Dr. Andrews was deep in conversation with the surgeon handpicked to perform Margo’s delicate procedure.
Meg leaned down first and kissed her mother’s cheek. “We’ll be right here waiting for you, okay Mom?” Meg pressed her forehead against her mother’s, sending her calming emotions through their tight empath connection. When Meg stepped back, her gift had left her mother so relaxed, she was even breathing more slowly and deeply. Margo smiled and nodded at her daughter.
“You sure know how to make a surgical cap look hot,” Alik teased, wiggling his eyebrows. Then he leaned down and whispered words of encouragement into his mother’s ear. By the time he stood back, he had her grinning widely. Alik could always make his Mom smile.
Evan stepped up to his mother next. He leaned down and pressed his talented hand to her shoulder. “I love you, Mom. No matter what, you’re the strongest, most beautiful woman I will ever know.”
All three children laid their hands on their mother’s strong shoulders and prayed over her, just as she had taught them to do.
Tears were glistening in her eyes, but a courageous smile was still pressed to her lips as they wheeled her into surgery.
After the doors swung shut, the siblings walked together back to the waiting room where Farrow and Sloan were entertaining Danny with a handful of new Matchbox cars.
Danny’s beautiful blue eyes brightened at seeing Meg. He ran up to her ‘flying’ a red racecar and leaped into her arms. He was getting a little heavier, Meg noticed as she settled him onto her left hip. They’d been feeding him special shakes that tasted delicious and were easy on his sensitive tummy but were chock-full of vitamins and nutrients, especially protein. The little boy was getting stronger daily, but he still wasn’t a normal weight for his height.
Meg held him tightly and kissed him on top of his curly tow-head.
Alik walked to his sister, and Danny leaned out to be held by him.
Smiling, Alik reached out to pick up the little tike. “Hey, big man. What have you got there?” Alik’s easy way with Danny was such a sweet thing to see.
Even though the metahuman had incredible strength, he was perfectly gentle with Danny, holding him carefully and using a calming voice with the toddler. Alik was Danny’s favorite playmate.
Meg walked to sit beside Farrow and Sloan as she watched the two boys plop on the tightly woven gray carpet and race their cars, pretending to crash. Danny giggled adorably as Alik made all the perfect sound effects to go with their pretend play.
“How is he so good with kids?” Farrow asked, half wanting to know, half trying to help get Meg’s mind off the scary surgery her mother was undergoing at that moment.
“He used to play with Evan all the time when they were children, but they were only separated by a few years. I wonder if Alik’s memory of what it was like to be a little boy helps him relive those moments when he’s with Danny.” Meg cocked her head, deep in thought as she watched her brother play with the newest member of their family.
Margo had reacted exactly as the Winter kids thought she would when they introduced her to Danny. “Of course Danny can live with us!” She had beamed even before meeting the little boy. Once she did meet Danny, Margo was in love instantly. She wanted desperately to hold the little guy and play with him, but Dr. Andrews wouldn’t allow him on Margo’s hospital bed for fear he would accidentally injure her.
Instead, Meg sat with Danny on her lap in a chair right next to Margo’s bed and let the two get acquainted over a new toy airplane, a gift from the kindhearted flight attendant. She had taken quite a shine to the little bright-eyed curly top.
Just meeting Danny, no one would guess they had found him at death’s door, strapped to a gurney and abandoned. The little guy had the most beautiful spirit—so full of life. Behind his bright blue eyes Meg could sense a deep vein of goodness. He had only ever known pain and loneliness, but his spirit rose above that, giving his golden soul wings. His sweet purity called to everyone.
But he still didn’t speak.
Not one word.
Meg wasn’t worried. She could sense his use of English through her empath skill, and knew when he was ready, he would speak. Forcing him now would only make him retreat into himself and he was opening up so wonderfully—in his own way.