Love Comes Silently(Senses 1) (20 page)

“Dr. Pierson thinks she’ll be able to leave on Saturday. She wants to watch her for a few more days, and then I can bring her home. She’s stronger than she was yesterday, and she’s starting to eat again.”

“
I’ll bring some mac-cheese for her tomorrow
,” Patrick wrote, and Ken smiled.

 

“Hanna will love that,” Ken said with a sigh.

 

“
You need to get more sleep!
” Patrick wrote with his most nagging punctuation, and Ken simply nodded his agreement.

“I’m really tired, but Hanna needs me and I don’t want to leave her alone,” Ken told him, and Patrick read between the lines, knowing Ken wasn’t going to leave, because if anything happened, Ken was determined to have spent every second he could with her.

“
I know
,” Patrick wrote, meeting Ken’s eyes. There hadn’t been many times in Patrick’s life when two words had meant so much. Patrick did know, and he understood, even if he was worried about Ken. “
I’ll be here for a while. Go get something to eat and take a rest. She won’t be alone
.” Patrick showed Ken the note, and to Patrick’s surprise, Ken agreed.

He went back into Hanna’s room and sat next to the bed while Ken leaned over Hanna. “Uncle Patrick will be here for a while,” he told her, and Hanna nodded, barely opening her eyes. Ken kissed her and then quietly left the room. Patrick sat next to the bed, watching the images on the near silent television for a while before turning it off and watching Hanna. He saw her reach out, and Patrick took her small hand in his. Hanna’s skin seemed almost paper thin, and she seemed so fragile, he was afraid to rub. Hanna went back to sleep, and Patrick continued to sit with her. Eventually he nodded off himself.

When Ken returned, Patrick lifted his head and found Hanna stirring. Ken looked better, and he explained that the hospital had a family area where he could clean up and even lie down. Hanna’s dinner was brought in on a tray, and Ken had to tell her about Patrick’s promise to bring in her favorite if she’d eat her dinner. She picked at the food and eventually ate some of it. When she was done, Ken set the tray aside, and the three of them spent the next hour together.

Eventually Patrick got up to leave, kissing both Hanna and Ken good-bye. Hanna got a kick out of picking on them for kissing, but Patrick didn’t mind, not one bit. As long as she got better, Hanna could pick on them for kissing for the rest of her life and Patrick would be very happy.

Patrick drove back to Pleasanton, but didn’t go home. Instead, he stopped at Julianne’s. The door opened like she’d been expecting him, and maybe she had. He’d been stopping most evenings after he left the hospital. “How’s Hanna?” she asked, and Patrick followed her inside, writing a quick note that briefly explained what Ken had told him. “She’s coming home Saturday?” Patrick nodded. “Ken’s sleeping at the hospital?” Patrick nodded again. “Then it looks like we have work to do, and we’d better get things moving.”

Patrick found himself back at the door before he knew what was happening. “I have calls to make, and you have work to do,” Julianne said. There was nothing like getting the bum’s rush from his cousin.

“Uncle Patwick!” Todd cried and launched himself into Patrick’s arms for a hug as Patrick was about to turn to walk back to his car. Patrick held him while Todd told him all about his day. At least that was what Patrick hoped he was telling him— Julianne was no help when he asked her, and Todd seemed intent on talking on forever. Patrick listened and nodded until Julianne lifted Todd out of his arms, and then he continued to his car, driving off with a wave. At home, Patrick ate something quickly and spent the rest of the evening in his workshop.

Before going to bed, Patrick made a list of all the things he had to do and double-checked it by sending a few messages to Julianne. They messaged each other for a while, and then Patrick turned out the light.

Patrick couldn’t get to sleep. He was worried about Hanna, and what Ken had told him. He was also worried about Ken. He hadn’t slept much in weeks, Patrick knew that, and he wasn’t sure how long Ken could continue on this way. Of course he desperately hoped Hanna was going to be okay. She’d been through so much already. Patrick lay in bed wondering about what he had planned, and he hoped both Ken and Hanna liked it. And more importantly, that Kenunderstood what Patrick was trying to say. That was what scared him the most, that Ken wouldn’t get his message.

