by Terri Reid
Bringing the milk, butter and syrup over, Bradley placed them on the table. “So, he’s feeling better?” he asked, sitting down next to her.
She chuckled. “Yes, he must be,” she replied. “He’s still got a way to go, but his burns seem to be healing and they don’t think he’s going to need heart surgery.”
“That’s great news,” he said, filling his plate. “Do they know when he’s going to be released?”
“Not for another couple of weeks,” she said. “They want the burns to heal before he can come home.”
“So, you both might be in the hospital at the same time,” he replied as he poured syrup on his pancakes.
“No,” Mary said. “Mikey isn’t due until the twentieth. Stanley will be out before that.”
“But what if Mikey comes early?”
Mary sighed. “The doctor said not to even think about the baby coming early,” she reminded him. “Early babies are rare for first-time moms.”
Bradley smiled at her. “Okay, Stanley out and you in,” he said. “How’s Rosie doing?”
“Honestly, I think Stanley is driving her nuts,” she chuckled. “He’s bored, so he’s cranky. So, I thought I’d bring over some board games and give Rosie a break.”
“Bring the Texas Hold ‘Em poker set,” Bradley suggested. “The way you play poker, you could win enough money to pay for a new addition to the house.”
“You want me to fleece Stanley while he’s in the hospital?” she asked with a smile. “Whatever will Rosie say?”
Bradley shrugged. “Well, you could get a couple of those rich doctors pulled into the game,” he said with a grin. “It wouldn’t take you long to win a couple grand.”
She chuckled. “You have such confidence in my poker playing abilities,” she said.
“Well, you beat the pants off me,” he replied. “Literally.”
She smiled and lightly bit her lower lip. “Well, there was quite a bit of incentive there,” she said, winking at him. “You do have sexy legs.”
Bradley grinned and shrugged casually. “Well, you know, I do work out…”
“And you’re a really crappy poker player,” she added with a grin. “Really crappy.”
The grin slipped from Bradley’s face. “Well, thanks for sparing my feelings,” he replied, taking a bite of pancakes.
Her smile widened. “I did say you have sexy legs,” she teased then took a bite of pancakes too. For a moment, there was no conversation.
“So, what are you going to do today?” she finally asked.
“I’m going to finish getting the guest room set up,” he said. “I want everything ready for your mom.”
“You are my hero,” she said. “Mom’s pretty excited about being here when Mikey’s born.” She hesitated and glanced over at him. “Tell me the truth. Do you mind?”
Bradley reached over and placed his hand on hers. “I love you, and I want you to have everything and everyone you need,” he said. “And, I have to admit, having your mom in the room will make me feel a lot less nervous about this whole thing.”
“Yeah,” Mary agreed. “Me too.”
Chapter Three
Mary pulled her car into the parking lot at the hospital and parked near the side entrance. In the back seat of her SUV she had a large shopping bag filled with games she thought Stanley would enjoy. Putting the car into park, she opened the door and pushed herself out, making sure she was completely balanced before she allowed her eight-month pregnant body to move forward. She tested the ground to make sure it wasn’t icy, and when she determined it was only wet, she stepped forward.
Never before in her life had she been this cautious. She had always been more of the “act first, ask questions later” kind of person. But as this new little life moved and kicked within her, she felt an overwhelming feeling of protection and prudence. She didn’t want to be the cause of anything harming her child.
She lifted the bag from the back of the seat, locked the car and walked toward the side entrance. The large, glass, revolving door moved slowly forward, and Mary longed to push it, just a little, to speed things up. But she bit back her impatience and slowed her pace to match the door’s movement. Finally, she stepped out of the door and walked to the receptionist’s desk.
“Excuse me,” she said with a smile. “I’m here…”
The young receptionist looked up at Mary and her eyes widened in alarm. “Oh, dear,” she exclaimed. “Just have a seat and we’ll be right with you.”
