“Let me find out.” I patted his arm before I could think better of it, and I didn’t miss my mom’s raised eyebrow.

“Do you know what happened with Chase?” I asked Natalie, who was nearby, helping a little girl navigate with an IV on a pole. This wouldn’t be the first time we’d lost a patient who was a regular. Loss was a part of this gig, and I remained profoundly grateful that April was still with us. I mentally crossed everything I had that Chase was okay.

“Discharged.” Mercifully, Natalie had a wide smile for me. “He finished this latest course of treatment and was strong enough to send home.”

“Thank goodness.” I had to briefly shut my eyes against my sudden wave of emotions. I turned to return to Milo, but he was right behind me, eyes shining. Damn. He really did care.

“Do you have the drawing you did for them?” I asked him.

“Yeah.” Glancing around, he withdrew a folder from his backpack. His reluctance to hand it over to me was palpable, especially since we had more of an audience than I’d thought. Still, though, I couldn’t resist opening the folder. The full drawing he’d done from his previous sketch was nothing short of stunning.

“Oh, let me see.” Natalie peered over my arm, and my mom along with a few others had wandered over too. Milo was turning ten shades of pink with all the attention, but everyone was murmuring well-deserved praise for him. I wanted him to believe in his talent even half as much I did.

“That’s so beautiful. Could you do one for us?” The mom of the girl with the IV had tears in her eyes. “I can pay.”

“I don’t need money,” Milo said even though he probably did. He pulled out a bigger sketchbook than his usual pocket one and a case with some pencils. “I could work on it while she plays the game with someone, if that’s okay?”

“Totally.” My whole body buzzed with pride in Milo, warmth spreading outward from my chest.

“I can’t wait.” The mom followed Milo and the girl to a table with Kellan, who was already setting up for a game.

“Can you get this to Chase’s family?” I asked my mom as I carefully put the drawing back in its folder.

“Yes, of course.” She sounded distracted, and her gaze was locked on Milo who was deep in concentration, pencil flying over his sketchbook while the girl laughed at something Kellan said. “I had no idea he was that talented. His mother never mentioned it.”

“She might not know.” I said the words lightly, without thinking, as per my usual, and it was no surprise when my mom’s mouth pursed. She’d always been excellent at reading between the lines.