Nothing Lasts Forever (6 page)

The little boy tried to nod but stopped when he winced again. Abby stood up and turned her head so he wouldn’t see how his words affected her. How could a five year old know his mommy didn’t like him or want him? Now she understood why Jon fell in love with this little guy.

Abby kept Penny outside in case the boy was afraid of animals. She didn’t want to scare him, but now that he knew she had something or someone to see him, she took the leash from the secretary at the station and walked Penny in to the private room far enough away so she could gouge his reaction.

Kevin’s eyes widened and he bit down on his lip. Part of it got sucked inside his mouth and the other side stuck out. “A dog!” he whispered as if he’d never seen one up close before.

“This is Penny. Can she come closer?”

He hesitated a moment before his little head nodded and that lopsided grin showed up again. A small giggle rose up. Penny seemed to know it was safe for her to approach his side. He was too little to reach down to her, but when a nurse walked by the room and saw Penny by the bed, she came in to help. “We can put the bed down closer to the ground, hold on.” She reached to the control panel and in a moment the bed lowered.

When Penny and Kevin faced each other, the room became silent except for the steady beat of the heart monitor. A fragile pale hand reached out. Tiny fingers brushed Penny’s coat and nose. Kevin rested his hand on Penny’s head and she didn’t move but lay her chin on the blanket allowing him free access.

The little boy yawned. He began to close his eyes even though it was obvious he wanted to spend time with Penny. His heart rate lowered as he fell asleep with his hand on the therapy dog’s fur. The nurse who helped lower the bed grinned. “That’s the most relaxed I’ve seen him,” she whispered. “Thank you Abby.”

A sob tore from Abby’s throat. This was the reason she helped people. Not because it gratified her, but because it gave a bit of hope and joy to someone who needed love in their life. Someone like Kevin, whose mother abandoned him when he needed her most of all.

She settled in the chair beside him while he slept. Penny would sit there with the boy’s hand on her head until he removed it.

In a matter of moments, Abby fell in love.

Chapter 5

The kids tried to keep Penny and Pete from leaving after Abby’s volunteer session so she stayed a little while longer. There were eight kids this afternoon who joined in the session. Some days less, it depended on how sick the child would be.

Penny began to do a few tricks and Pete was a little annoyed that he couldn’t go back to his home. He had a routine he didn’t like when someone messed up. Abby saw the telltale signs and put him in his travel cage. She didn’t want him to peck one of the kids by accident. That was the thing about birds and she didn’t want to press her luck.

Besides, she wanted to end her session so she could go back and see little Kevin. Penny seemed anxious as well even though she sat in the center of the group while two of the kids laid on her and rubbed her belly. “I’m afraid we have to wrap this up. Thanks for coming and I will see you all tomorrow, right?”

Everyone agreed. After all they go through, these few hours with the animals was so therapeutic, even if their little eyes began to droop. The awesome thing was no one seemed to feel their pain while they played with the animals.

Penny went in to Kevin’s room first, followed by Abby, who stopped in her tracks when she saw Jon sitting by the boy’s bed. Kevin was speaking to Jon in a strained pain-filled voice. “I don’t want to go home. My mom doesn’t want me, she said I am a pain in the ass.”

Abby bit her bottom lip to keep from crying out. She almost backed out of the room when Jon reached up and held Kevin’s hand. “Son, you will never have to go back there again, I promise.”

“Doctor Jon, are you sure? My mom says she’ll dump me in the trash dumper out back. I can’t get dump-ded. I’m too sick now to get dump-ded.”

Abby could hear the fury in Jon’s voice. He tried not to show how mad he was, but Abby could feel him. She hoped Kevin didn’t notice. “Do you mean the trash dumpster, Kevin?”

His little head nodded. “I can’t go in there again, please. I hate it there.”

A sob escaped Abby. She crashed in to the room and lowered herself to her knees beside Jon. Her eyes were on Kevin’s monitor because it began to speed up. “Kevin, I live in a house by the ocean. Do you know what the ocean is?”