She pointed to a leather chair next to the desk. Mary shrugged and sat down, watching the receptionist pick up the phone and repeat a code.
“Is everything all right?” Mary asked.
The receptionist smiled and nodded, looking a little harried. “Oh, yes, just fine,” she replied, her voice squeaking in excitement. “Someone will be here for you in just a moment.”
“Perhaps there’s been a mistake,” Mary offered. “I’m here…”
The receptionist shook her head and laughed nervously. “Oh, no, I can see why you’re here,” she said. The phone rang. She picked it up and then turned back to Mary. “They want to know how close they’re coming.”
Mary shook her head. “I’m sorry. How close who are coming?” she asked.
“Your contractions,” the receptionist replied, rolling her eyes. “How close are your contractions coming?”
Mary sighed. “I’m not having contractions,” Mary said. “I’m here to see a friend.”
The receptionist stared at her for a long moment, then turned away from her and spoke through the phone. “Cancel the wheelchair,” she said, her voice heavy with disgust. “She just told me that she’s not in labor. Which would have been nice to know several minutes ago.”
Mary stood up and leaned over towards the receptionist, bumping her belly against the edge of the desk. “If you had given me a chance, I would have told you sooner,” Mary replied pointedly, a smile still plastered on her face.
The young receptionist looked surprised, as if she didn’t think Mary could hear her. “I’m sorry,” she replied. “This is a private conversation.”
Mary shook her head, turned and walked away from the desk. With her teeth clenched, she marched away towards the elevators. She’d find her own way up to Stanley’s new room, and nobody better give her a hard time. She stopped in front of the elevators and poked the button, venting a little on the innocent plastic knob.
“I’m sorry,” she muttered. “This is a private conversation.”
“Excuse me?” an elderly man behind her asked.
Embarrassed, Mary shook her head. “Oh, I’m sorry,” she said. “Just muttering to myself.”
The door opened, and they both entered the elevator. He pressed the button for the fourth floor immediately, but Mary pondered her decision for a moment.
“Um, psychiatric offices are on two,” he suggested helpfully as he moved as far away from her as possible.
The laughter escaped before she could stop it. Breathless, leaning against the elevator wall, she hit the button for the second floor and continued to laugh. The door opened, and she glanced behind her before she exited the elevator. The poor man had a horrified look on his face.
“Have a nice day,” Mary gasped before stepping out onto the floor. She continued to laugh as the door closed behind her, then finally, catching her breath, turned around to see a nurse at the station behind her.
“May I help you?” the nurse asked kindly.
“I really need to find a bathroom,” Mary confessed. “And then, is there any way you can help me locate a friend’s room?”
The nurse smiled. “Of course,” she said. “Here, there’s a bathroom right down the hall. Why don’t you tell me your friend’s name and I’ll look it up while you’re in there.”
“Stanley,” Mary said as she hurried down the hall. “Stanley Wagner.”
Chapter Four
“Dagnabbit,” Stanley called out, throwing his cards on the hospital table in fron
t of him. “This just ain’t normal.” He narrowed his eyes and stared at Mary. “You got those cards marked?”
She smiled and shrugged. “Wouldn’t you like to know,” she taunted. “Okay, well, now you owe me your mansion in Tuscany.”
“Well, Rosie ain’t gonna be all too happy about that,” he grumbled, biting back a smile. “You already got the condo in Aspen and the vineyard in France.”
“You got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em,” Mary started singing as she made dance movements with her arms.
“Did you lose again, Stanley?” Mandy, his nurse, asked, pushing a cart in front of her as she entered the room.
“Dang-blasted card shark just won my mansion in Tuscany,” he complained, and then he turned to Mary and smiled wickedly. “Just so you know, it’s haunted. Some whiny I-talian ghost who walks around with his head in his arms.”
Mary shrugged. “I’m not afraid of any ghost,” she said with a smile. “Even a headless Italian.”
Mandy shivered. “Well, if you had seen what I saw, you’d be afraid,” she said.
