“Hi, sweetie,” she said to Della. “And you must be Sydney.”
“Syd,” Della corrected softly. “People who love her call her Syd.”
Nurse Gloria smiled.
“We can’t allow a regular visit, but Tobias is in the family lounge. Della can hand him the gift there, with me present.”
“Thank you,” I said.
Tobias sat in his wheelchair with a green blanket across his lap. The moment he saw Della, his entire face brightened.
“You came inside,” he said.
Della held up the grocery bag.
“I brought birthday stuff.”
His eyes dropped to the bag.
“For me?”
“Yes, for you,” she said, smiling.
He laughed.
It was small, but real.
She handed him the stuffed dinosaur.
“It’s a dinosaur,” she said. “One eye is funny, so he might need glasses.”
Tobias touched the crooked face.
“I like him.”
“The cake got smushed,” Della added.
“That’s the best side,” he replied.
A security guard appeared near the doorway.
Nurse Gloria’s smile faded.
“I’m sorry. That’s all the time we have.”
Della looked up.
“Already?”
The guard kept his tone gentle.
“You’re not on the approved list.”
I stepped forward.
“She’s eight. She saved her lunch money for this.”
“I know,” he said. “But I have to follow policy.”
Tobias held the dinosaur tighter.
Della’s chin trembled.
“Can he still eat the cake?”
Nurse Gloria nodded.
“I’ll make sure he does.”
Inside the elevator, Della wiped her eyes with her sleeve.
“Why did it feel like we were in trouble?”
“We weren’t,” I said. “Hospital rules, baby girl. I’m sorry.”
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