His head nodded, his little round eyes filled with tears about to spill over.

“The ocean has so many dolphins and fish swimming around so close to my home. I have a boat that takes me out in the water and I can see those fish swim. How would you like to go on a boat ride when you feel better?”

His eyes became huge. “Can Penny come too?” he asked.

Abby clicked her tongue and Penny barked.

“She wants to come too!” he cried out in a weak voice and laughed out loud while Jon took his vitals. He gave Abby a look and went out to speak to the nurse. Even though it seemed his heart rate calmed down according to the monitor, Jon seemed concerned.

Abby distracted him and let Penny climb up on the bed and lay down beside him. “I love Penny so much!” he whispered when she licked his cheek. Like the other time, he petted her fur until he closed his little eyes. Abby took a seat beside him and watched the interaction between child and dog.

She felt a hand on her shoulder, then gentle fingers circled her skin. Abby leaned her head to the side against his strong hand as Jon kissed the top of her head. “We need to talk.”

She stood up. “Penny, stay.” The dog yawned and settled in closer to Kevin. Abby followed Jon from the room, down a flight of stairs in to the cafeteria. He bought them a bottle of water and walked outside to the breezeway.

Jon took a shuddering deep breath. He ran a hand through his dark hair. “I am in love.”

“What?”
He’s in love with that witch?
Her heart rate went from one beat per second to thirty in a flash.

His eyes held a sparkle of humor when he saw her reaction to his words. “I’m in love with Kevin. In the years I’ve done medicine, I’ve never felt the way I do about anyone else before. I’m torn inside. I want to find his mother and stick her in a dumpster so she can feel the fear this poor child has felt. I can’t imagine any parent being so cruel.”

Abby wrapped her arms around his waist and waited for him to say the words she knew he would say. The reason she knew is that she felt the same way.

“I want him. I want to take him home with me and give him the life he deserves.”

“I feel the same way.” Falling in love with this boy was the easiest thing she ever did in her entire life.

He moved in her arms and raised her face to his. “I’m afraid if he goes in to the system, he’ll wind up in a foster home and it could be worse for him. We can give him a home he would love. With parent’s who could take care of him. I don’t know Abby, I’ve never, ever -”

“Jon.”

He leaned his forehead against hers. “He’s going to need lots of medical care. Kevin needs someone like me to be able to keep an eye on his condition. He needs to have someone like you to make him smile and laugh and forget he’s got a mother who doesn’t want him.”

“Did you hear what I said?”

“What did you say?”

Abby smiled through eyes that were filling with tears. “I said I feel the same way. Let’s see if we can adopt him.” Abby felt his body shudder against hers as he held her close in a warm embrace.

“What about your journey?” he asked, his voice gentle yet hesitant.

“I think I found my journey, my purpose. Our purpose. Right there in that hospital bed.”

His body shuddered. He held her close for a moment. “I’ll go talk to Sallie, see what she can do to get us connected. I’ll meet you at the camp.”

“You don’t have a way back and you are not getting a ride from her.” She held out her hand. “We go together to see Sallie.”

Jon stood there for a moment. When he realized she wasn’t about to budge, he took her hand in his and they took the elevator to the nursing administration offices.

Sallie didn’t seem too fond of the fact Abby stood next to Jon while he explained the situation. She wore out the carpet as she walked back and forth for a few moments and then arranged to have them meet with a social worker in the morning. Abby didn’t miss the fact Sallie didn’t say a word or look at her. Then she brushed her hand against Jon’s arm and looked in to his eyes as if giving him a hidden message. Then she turned and looked point blank at Abby.
Are you serious? You want me to think there’s something going on here!
Instead, Abby held out her hand where Sallie had no choice but to shake. “Thank you for your help, Sallie. We both appreciate your help.”

She began to tug Jon towards the door but stopped and turned. “If we are a success at adopting him, you could be Grand-nanny Sallie.” The room fell silent as they left, Abby sporting a great big smile.
Top that one!

