“Yeah. I’m just preparing myself mentally for what I’ll see. The last time I was here was to bury my granddad.”
Diane nodded. She understood how difficult it must be for him, considering Bev was his only living relative. “Do you want to take a few minutes before we head up?”
“Yeah. I think I need it.”
Diane walked over to the car and stood with him in silent support.
“Okay. I’m ready,” Joshua informed her after a few minutes.
Diane nodded once again, and the two headed inside the hospital.
“Hi, Callie.” She waved to the nurse sitting at her station.
“Hi, sweetie, how’s your mom doing?”
“She’s doing much better, thanks.”
“Well, tell her I said hi, and I’m praying for a speedy recovery.”
“Thanks. I’ll let her know.” Diane smiled. “Um, this is Joshua Barton, Beverly’s grandson.” She turned and indicated to the man standing a few feet behind her.
“Good day, ma’am,” he greeted, coming closer.
“Hello, dear,” Callie greeted back, coming around her desk. “Your grandmother is in room twelve. If you will follow me…”
“I’ll take him,” Diane jumped in.
Callie looked at her with caution in her eyes.
“Please, I’d like her to be there,” Joshua added.
“All right then, but you know this isn’t hospital policy, Diane.”
“I know, and thank you. I’ll make it up to you.” She hugged the woman.
“I want chocolate muffins,” the woman called after her as she escorted Joshua toward his grandmother’s room.
“The nurse knows you pretty well. Are you a regular here?”
“No.” Diane shook her head and chuckled. “My mom’s the head nurse here. She fainted at work yesterday, and it turns out she was dehydrated, and her kidneys were affected. She’s home on bed rest for a few days.” There she went oversharing again.
“Okay. I hope she has a speedy recovery. I want to thank you for being there for Grandma even though you had your own crisis to handle,” he spoke with sincerity.
“It wasn’t hard to do. Bev is family to me.”
Joshua smiled, and she noted a dimple on his left cheek. She hadn’t noticed it before.
“Here we are,” she said, gesturing to Bev’s room. “You can go in. I’ll wait here.”
“You’ve come this far. Why not go all the way? Let’s go in together,” he suggested.
Bev was in the same position as she’d left her the day before, propped up against pillows and a comforter covering her lower body. She looked much livelier than she had yesterday. Her eyes lit up in surprised excitement at Joshua’s entrance.
“Hi, Grandma.” A smile lit his face.
“Joshua. Oh, this is a surprise. I thought you weren’t coming until tomorrow,” she said, raising her arms.
Joshua walked over and hugged her. “You gave me a scare,” he spoke against her cheek.
