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“I can,” she says, nodding. “Just as soon as the shifts change and the day shift leaves, I’ll bring you back.”

“How?” I breathe. “Why can you let me in, but she couldn’t?” I ask, waving my hand toward the ICU. I’m a nurse; I should know this answer. But right now, my mind is focused on one thing and one thing only.

“Was the nurse you talked to older?” I nod and she smiles. “Some of the older ones are set in their ways. They don’t like to bend the rules; they like to stand firmly next to them. Lucky for you, the much cooler, much younger group of nurses run the night shift, and we prefer to break the rules rather than follow them.” She winks, and without thinking, I wrap my arms around her shoulders, dragging her in for a hug.

“Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome.” Pulling away, she guides me toward a waiting room. “Have a seat in here and I’ll come and get you in a bit.”

“Katie!” I blurt, catching her attention after she turns to walk away. She cocks her head to the side, looking at me curiously. “My name is Katie.”

A friendly smile slides across her face. “Jennifer.”

“Thank you, Jennifer.” I can’t infuse enough gratitude into those three words, but hopefully she knows just how appreciative I am. Nodding once, she turns away.

Walking into the waiting room, I notice a young woman asleep on one of the couches. Two little girls are sitting on the floor with a box of crayons and a coloring book, and when I sit down in one of the chairs, they both look up.

“Hi.” The youngest one smiles at me and I can’t help but smile back.

“Hi.”

“Is your fadder here too?” The question is so innocent, and if my heart wasn’t already broken, it would’ve just now.

“No,” I answer, shaking my head.

“Your mudder?”

“No.” I laugh, shaking my head again. “My boyfriend.” My best friend. The love of my life. The man I want to marry. The f—

“Ah!” The pint-sized cherub squeals, slapping a hand over her mouth. “You have a boyfwend?” she whispers. I nod with a smirk and she lowers her hand. “Daddy says no boyfwends until I’m firty.”

“Well, your daddy sounds very smart. I’m almost thirty, so I think I’m good.”

“Want me to pway wif you?” I cock my head to the side, trying to determine if she said ‘play’ or ‘pray.’ “My Nana says I hafta pway awot. She says that will help bwing Daddy back. I will pway wif you, if you want.”

“Stop it, Sally.” The older girl slaps Sally’s arm, but Sally just smiles.

“Dis is Sawah.”

“Hi, Sarah.” I offer a small wave at the young girl. “My name is Katie.”

Sally stands up and walks around the table, not stopping until she’s standing in front of me. “I wike dat name. I havva fwend named Katie.”

“You do?”

Her little head bobs excitedly.

“Knock, knock.” I spin around at the familiar voice and see Jennifer standing in the doorway. “Ready?”

“Yes!” Turning toward Sally, I stick out my hand, thankful that this precious little girl could momentarily distract me. Sally slips her tiny hand in mine and shakes it. “It was so nice meeting you. I’m going to say some extra-special prayers for your Daddy.”

“Fank you,” she says, and her smile brightens the room. But the second I move into the hallway and fall into step behind Jennifer, that brightness fades.

After she slides her badge, the door clicks and she pulls it open, I follow her into the dimly lit ICU. She asks, “Have you been updated on Sergeant Clay’s status?”

“No. Actually, I don’t know much at all.” We pass by the nurse’s station and then stop in front of room two. He’s in there. My chest tightens and I swallow hard. “I got the call about the explosion. I was told what city and hospital he was being transported to and that his condition was labeled as critical. That’s all I know.”

Jennifer nods her head slowly. “Dr. Karesh has been taking care of Sergeant Clay, and he’ll be in tomorrow morning around ten. If you stop by then, he’ll be able to go into more detail about your boyfriend’s injuries and condition.”