Wildflower Hearts

3. Chapter Three

Chapter Three

“ I s he okay?”

She motioned Elias inside. The rest of the family entered behind him, worried looks on each of their faces. A nurse edged around them, and she recognized her instantly as Reba, a short redhead hired a year ago.

“Is there anything you need me to do?”

“He should be fine for another four hours, but please check back in two and oversee changing his IV medication.”

Reba nodded, shooting the family a small smile, and excused herself.

“What happened? One minute he was fine, and then….” He directed his attention to Noah. “Should he be on his side like that?”

“Elias, Noah is… May I call him Noah?”

“Of course, he’d hate for anyone to call him Mr. Kingsley.”

“Noah suffered what we call tonic-clonic epilepsy. It’s a fancy medical term for convulsions caused by temporary abnormal electrical activity in the brain. He simply reacted to the medication. The doctor gave him 10 ccs of Diazepam; it’s a sedative used to treat anxiety and tension when related to muscle spasms.” She glanced at the bed. “It’s common for this type of reaction in patients going through some withdrawal. I noticed his hospital records indicated he’s a smoker?”

“Yeah,” Mark spoke up, “we’ve been trying to get him to quit for years.”

“I understand. I grew up with a father who always carried an extra cigar in his pocket. When a patient suffers a mild attack and has an injury to the chest, he’s placed on the injured side for his strongest lung to assist with fresh air flow. It doesn’t harm him.”

“Are you saying he has a problem with his lungs now?” Elias questioned, glancing in worry at his brother. “No one mentioned that.”

“Not exactly. According to his papers, a bullet entered the right shoulder between the collarbone bone and right lung. He was lucky because the heart is located near the left lung, so there are no worries of long-term trauma. However, Dr. Moore had to reconstruct parts of the lung. He will recover. The body’s internal organs are miraculous for rebuilding themselves quicker than your external organs given the right atmosphere and time.”

There was a knock on the door, and she shifted to see Reba had reappeared. “Sorry to interrupt, but we’ve got a UBI that needs your immediate attention.”

She chuckled at the family’s inquisitive expressions. “Unexplained beer injury,” she whispered. “Excuse me. Feel free to sit with him some more.” She followed Reba shortly down the hall, and she motioned her into a room. As soon as she stepped inside, she noticed the lights were out. “Are you sure you-”

Reba clicked the lights on.

“Surprise!”

Lyla covered her mouth with her hand, seeing all her friends and coworkers huddled together in the room. Dr. Stewart gave her a wave from the side. Her eyes watered at the sight of two nurses holding a decorated cake with glowing candles on it as the group began to sing.

Smiling, she blushed and leaned forward to blow out the candles. “I think I just had a heart attack.”

“Did you really think that we’d forget your birthday?” Dr. Stewart winked. “We may be busier than the day after Thanksgiving, but we don’t forget things like that.”

“Thank you. I appreciate it more than you know.”

“Our newest RN deserves nothing but the best.”

She stared at him wide-eyed, mouth slack in shock. “Your what?”

“Congratulations, you completed your state licensing examination and on-the-job training,” he smiled, slugging her gently on the shoulder on his way out the door. “Don’t be late anymore.”

“Does the one from today count since it’s my birthday?” Her colleagues chuckled; all of them congratulating and wishing her the best. She thanked each of them with a wide smile. “Would you guys mind putting my cake in the break room for everyone to split?”

“Sure thing, Darling,” Nurse Wyatt smiled. “We’ll save you the piece with your name on it.” She reached for the cake. “You also have a phone call at the desk; it’s your mother.”

“Thank you.” Lyla headed to the nurse’s station, biting nervously at her bottom lip. The last conversation with her mother had blown up into a huge argument. She wasn’t in the mood for it. She only called to berate her about her career choice or inform her of something fabulous her sister had done. She wondered why the woman even bothered.

She took the phone from Melissa, clearing her throat. “This is Lyla Hamilton.”

“I know who’s speaking,” Veronica snapped. “Who else do you think I’d be calling at that blasted hospital?”

She leaned against the desk and placed her forehead in the palm of her hand. “Hello, Mother.” She rubbed her face in frustration, already feeling a headache approaching. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your call?”

“Don’t be sassy, young lady. I suffered through hours of labor to bring you into this world. You should know better.”

She pinched her nose. “I’m sorry, Mother.”

“I’m sure you’re aware of what day it is.”

“Of course, it’s my-”

“It’s not every day your sister gets engaged.”

Lyla sucked in air, feeling like she had been sucker-punched in the gut. She squeezed her eyes shut. “No,” she choked, “I wasn’t aware of that.”

“Well, isn’t that typical of you? Once again, you’re too caught up in saving those street rats instead of paying attention to your own family.”