Mary turned to look at her. “You saw a ghost?” she asked.
“Yes, last night,” Mandy replied. “On the third floor in the old pediatric wing.”
“What happened?” Mary asked.
“Oh, no,” Stanley interrupted. “You are s’posed to be concentrating on relaxing and getting ready for that there baby. You ain’t got time to do any more ghostbusting.”
“Are you one of those paranormal investigators?” Mandy asked, her voice tinged with excitement.
“Well, yes and no,” Mary replied. “I have been known to be sensitive to ghosts.”
Stanley snorted.
“Tell me what happened,” Mary urged.
“Well, I went downstairs to get some sheets from the supply closet,” she explained. “When I came out and turned around, there she was, standing next to the nurses station.”
“What did she look like?” Mary asked.
“She was a little girl,” Mandy said. “She looked to be about eight years old. She had the saddest face…”
Stanley threw his hands up in the air. “Oh, now she’s hooked,” he grumbled.
Mary turned back to Stanley. “Shhhh,” she scolded.
“At first, I thought she was a patient,” Mandy continued. “And, you know, she’d gotten lost. So, I approached her and asked her if I could help her. She didn’t say a word. I looked away for a moment, and then she was just gone.”
“I betcha you hightailed it back up the elevator lickety-split after that,” Stanley said with a twinkle in his eye.
She smiled and nodded. “I hit that elevator button so many times, I’m surprised it still works,” she replied with a laugh. “When I got back I told Barbara. She was the senior floor nurse last night, and she said, ‘Oh, yeah, a lot of people have seen her.’”
“It woulda been nice for her to warn you,” Stanley said.
Mandy nodded. “That’s what I was thinking too,” she agreed. She moved over and placed the blood pressure cuff around Stanley’s arm. “But I don’t know if I would have believed her.”
“So, she’s been around for a long time?” Mary asked.
Mandy nodded. “Yeah, sounds like twenty years or so,” she said. “All the old-timers here at the hospital either have heard about her or have seen her themselves. I think that’s one of the reasons they decided to gut the pediatric area and move it to another floor. Too many patients were making friends with the ghost.”
“Do you know who she is?” Mary asked.
Mandy shook her head. “No, I guess they’ve tried to look up records,” she said as she slipped her stethoscope in place. “But no such luck.”
Mandy efficiently checked all of Stanley’s vitals, gave him his afternoon medications, checked his IV and then went back to the cart. “Well, good luck with your card game,” she said with a smile. She winked at Mary. “I’d try for the cabin in Sun Valley next.”
“Hey, you’re supposed to be helping me,” Stanley complained.
Mary laughed. “Thanks for the tip, Mandy,” she said. “And good luck with the ghost.”
Mandy shook her head. “Oh, no, I’ve decided that someone else can get supplies,” she said. “One sighting was enough for me.”
Once Mandy pulled the door closed behind her, Stanley leaned forward in his bed. “Listen here, missy,” he said. “Don’t go looking for trouble. She didn’t come to you, so she ain’t looking to leave.”
“But, Stanley, she’s only a little girl,” Mary argued. “A lost and sad little girl.”
“And that crazy psychopath what done this to me was only a little boy,” Stanley replied firmly. “‘Lessen Mike gives the okay, you stay away from that third floor, you hear?”
She nodded. “Yes, Stanley,” she said. “I hear.”
Chapter Five
A half hour later, Rosie came into Stanley’s room wreathed in smiles. “The nurses here are the sweetest people in the world,” she said. “Don’t you think so?”
“Not when they’re poking and prodding me in places ain’t no one got a right to touch,” he grumbled.
“Obviously they think they do,” Mary said, biting back a smile. “And I agree with Rosie. They are the sweetest people in the world. Mandy is adorable.”
Stanley shrugged. “Well, okay, you got a point there,” he grudgingly admitted. “She’s the only one what shows a little respect to an ill patient.”
