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and struggle to make a connection with him. He had prac-
tically begged her to stop trying.
And now, finally, she had.
On her way back from a meal break, Maddie stopped to
pick a bouquet of the black-eyed Susans that grew wild in
an empty lot behind the hospital. Thinking Ali might enjoy
the bright golden flowers, she arranged them in a plastic
water pitcher and took them to his room. She found the little
boy clutching a teddy bear and watching cartoons.
 Is he new? Maddie asked, indicating the teddy bear,
who wore boots and a cowboy hat.
Ali nodded listlessly.  He is Texas Bear. Grandpa gave
him to me.
Maddie found room on a small table for her flowers, then
she perched on the edge of the bed and studied the brave little
boy she prayed for every night. In spite of all he d been
through losing his parents, injury and illness, coming to a
strange country Ali had always managed to find a shy
smile for everyone. As a nurse Maddie had witnessed the re-
144 At His Command
markable resiliency of children. But sometimes even a for-
giving five-year-old s spirit could be crushed by adversity.
Maddie reached out and tugged on his earlobe, playing
the little game he d enjoyed during their interminable trip
from the Middle East. He smiled, but his big brown eyes
shimmered like dark pools of worry in his thin face.
Maddie tickled him under the chin. He giggled feebly and
brushed her hand away.
What he needed was a long, healing sleep.  Let s turn off
the TV so you can rest, Maddie suggested.
 Not yet.
Remembering a bit of silliness from her childhood, Maddie
took two of the black-eyed Susans from the improvised vase
and pinched off their stems. Closing her eyes, she tipped her
head back slightly and placed the blooms on her eyelids.
As she d hoped, Ali giggled at her new set of eyes: two
big golden  irises surrounding dark brown  pupils.
A low, masculine chuckle came from the direction of the
doorway.  You used to do that when you were a kid.
Maddie tipped her head forward and caught a flower in each
palm. Once again, Jake was seeing her as the child he d known,
rather than the woman she was. Hiding her despair, she nudged
Ali with her elbow and smiled.  Howdy, Mr. Hopkins.
 Howdy, Mr. Hop-kins, Ali parroted in an exhausted
little voice.
The boy was fading fast. Maddie was certain that if they
left him alone now, he d be asleep in mere moments.
 I m sorry I couldn t come earlier, Jake said.
Maddie nodded. She could hardly fault a man for keeping
a promise to his mama.  It was good of you to stop by, she
said, laying her flower-eyes on the table,  but he needs to
Brenda Coulter 145
rest now. She reached for the TV s remote control and
pressed the Off button.
When she looked down at Ali, his thick black lashes were
already resting against his cheeks. She was about to rise from
the bed when Ali s eyes popped open and he reached for her.
She stroked his short bristly hair.  Close your eyes,
little one.
 My heart is sick, he fretted.
 I know, honey. She caressed his silky cheek with the
backs of her fingers.  But Dr. Blake will make you all better,
and soon you ll be able to run and play just like you did
before. Everything s going to be fine. Aware that her voice
shook a little on those last words, she brightened her smile and
playfully tugged one of Ali s earlobes.  You go to sleep now.
His eyelids fell again.
Maddie remained for another moment, praying silently.
Then she wiped the moisture from her eyes and glanced
at her watch.
It was time to get back to work.
In the hallway, Jake fumed over what he had just seen and
heard. As a nurse Maddie should have known better than to
allow herself to become emotionally involved with Ali
Willis. Yes, the kid was cute. But his upcoming heart surgery
was extremely risky. Knowing that, Maddie should have
held something back.
But no, that wasn t her way. Maddie gave all of herself,
just handed over her heart to anyone who would take it,
leaving herself open to all kinds of devastation.
When she stepped out into the hall, Jake gave her a piece
of his mind.  You shouldn t have said all that.
146 At His Command
She blinked at him.  All what?
Her confusion underscored Jake s point and fuelled his
irritation.  Madeline, there s a good chance that boy will
die, he said bluntly.
She looked shocked.  There s every reason to hope that 
 Hope is fine, he interrupted.  But you shouldn t make
promises you can t keep.
 I didn t do that. She started walking toward the elevators.
Jake followed.  You told him everything would be all right.
She rounded on him.  Oh, give me a break. I was trying
to comfort a five-year-old boy. Did you expect me to add a
legal disclaimer to that? She snorted and started walking
again.   Results described may not be typical for all
patients,  she mimicked.
Jake just shook his head. Attempting to ease the boy s
fears was one thing, but Maddie was fooling herself.  Not
everyone is  fine,  Jake insisted as they reached the elevator
lobby. How a registered nurse, especially one who had seen
the carnage wrought by men during combat, could stub-
bornly persist in believing life was all sunshine and roses
was simply beyond his comprehension.
Maddie s eyes sparked with anger as she pressed the
button to summon a car, but she said nothing.
Jake couldn t leave it alone.  Not everyone gets a happy
ending, Madeline. Cute little boys and good men die every
day. Remember Noah?
 I m not the one who has forgotten Noah, she said with
quiet dignity. Then she turned to face the elevators, giving
Jake her back.
As her shocked, angry silence roared in his ears, Jake
Brenda Coulter 147
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