Chapter Nine

 

K
EN could barely keep his eyes open. Sitting in the chair next to Hanna’s bed, he tried to stay awake, but his eyes closed on their own. He and Hanna had been waiting since that morning for Dr. Pierson to make her rounds and then sign Hanna’s discharge papers. The hospital hadn’t delivered lunch, so Ken had left the room briefly to bring something back for Hanna and himself from the cafeteria. If Dr. Pierson didn’t make an appearance soon, he would have to make another run to get her dinner. That seemed to be fine with Hanna, who had eaten her lunch without complaint, which had been a relief for Ken. Hanna’s appetite had been slow to come back. Dr. Pierson had said that happened sometimes and not to read too much into it. Ken, however, had been watching and analyzing everything to the point that he was nearly driving himself crazy.

“Daddy, can we go home soon?” Hanna asked again. She’d been dressed and ready for her trip home for a while. The only thing Ken needed to do was to get her shoes on and carry her and her things out of the hospital.

“Yes. We’re just waiting for the doctor, and then we can go home.” He was just as ready as Hanna to be home. He also knew that part of the lure of home was seeing Patrick on a regular basis. He’d developed deep feelings for the silent man, though he knew they needed to talk about those feelings, and Patrick deserved to hear how Ken felt. Basically, they really needed to talk. He’d told Patrick yesterday that Hanna would be coming home today, so he hadn’t come up to visit. “Would you draw some pictures for me?” he asked to keep Hanna busy.

“What kind of pictures?” Hanna asked, already scrambling to get her pink art box.

“Why don’t you draw a picture of all the people who have been so nice to you while you were sick?” Ken said off the top of his head, and Hanna nodded, opening the plastic box while Ken pulled out a large sheet of folded paper from one of Hanna’s bags and smoothed it out on the hospital tray. Hanna got to work, and Ken leaned back in the chair again and closed his eyes.

He must have dozed off, because the next thing he knew, Hanna was calling his name, and when he opened his eyes, she’d completed a group picture. “That’s our house,” she explained as she pointed. “There’s you and Uncle Patrick.” He noticed that he and Uncle Patrick were holding hands. “There’s Aunt Julianne and Todd, my friend Mary, and this is Nurse Greta and that’s Nurse Paul,” she explained. Ken knew there were more people, but these were the ones who had been there for them. The past few weeks had been rough, but the support both he and Hanna had gotten, both from the people who worked in the hospital as well as people they’d met, had been almost overwhelming.

“It’s beautiful, honey,” Ken said, looking at the surprising detail in each of the figures.

“I wanted to draw it the way you paint people,” Hanna explained with a smile as she handed him the drawing. Ken carefully folded it, and Hanna sat on the bed, reaching for the television remote. She became engrossed in the television for a while. “I’m hungry, Daddy,” Hanna told him.

“I’ll go down and get you something,” he said just as Nurse Paul walked into Hanna’s room.

 

“The doctor just called, and she’ll be up here in a few minutes,” he explained. “She received an emergency call.”

“Thank you,” Ken said, and Hanna insisted on giving Nurse Paul a hug before he left the room. “Do you want something right now or we can stop on the way home?” Ken dug in one of the bags and then handed Hanna a packet of crackers.

“McDonald’s?” she asked, and Ken sighed and nodded as Hanna took the crackers, appearing content to wait. She ate a little and watched television until the doctor walked into the room. She checked Hanna over one last time before calling for people to help Hanna and Ken out of the hospital.

“You get plenty of rest and don’t try to do too much,” she told Hanna before turning to Ken. “And you get some sleep and try not to worry. You look like hell, and if I have to put you in here, I will.” Hanna giggled, and Ken saw the doctor wink at her. “I want to see her in my office in a few weeks. We should know more then.” Ken nodded, and the doctor received a hug from Hanna before leaving the room. It was what they’d know then that frightened Ken. Hanna couldn’t take many more of these treatments.

An orderly arrived right afterward, and Ken signed some papers and carried Hanna’s things behind her chair as they made their way through the hospital and out to the car. Ken got Hanna loaded and her things stowed. She waved good-bye to everyone, and Ken started the car, driving away from the hospital for what he hoped, but really didn’t believe, would be the last time.

“Is Uncle Patrick going to be there when I get home?” Hanna asked as Ken pulled into the restaurant.

