Page 9 of Believe
“I can’t believe it. She’s going to be so happy! She’s been making herself crazy trying to cook stuff on the grill or buy fast food. She hates fast food.”
“Most moms do,” smirked Angel. While Angel and Miller spoke to Mr. Garfield, Trak and Gabriel talked to the boy.
“What’s your name?” asked Gabriel.
“Gideon. Gideon Beauvois. My mom is Tara. She works at a law office as a paralegal. It’s not a lot of money but it pays the bills. I mean, that’s what she says. She just couldn’t afford all the appliances.”
“Well, what you did for her, Gideon, was really admirable. It was a very grown-up thing for you to do,” said Trak.
“Thank you,” he smiled.
Miller spoke to Mr. Garfield as he wrote up the order.
“Just make it all top of the line. Send the bill to us,” said Miller. “We’re going to put the kids’ cash in an envelope and stick it in his backpack.”
“You boys are something else,” he laughed. “That kid broke my heart when he came in. He was trying to figure out what was most important for his mom. I was going to sell him floor models, returns, anything to get her at least a stove and fridge. This will really make a difference for them.”
“No father?” asked Angel.
“He walked out when the boy was a year old. I’ve known them for years now. Good woman with a good kid. She’s even helped me with some legal issues, trying to understand contract and that sort of thing.” Angel nodded at Miller, gripping his shoulder.
“Then our friendly ghost was right, this was where we were supposed to be.”
CHAPTER SIX
Tailor, Alec, Max, Code, Gibbie, Stone, and Rory entered the Children’s Hospital, knowing what they were about to face. Seeing your buddies shot, dying, torn apart by war was one thing. But seeing an innocent child sick, in pain, or dying of a disease that no one could make sense of, was something they struggled with.
“They’re giants,” whispered a small voice. Alec stopped and turned, shielding his eyes as if outside exploring, looking far off into the make-believe distance.
“Who said that?” he said to Tailor.
“I’m not sure. Who said that?” asked Tailor looking around.
“I-I did,” said the little voice. “Are you going to eat me?” The men chuckled, shaking their heads.
“No. We don’t eat children. We love children and want to help them feel better.”
“You can’t do that,” said the little figure.
Not one of them knew whether they were speaking to a boy or a girl. The bald head and sallow skin tone didn’t give anything away. The child appeared to be around seven, seated in a red wagon near the nurses station.
“Well, you never know,” said Max kneeling down by the wagon. His knees cracked and popped and the child laughed at him. “We might be able to make you feel better. My knees will still make music when I bend down but you might get to feeling better.”
“The doctor said no one can help me.”
“Did he now?” frowned Rory.
“Madeline,” said the voice from behind them. “Oh. Hello. Madeline, the doctor said that you can’t have anything solid yet. Sorry, honey.”
“It’s okay. I’ll just have more ice cream,” she frowned.
Never in his life had Code seen a child upset about having ice cream. This little girl looked as though she’d been hit by a truck and her favorite toys taken away from her.
“You know,” he grinned, “I love ice cream with chocolate sauce on it.”
“You do?” said the little girl. “I’m not sure I can have chocolate sauce.” Code looked back at the nurse and she nodded.
“She’s allowed to have a little and I do mean a little. By the way, who are you guys?” she asked.