Ryan's Crossing by Carrie Daws Page B

night.”
    The quiet on the other end of the phone was only broken by small sniffles and the background noise of other residents at the Ronald McDonald house.
    Brittney continued to reach out to her. “Wouldn’t you like to come sit with her for a bit?” Brittney paused, waiting.
    “Okay,” said the mother at last. “I’ll be right over.”
    When Grace’s mother arrived, Brittney helped her into the isolation garments. They walked into the room and found Ryan sitting close to Grace’s head, watching cartoons with her. Grace barely turned her head to see who had entered her room.
    “Mommy,” she said weakly. “You came back.”
    “Why don’t I help you crawl into bed beside her?” said Brittney softly, guiding the hesitant woman forward and willing her voice not to crack.
    The mother looked at Brittney gratefully with tears in her eyes. She nodded. “Thank you,” she whispered.
    As Brittney carefully held lines and wires, Grace’s mother crawled into the bed and reached out for her daughter. “Come here, baby.”
    Brittney gently covered the two up with a blanket and then faded into the background with Ryan.

Chapter 15
    RYAN GRATEFULLY SIPPED THE COFFEE Nicole brought him. Standing outside Grace’s room, he watched as Brittney said her final goodbyes. The sweet child died at 11:43pm, content in her mother’s arms.
    Brittney walked out, rubbing her eyes.
    “Want some coffee?” asked Ryan.
    “No,” said Brittney in a low, tremulous voice. “I just want to go home.”
    “Come on. I’m driving you home. No argument. I’ll come up again tomorrow and bring you back here to get your car. I want to stop in and see Josh anyway.”
    Brittney just nodded.
    Ryan put his arm around her and guided her to the locker room where they shed their isolation gear. Then he led her down to the parking lot and put her in his Mustang.
    At her condo, he walked her to the door. “Are you going to be okay tonight?”
    She sighed. “Yeah.”
    “Call me in the morning when you wake up.”
    “You need sleep too.”
    “B, this is non-negotiable. Call me.”
    “Okay. Thank you… for everything.”
    “You’re welcome. Good night.”
    Ryan watched her go in, then got back in his car and started for Crossing.
    Well, at least that situation’s resolved. Maybe not a great ending, but at least the stress of not knowing is over.
    Ryan thought about Brittney’s concern and care for Grace. She’s quite a woman. Smart, compassionate, quick-witted.
    Pictures of her came to Ryan’s mind without effort: curled up on the porch swing, laughing during the card game, talking with him in the kitchen. Thoughts of settling down in one place had never been in Ryan’s top priorities. But Brittney is worth considering. The thought almost surprised him. Is this part of Your plan, God?
    Ryan mulled over this for a few minutes. “This sure would be easier, God, if You spoke to me like You spoke to Gideon.”
    You have not because you ask not.
    The verse echoed through his mind. Ryan hesitated to ask God for much of anything. “You’re not Santa Claus.” And I don’t want to seem greedy.
    Ryan waivered until thoughts of his sister came to mind. Rachel-Amber seems so relaxed with her relationship with You, God. She talks about You like she really is Your daughter. I guess that’s a key difference. She’s accepted the gift of being Your child. I’m still stuck on the fact that You are God. Ryan sighed.
    “Okay, my dad wants to be someone I go to for advice so I’m guessing You do too. Can you please tell me what to do with my career? Should I stay in McWilliam? Or move to Portland? Or some third option I’m not considering right now? Like the clinic in Crossing. Is that a viable option?”
    Ryan waited for a moment to see if something would happen. “Well, I guess even Gideon had to wait until morning for his answer.”

    Ryan woke up in the morning to voices downstairs in the hardware store. He rolled over onto his back, rubbing his