“I suspect so,” Ken answered, and he pulled into the McDonald’s drive through. As Hanna told them her order through the microphone, Ken’s phone jingled in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw a text message from Patrick.

“
Is everything ok
?” Patrick had texted, and Ken knew the man was worrying.

 

“Yes. We stopped for dinner and we’ll be home soon,” Ken answered and pressed Send.

“Okay. See you soon,” Patrick answered, and Ke n shoved the phone back into his pocket and ordered a salad. They had their food quickly, and Ken pulled the car into a parking space. He turned the car off, placed napkins on Hanna’s lap, and then set out her food on the lowered arm rest. She slowly began to eat.

Ken watched as she ate a few fries and then one nugget before nibbling on the second.

 

“Will my hair grow back now?” Hanna asked.

“Yes,” Ken answered, looking across the seat as Hanna played with her hat. “You don’t have to wear the hat if you’re too warm.”

“I know,” Hanna said, leaving the pink hat alone and eating a few more fries. “Can Mary come over and play tomorrow?”

“I don’t know about tomorrow, but I’ll call her mom and maybe you can play in a few days,” Ken told her. “Eat some more chicken,” he prompted, and Hanna picked up a nugget and took a bite before putting it down again. She ate and talked off and on for awhile. Eventually, after Hanna had eaten most of her fries and two whole nuggets, it became clear that she was done. He’d already finished his salad, and he threw the trash in the bag. Then he settled her back into her seat for the ride home.

Hanna dozed off as they ride, but she woke up as Ken slowed down when the car approached Pleasanton. “Hanna, look,” Ken said as they approached the main street of town. There were Christmas lights up everywhere. The town had Santas, candy canes, snowmen, and candles on every light post. All the businesses had lights around their windows. There were swags over the street. Ken glanced in his rearview mirror and saw Hanna turn her head, looking from window to window.

“Is it Christmas? Did I miss it?” she asked as she stared out the front window.

Ken wasn’t sure what was happening. “No, you didn’t miss Christmas. It’s still summer.” Ken stopped at a traffic light, one of two in town. The entire business district had been decorated. Ken rolled down the window, and the warm summer air filled the car. The light changed, and Ken continued, driving past the decorated business district, but as they approached their corner, Ken started seeing lights on the houses—some were white, some colored. Ken turned the corner, and it looked like their entire street had been lit up. Every house was covered in decorations. Pine trees had lights strung on them. Santas in sleighs with reindeer graced green lawns. Even their own house had lights. Ken pulled closer and saw their house, covered in lights. There was a wreath in every front window, and lights hung from the eaves and porch. Candy canes lined the walk, and there was a tree on the porch covered in pink lights.

“Daddy,” Hanna cried in sheer delight. She was out of her seat and nearly out the door by the time Ken parked the car across from the house. After getting out, Ken lifted Hanna into his arms as he saw a group of people who appeared to be waiting for them standing on his lawn. “Merry Christmas, Hanna,” they cried in unison, and Ken felt her struggling to get down.

Hanna raced forward as Ken followed behind, looking up and down the street and then at the crowd of people on the lawn. They clapped, and Hanna squealed in delight as she stared up at the house and everyone else. Ken approached more slowly, and he saw Julianne grinning at him, as well as the neighbors he barely knew but had said hello to a few times, all smiling. As he got closer, people stepped off to the side, parting like a curtain in front of him until only one person remained: Patrick.

He didn’t move out of the way, and Ken felt his gaze like a laser beam. Ken stepped closer, and everyone around him slipped away. Ken realized in a few seconds of clarity how much he hadn’t seen over the last half year. He’d been existing in a near vacuum of just himself and Hanna for so long, he’d nearly overlooked the contribution of the person who’d meant the most. Kenswallowed hard as he stood in front of Patrick. “It was all you, wasn’t it?” Ken said, his mind racing. “You were the one who left all those gifts for Hanna on the steps, right?” Patrick nodded and tried to look away, but Ken touched his cheek, and Patrick met his gaze. “I thought the person who left them was being nice to Hanna, and you were, but there’s more than that, isn’t there?” Patrick nodded again, and Ken looked all around him. “You got everyone together to do this for Hanna, didn’t you?” Ken turned back to Patrick, who was standing stock-still.