I don’t have time to answer questions or explain the twisted reasons behind my concern for a woman I have no right to feel so possessive of right now. But I am concerned. The punch of visceral, possessive alarm hits me with the force of a tsunami.
“Damn it, Gabe. What fucking hospital?”
He grits out a low curse. “Presbyterian Queens.”
My feet are in motion as soon as the words leave his mouth. As I step past him toward the open elevator car, the muscled soldier jabs a finger in my face, his hazel eyes full of lethal warning. “I don’t know what you think you’re doing with Mel, but she’s a good person. Too good for whatever’s going on between you two. We may be friends, Jared, but if she gets hurt, you’re going to answer to me.”
I feel a tendon jerk in my jaw as we square off with each other.
“Point taken,” I utter tersely, then step into the waiting elevator and punch the button for the lobby.
20
MELANIE
Standing in the hallway outside my mother’s hospital room, I watch through the window as she sleeps. Her doctor has just left to continue his morning rounds after stopping to give me the latest update on her condition.
She’s stabilized now, but they want to keep her under observation for another day to run further tests and to make sure there are no bleeding issues with the stents they inserted into two of her severely blocked arteries. The EMTs who reluctantly let Katie and me stay at Mom’s side in the ambulance yesterday said if we’d been even a few minutes later getting her to the emergency room, we would have lost her.
Even now, the starkness of that reality hits me like a physical blow. I wipe at the sudden swell of tears that spills out the corners of my eyes.
I’ve saved my worry and tears for the few minutes here and there I’ve been able to steal away from Katie. I don’t want her to know how scared I was yesterday. I don’t want her to see how scared I still am that one day Mom’s struggling heart is going to give out for good.
At six years old, she doesn’t need to carry that fear along with me. I need to be strong for her. Strong for Mom, too. It’s not a burden I resent even for a second. Still, sometimes it would be nice to have someone I could lean on once in a while. Fortunately, I’ve got a few good friends like Evelyn Beckham on my side.
Rallying myself to head back out to the family waiting area where I’ve left Katie with Eve, I make a quick stop in the restroom for tissues to dry my eyes. I make the mistake of glancing in the mirror over the sink and I groan at the horror staring back at me. The industrial-grade fluorescent light overhead gives my red-rimmed, dark-ringed eyes and ashen skin the full zombie effect. I’m sure my breath is no better for the countless cups of bad coffee I’ve had since Katie and I arrived at the hospital with Mom.
I manage to school my expression into one of calm confidence as I make the short walk from my mother’s recovery room to the large, open space where I spot Katie reading a children’s magazine seated next to my friend.
“Sorry that took longer than I’d planned. Mom’s doctor was making his rounds and I wanted to catch him while he was on the floor.”
“No problem,” Eve says, her slender arm wrapped around Katie’s shoulders. She doesn’t voice her concern in front of my niece, but I can see it in her pale green eyes. “If you want me to stay a while longer, I can call my client and cancel her fitting.”
“No, don’t do that. You’ve been working on those lingerie designs for months. Besides, Gabe will be waiting outside to pick you up before long, anyway.”
Eve gives me a caring smile. “You’re sure? I know my client will understand if you’d like me to stay.”
“Yes, I’m sure. Katie and I will be fine here on our own. Right, kiddo?”
Katie lifts her head and nods. “Are we waiting to go home with Grandma, Aunt Melanie?”
I crouch down in front of her and brush some of her blond hair behind her ear. “Grandma’s sleeping right now, sweetheart. The doctors want to take care of her for a bit longer here at the hospital. Hopefully, she can come home tomorrow.”
When I stand up again, Eve rises with me. “You’ve both been here for more than twelve hours. Come with Gabe and me. He’ll be happy to drop you off at home to freshen up and rest for a bit. You can’t do anything more for her right now, Mel. She’s in good hands.”
“I know. And I’m fine. We won’t stay too long, promise. We’ll take the subway home before it gets dark.”
She heaves a resigned sigh, then pulls me into a brief, tight hug. “I’ll call you later to check in and make sure you’re home.”
“Okay. Good luck at the fitting.”
“Thanks.” She turns to Katie, holding her arms open to catch my niece as she pops off her chair to say goodbye to her favorite of my friends. “You take good care of your auntie for me, all right? She won’t listen to me, but I know she’ll listen to you.”
Katie bobs her head. “I’ll try. Grandma says Aunt Mellie’s stubborn like a mule when she puts her mind to something.”
Eve laughs while I gasp, feigning outrage. “What? When did she say that about me?”
Katie giggles. “All the time. ‘Specially when you boss us about eating vegetables and not staying up late watching TV.”
“Well, I’m about to get even bossier about those things. Grandma’s doctor gave me a bunch of new rules for her to follow after she comes home.”
Katie scrunches her nose. “She’s not
