More Than Words by Becca Neil

Author:Becca Neil [Neil, Becca]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-03-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

Sam stood in the doorway of his uncle’s hospital room, frozen in place as his eyes settled on the familiar figure lying very still in the bed in the middle of the room. There were tubes and wires everywhere, and several monitors beeped with distinct rhythms. Multiple IV bags hung from an IV pole next to the bed. A nurse leaned over the bed, speaking quietly to Barry, and then straightened back up and pressed a button on one of the machines.

The hand on Sam’s back was comforting, and he could feel Ollie standing just to his right, slightly behind him. But he couldn’t get his feet to move.

It was all so . . . real. Standing there, seeing Barry hooked up to all manner of machines and with the IVs and blood pressure cuff and . . .

“Sam, get on over here and . . . introduce your poor old uncle to the nice young man you . . . you brought with you,” Barry said weakly, his voice low and hoarse.

Sam blinked and ducked his head as tears welled up in his eyes. Ollie’s hand slipped into his, their fingers immediately intertwining, and he glanced down at his boyfriend, who smiled up at him. God, the love and encouragement in Ollie’s eyes—Sam’s heart stuttered, and he squeezed Ollie’s hand and nodded.

“Yeah, um,” Sam started, looking back toward Barry. “S-sorry, I—”

“Oliver, right?” Barry’s voice was a little stronger, though he still sounded exhausted, and he’d turned his head just slightly so he could address Ollie.

“Yessir, but—”

“Oh, no, now, don’t call me . . . don’t call me ‘sir.’ Save that . . . for my brother. Pleasant man, isn’t he?” Barry tried to laugh, but it came out as more of a grunt, and the nurse frowned.

“Barry, you need to take it easy now,” the nurse warned as he reached back over Barry, maybe to check one of the IVs.

“Not even any laughing?” Barry cleared his throat with a short cough and closed his eyes. “That’ll be . . . mighty boring, I’m afraid.”

“For a man in your situation, Barry, boring is good,” the nurse continued, smiling at Barry and then glancing at Sam with a wink. “Believe me, we nurses looooooove boring. I bet your family here might agree with me.”

Sam laughed lightly and finally convinced his feet to move. He stepped into the room, Ollie following right at his side.

“Sam, come on over here, kiddo,” Barry said again, and he slowly opened his eyes and lifted one hand.

Somehow, Sam made it across the room and to Barry’s side, and he let go of Ollie’s hand to take Barry’s, more tears sliding down his cheeks. Barry’s grip was weak—much weaker than it had been that morning, but the sparkle in his uncle’s eyes made Sam smile. He closed his eyes for a moment and let out a shaky breath.

“Now, now, kiddo. The doc . . . he said everything went well. And now . . . now I just gotta be—”

“Patient?” Sam cut in, a smile finally growing.

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