Page 79 of All I Want is You this Christmas Final

“I puked blood. They thought I might have torn my softgus, but I didn’t.”

Anna Beth’s stomach turned. “Well, that’s worse than running out of hot garbage. Are you feeling better now?”

“Yes, I stayed the night here. I get to go home today. They gave me pancakes with extra syrup.”

“Hey hey, what about The Grinch? Let’s get me some pancakes, huh?” Anna Beth took the package from Jared and held it out to Hunter. “Now that my heart is ten times its normal size, I wanted to bring you something to make you feel better.”

Hunter ripped into the package excitedly. “Wow, a Scooby Doo Lego set.”

“What do you say,” his mother prodded.

“Thank you!”

Anna Beth bowed. “You’re welcome, Hunter. And a Merry Christmas to you.”

“Merry Christmas,” Hunter and his mom chorused.

When they made it out of the room, Jared gave Anna Beth a big hug.

“What was that for?”

“I’m proud of you, that’s all. You made that kid’s day.”

“You really did,” Janet said.

Anna Beth coughed, trying to fight the urge to cry. “Who’s next?”

They visited with three kids who were being treated for dehydration, and secondary infections, all under the age of ten. They were so excited to see them and open their gifts.

The next stop on their tour was the room of a teenager whose appendix ruptured. They walked in to find a chubby, dark haired boy, his gaze glued to the T.V.

Jared coughed behind her and Anna Beth glanced back at him, frowning.

“Lane, you have visitors,” Janet said.

The sullen boy looked at them and scoffed. “Dressing up in a costume? What a loser.”

Anna Beth’s eyes narrowed. “Loohoo-zeher? At least I can keep a hold of both my appendices.

”

Lane rolled his eyes. “I don’t need to be cheered up, or your lame gift. I’m going home tomorrow.”

Janet shook her head. “We’ll let you rest.”

Anna Beth set the gift she’d brought down on the couch in the corner. “I’ll leave this here.”

“Just take it. I don’t care.”

Once they were back in Janet’s office, she said, “I’m sorry about that.”

“It’s no problem,” Jared said. “I know that kid. He’s got problems.”

Janet’s gaze shifted away. “I cannot discuss our patients, but Lane has spent most of his time with us alone. I was hoping he’d like a little company.”

Anna Beth picked up another present, but watched Jared. He kept looking back at Lane’s room and, while she was in of a three-year-old with pneumonia, he disappeared.

After she delivered the last gift, Anna Beth and Janet checked around. Anna Beth heard his voice and stopped outside the door to Lane’s room.