Jon stood beside her as they rode back down in the elevator. He opened his mouth to say something and then stopped and grinned instead. His arm flung around her shoulders and he whispered in her ear. “She’s too young to be a Nanny you know?”

Abby lifted a brow. “I hadn’t noticed.”

<><>

“Hi Abby! Are you ready to go see Elvis’s mansion? The van is leaving in about five minutes.” The little white haired lady waved as she walked towards them. They were relaxing outside after the crazy afternoon with Kevin. Jon, recently showered, wore a pair of sport shorts and had both bare feet reclining in the zero gravity chair.

“I forgot about the tour.” She turned to Jon. “We’re going to see Graceland, the home of Elvis. This is Margie. Are you coming along?”

Margie spoke up. “You’ll have a blast. Nice to meet you Jon. I insist you come with. Is Penny going too?”

Abby shrugged. “I don’t see why not. She goes everywhere with me and if she can’t get in, I don’t go in.”

“I remember you told me that last night. She’s a therapy dog so I’m sure they’ll allow her in. Let’s call them and see,” Margie suggested. She pulled out this elaborate looking cell phone with a pink and purple cover and began to push in some numbers.

Abby sidled up to Jon. “I’ll grab some cash and a credit card. I’m not sure but I think the mansion is right down the street.”

It was as if Margie listened to every word said because she jumped right in to their conversation. “No, no! I wouldn’t take any credit cards or wallets. I’ve heard people try to picket pocket you when on these tours. Just a word of warning,” she told them, her face so serious Abby almost burst out laughing. “Oh and they said Penny is fine to go on the tour since she’s a therapy dog.” She shoved the phone back in her pocket.

Jon nodded to Abby. “Grab some cash, she’s probably right.”

Abby had a secret hiding place for her cash. In a little purple bag with a gold drawstring, she fished inside and plucked out two hundred dollars. The rest got tucked away in a special floorboard safe her Dad insisted she put in before she left home.

Since they showered when they got home, Abby’s purse and Jon’s wallet sat on the nightstand in their bedroom. She tucked them inside a drawer and locked the door on her way out. “I doubt we’ll need to carry them along,” she told Jon.

“It’s best not to take anything like that,” Margie told them. “Did you put them away in a safe place?”

Abby thought it was an odd question to ask but shook her head. “Yep, their locked in my nightstand. These RV’s are easy to get in to, but it doesn’t seem like a lot of criminal activity would go on here.”

Margie agreed and took Abby’s arm as they walked towards the van. “It is. This is the second time I’ve been here and I love the secure feeling. Oh hey, don’t go without us!” she yelled at the driver. They began to speed up so they wouldn’t miss a ride.

Abby and Jon did have a good time, except Margie didn’t stop talking. She wanted to see everything. They walked up a brick walkway to the front of the Colonial revival style mansion. It stood tall and domineering as two large white lion statues stood like sentries on the front porch.

As they entered the mansion, Abby felt as if she walked through another era. Furniture and decor from the 60’s and 70’s popped out everywhere. Green shag carpet graced the jungle room, a favorite of Elvis’s that he decorated to give it a polynesian look. Margie and Abby went through each room while Jon wandered off to find the automobile museum. The ladies promised to catch up because Abby wanted to see the pink cadillac on this trip. She remembered her parents would talk about the car Elvis bought for his mother.

After two and a half hours, Abby was ready to go. She caught up to Jon in the museum and took his arm as he checked out every vehicle Elvis owned. She tried to tune out Margie’s conversation because the woman didn’t know when to stop but it didn’t work and let out a deep sigh.

“You look tired. Let’s go see if they van is coming back. If not, we can walk. It’s not that far.” Jon took the lead and guided Abby outside. Margie followed behind still talking away as dusk began to darken the surrounding area.

“There’s the van.” Margie pointed to the far end of the driveway as they turned in that direction. “This has been fun. I’m glad the two of you came with me. I have no one else you know.” Then she commenced to tell them about her husband who died and she went on and on as Abby tuned her out.