.
They reached a nursing station, and a nurse escorted them to Wyatt’s room. Jake had called before they’d started out and requested a private room. He knew it would be a lot easier on Abby and Wyatt, and his health insurance would pay for it.
The nurse showed them to room 205 and told them to make themselves at home. The resident would visit, then there were education sessions for Wyatt in the afternoon. This was the hospital’s presurgery prep, designed to help the children adjust. Jake felt numb. He wondered if he looked like a zombie just standing there and nodding as the nurse talked.
As soon as the nurse was gone, Abby started fussing around the room. He knew his wife wanted to stay busy so she wouldn’t think about where they were and what was going to happen in the next few days. It was easier for her to pretend they were just getting sorted out in a hotel room.
Emily wandered around looking at the buttons and switches.
“Don’t touch anything, sweetie,” Jake warned.
Emily glared at him as though his suggestion was ridiculous.
“Not a bad room, hey guy?” Jake said to Wyatt.
Wyatt stood on a ledge next to the window. The room looked out toward Dalhousie University. “I guess.”
“What’re you looking at?”
“Nothing.”
There was a whirring noise, and Jake turned. Emily was standing at the foot of the bed. “Sorry,” she announced. “Found the controls for the bed.”
Jake laughed. “Don’t worry about it.”
Abby finished putting books out on a table next to the bed and went to stand behind Wyatt. She put her arms around him. “What do you say, big guy?”
Wyatt shook free and jumped from the ledge. “Do we have to stay in the room?” he asked.
Abby put her hands on her knees and bent over to talk to him. “Well, I was thinking that we should probably take a trip down to the gift shop. We should check it out and see what kind of stuff they have.”
“That sounds like a plan,” Wyatt said brightly.
Abby looked at Jake. He nodded his approval.
They left the room and started down the hall. As they approached the nursing station Jake whispered to Abby, “You go with them. I’ll be right down. I’m just going to check something here.”
She nodded, and the kids raced ahead to push the button for the elevator.
Jake stopped at the nursing desk. A pleasant-looking nurse came over.
“Hi,” Jake said. “We just got here with Wyatt Tunnel. Dr. Merrot thought you might have a date for his surgery. He’s in room 205.”
“Sure, let me check.” She looked at a computer terminal and hit a few buttons. Her finger traced a line down the monitor. “Yep. Tuesday. He’s on a special list for the next available, but he’s booked for Tuesday morning.”
“That’s great. Thanks.” Jake suddenly felt like he might faint. Hearing the date of his son’s brain surgery was like a blow to the stomach. He put a hand on the desk to steady himself.
“Are you okay?” the nurse asked.
“I’m okay,” he said.
“Wyatt’s going to be fine,” the nurse said softly. “We’re going to do everything for him. Don’t you worry.”
Jake looked at her. She smiled and put a hand over his on the desk. He nodded. “Thanks.”
“Now get down to that gift shop and buy Wyatt whatever he wants.”
He laughed. “I will.”