Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Not to mention, my mother was the type to be continuously going. She always had a club or charity that she was running off to. Rebecca Sutton did not sit still if she didn’t have to. From what I understood from Archer, our mom was up in New York every other weekend to visit her grandchildren.
“I wonder if Dad has gotten ahold of Archer yet. Do you think I should call him?”
“It would be best if you waited until after you’ve talked to your dad. We don’t know anything yet. We don’t want to upset and scare him if this isn’t a serious matter.”
I nodded. That made sense. Of course, my brain argued that if it wasn’t serious, why had she been taken to the hospital in the first place?
Simon had driven us across town and parked before I reached my father, who stated that he was waiting for us in the emergency room.
“How do you know this hospital so well?” I asked as Simon maneuvered us through the parking garage to the emergency room.
He flashed me a crooked smile, still holding tight to my hand. “During rehearsal a few months back, one of the flutists passed out and was taken to the hospital. She had a history of heart issues. I offered to drive several of my coworkers to the hospital to visit her.”
“That was nice of you. Is she okay now?”
He nodded. “She was out for a couple of weeks, but she’s doing much better now.”
The emergency room was large and brightly lit, making it more than a little rough on the senses. It was half-filled with people in plain gray chairs. Not surprisingly, no one looked comfortable. A TV was on, playing the news, but no one was watching it. They all had their eyes locked on their phones or tablets as they waited to be called.
I scanned the room, searching for my father but didn’t spot him immediately. Were we in the right place? As I was about to call him again, a pair of double doors opened and he stepped out. He appeared haggard, with his dark hair slightly mussed as if he’d been running his fingers through it. He was missing his usual tie and jacket. His face softened as his eyes met mine.
“She’s fine,” he stated before I could say a single word. “She’s fine.” He reached my side, grabbed my arms, and squeezed. It was enough to cut through the panic that had been building since Marie had announced that my mother was in the hospital.
“What happened?”
“She woke up feeling off this morning. As the day wore on, she started complaining of tightness in her chest and lightheadedness. I brought her to the hospital as a precaution. They’re still running some tests, but they have confirmed that it wasn’t a heart attack. They want to keep her overnight for observation and to wait for the test results. A room is being arranged for her.” He sighed heavily and shook his head. “Your mother is not happy with me right now.”
No, she wouldn’t be. My mother hated hospitals. Even more, she hated being what she called “a burden” on anyone. She was the type who only wanted to go to the hospital if she was sure she was dying and even then, she’d argue that she didn’t want to be a bother.
“Have you talked to Archer yet?”
My father released me and stepped back. “I’ll call him soon. You go sit with your mother. I’m going to get some coffee.”
“Would you like me to fetch it for you?” Simon offered. “That way, you and Pierce can sit with Mrs. Sutton.”
Dad’s expression relaxed even more as he looked at Simon. “No, no. I need some air and to stretch my legs. You stick with Pierce.” He lowered his voice a bit, as if he were sharing a secret that I wasn’t supposed to hear. “He doesn’t handle illness and hospitals all that well. It’s better if you stay with him.”
I wasn’t about to argue. He was right. Ever since Sawyer’s death, I’d struggled to deal with any illness in a friend or family member that was bad enough to send them to the hospital. These moments, while rare, sent me straight into a panic, leaving me overwhelmed and frozen.
He gave us some directions to where Mom was resting, and Simon led the way.
When we found the bed, numerous wires were running from her, hooking her up to various blinking and beeping machines. Her hair was disheveled, and her cheeks were frighteningly pale. Someone had pulled a curtain around to give her a small bit of privacy in the busy emergency department.
“Oh, baby,” she cooed the second she saw me and stretched out her arms toward me. “I’m going to kick your father for scaring you like this.”