“How was I supposed to know? I haven’t spoken to Amelia in over a year.”

“And whose fault is that?”

“Certainly not mine. I tried numerous times to contact her, and she’s too busy chasing after your wants and needs to care.”

“Don’t you dare talk about your sister that way! Amelia knows her place, and you would do good to take a few pointers from her.” Veronica made a sound as if clearing her throat. “She’s engaged to a respectful man named Darren Landers; you might have heard of him.”

Lyla rolled her eyes. “He only donates money to the hospital and charities around Pittsburgh when he feels neglected by the papers.”

“He is the president of one of the largest airlines in this city. I have no idea why he spends his money on such frivolous matters, but what can I say? The man is a charmer.”

“More like a snake in the grass,” she muttered. She shifted the phone to her other ear as a nurse approached to hand her a clipboard. She flipped it open to scan the contents. “Mother, I hate to cut this stimulating conversation short, but I have patients to check on, and I’m already behind.”

Her mother let out a disgruntled sigh. “I was calling to extend an invitation to your sister’s engagement party tomorrow night, but I suspect you’ll be too busy for that, won’t you?”

“I’m afraid so.” She snapped the folder shut. “I’m scheduled on thirds all week, and a couple of new patients came in today. I’m booked.”

“Why can’t you get out of it? Your family is more important than some thug who’s there because he got shot stealing a TV or something.”

“Your never-ending compassion melts my heart, Mother. I need to go. Please refrain from calling me at the hospital again unless it’s an emergency.”

“Lyla Hamilton, do not hang up this phone. We are not done talking!”

“I have to go.” She spotted a nurse motioning at her. “Congratulate Amelia for me. I would call her, but some of us have to work, even on their birthday.” She hung up the phone and rolled her shoulders before spotting Melissa smirking at her. “What is it?”

“I’ve never heard you talk to your mother with such,” she paused as if searching for the right phrasing, “big brass balls before.”

“If she calls back, please tell her I’m too busy to take her call.”

“Is that all I can tell her?”

She shot Melissa a scolding look but smiled. “Yes, thank you.”

“Nurse Hamilton?”

“Oh yes, sorry, Diane.”

“It’s okay. I understand.” The woman’s eyes glanced between her and the phone. “It’s the Kingsley kid. You better take a look at him.”

“Excuse me.” She slid past Billy’s two children, smiling at them before she handed Nurse Rosen her folders and stepped next to the bed. The family hovered silently near Noah. “What seems to be the problem?”

“It’s not exactly a problem, Nurse Hamilton. We changed his medication and placed Mr. Kingsley in a more comfortable position. It was after that he began to come around.”

“He’s regaining consciousness?”

Rosen looked disinclined to answer. “His eyes shifted behind his lids, and he whispered a word or two.”

“In deep REM sleep, your eyes shift involuntarily. Has anyone tried to establish a physical connection with him?”

“No, I wasn’t sure what you’d…”

“No, that’s okay.” She stepped beside Noah, leaning over him as she slid a small flashlight from her scrubs pocket. “Mr. Kingsley?” She gently lifted his eyelids, testing with the light for active pupil movement. “Noah, can you hear me?” She glanced down as his lips moved, but no sound came out. “Noah, if you can hear me, I need you to respond in any way possible.”

She glanced down to see his fingers twitch and turned her attention to his family. “From what I can see, he’s reacting positively to the new medication. The spasms have stopped, and his pupils are reacting to light stimuli. That’s a good sign.”

“So, he’s coming around again?”

“Slowly but surely. It might take a few more days for the medication to take effect.”

“Our little brother will be fighting to leave this place soon.” Elias grinned over at his brothers. “Noah has never been a big fan of hospitals.”

“Most people aren’t, Mr. Kingsley.”

“I thought I told you to call me Elias.”

“Yeah,” Mark agreed with a nod of his head. “Call us by our first names. We hate that mister crap. Thank you for everything, Lyla.”

“Not a problem. I’m just doing my job.” She looked at Noah and smiled, brushing a piece of his hair away from his face. Elias noticed the movement but said nothing while watching her closely with a curious look. “Oftentimes, patients in deep unconscious states respond best to physical stimuli. It might be a good idea to talk or touch him.”

Elias playfully rolled his eyes. “Noah’s fantasies come true. This gets back to him, and I don’t know a damn fucking thing about it.”

“Man, my kids.” Billy hit him on the back of the head. “Watch your language.”

Lyla chuckled as Elias hit him back without force, and the two little girls giggled. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to check on some other patients.”

Elias took a seat beside Noah after she left the room. With a smirk, he grabbed his brother’s hand with his. “Looks like you got yourself an admirer, Noah. Good thing for you, she’s pretty.”