Rosie looked alarmed. “What?” she squeaked, looking quickly around the room. “Who hasn’t been showing you respect?”
Mary stood up from her chair next to the bed and chuckled. “I think our ill patient is a sore loser,” Mary teased. Then she looked Stanley in the eye. “Next time we play for your car.”
Stanley folded his arms over his chest in indignation, but his eyes were twinkling with mirth. “Ain’t gonna be a next time, you card shark,” he growled. “Fool me once, shame on you.”
Mary shook her head, then bent over and kissed Stanley on the cheek. “It’s not fooling,” she said. “It’s skill.”
“Just ‘cause you can lie like a dog and look all innocent,” Stanley countered. “It’s not a skill.”
Mary laughed. “Are you kidding?” she replied. “It’s one of the best skills you can have.”
She hurried over and gave Rosie a hug. “Good luck,” she whispered into Rosie’s ear. “I think I might have tired him out for you.”
“You are an angel,” she whispered back. “I haven’t seen him so lively in days.”
Mary stepped away from Rosie and turned back to Stanley. “Get your dictionary out and start studying,” she said. “Tomorrow we play Scrabble, and I might give you a chance to win back some of your real estate.”
“But, Scrabble isn’t a betting game,” Rosie said.
Grinning, Mary wiggled her eyebrows. “Any game worth playing is a game worth betting on,” she replied. “Right, Stanley?”
“That’s right, girlie,” he said. “And just you wait. I got words in this here mind you ain’t never even heard of.”
“As long as you didn’t make them up in that there mind,” Mary replied.
Stanley laughed out loud before he could help himself. Then he shook his head. “Get out of here so an old man can get some sleep,” he said, trying to hold back more laughter.
“Old man my foot,” Mary said. “I’ll go. But I know you’re just hurrying me out of here so you can figure out a way to beat me tomorrow.” She winked at Rosie. “See you later.”
She closed the door behind her but not before she heard Stanley’s voice. “Rosie, help me download the dictionary app to my phone.”
Chuckling, she hurried down the hall towards the elevator. She glanced at her own phone and saw that she had an hour before Clarissa would be getting home from the Brennans’ house. She thought about the things she needed to do before going home— a quick stop at the grocery store and then a stop to fill up her vehicle
with gas. She stepped onto the elevator and stared at the buttons for a long moment.
With a quick breath, she pressed the button for the third floor.
“Probably nothing will happen,” she said to herself as the door closed and the elevator made its way down one story. She started to step out when Stanley’s words came back to haunt her. “That crazy psychopath what done this to me was only a little boy.”
“That was a unique experience,” she argued with herself as she placed her hand on the door to keep it from closing. “All the other children ghosts were—”
“Can I help you?”
Mary jumped and squealed in fright. Turning, she saw a nurse standing in the lobby with the supply room door wide open.
“I’m so sorry,” Mary began. But before she could say another word, the nurse was at her side.
“Don’t worry. You just took the wrong elevator,” the nurse said calmly. “I’ll get you to maternity right away. How far apart are the contractions?”
Chapter Six
Mike laughed loudly as he floated across the living room floor toward Mary.
“It wasn’t that funny,” Mary grumbled. “I’m getting pretty tired of…”
“Being mistaken for a pregnant woman?” Mike inserted with glee. “Yeah, I can totally see that. What are people thinking anyway?”
She glared at him. “You’re not helping,” she said. “I already feel as big as a barn…”
“Surely not a barn,” Mike said, eyeing her slowly up and down. “I’d say a small residential house. A cottage, even.”
“Can angels die twice?” Mary threatened.
He chuckled. “Come on, Mary,” he urged. “Lighten up. You only have a few more weeks…”
He froze, but it was too late. Mary’s eyes widened with interest.
“Do you know something?” she asked. “Do you have some inside information? Is Mikey coming early?”
Mike shook his head. “No, nothing,” he said. “Babies come when they’re supposed to.”
