Jess considered this for a second. Whoever she called, the news would spread faster than a wildfire. If she had to face her department, she might as well start from the top and involve her boss right away. “Call Dr. Huong.”
The angry vibration of her phone woke Jess from the first deep sleep she’d had in weeks. She reached for it, going more by feel than sight in the dark and unfamiliar hospital room that was illuminated by the monitor next to her bed.
Two past nine. Shit. She had intended to close her eyes for half an hour before calling her mom to let her know she’d have to stay the night, but that had been more than four hours ago.
She swiped to answer. “Hi, Mom.”
“Jess, are you still at work? I don’t know if I should be angry or concerned.” Her mom didn’t sound angry, so maybe she hadn’t fucked up too much.
“Yeah, but…” How could she tell her mom on the phone that everything had changed this afternoon and her life had come tumbling down like a house of cards? “Something happened.”
“Are you okay?” The concern in her mom’s voice nearly broke her.
Jess swallowed and balled her hands into fists. The pain of the nails digging into the soft flesh kept the tears at bay. Barely. “Yes. No, not really. But I will be. It turns out I have PPCM and have to stay here. Can you watch Ella overnight?”
“Of course I’ll take care of her, don’t worry. But what is PPCM? Is this a kind of overnight shift?”
Oh, right. Her mom had her own PhD and had been married to a cardiologist for over forty years, but how could she expect her to know what this acronym meant? “No, It’s a medical condition. Peripartum cardiomyopathy. It means my heart is temporarily damaged and I have to be careful for the next few weeks.” Or months. But that wasn’t something she wanted to think about or admit out loud. “The recovery rate is very good. It’ll sort itself out when I take some medication.” Or not, but she didn’t want to think about that either.
“Oh my God, honey. What happened? Do you want me to come to the hospital?”
Yes. Her inner child she thought she’d outgrown over twenty years ago wanted her mom to come and hold her while they cried together. But that would be selfish. Her mom shouldn’t have to drive here in the evening, lugging Ella around. They both needed their sleep. “No. I’m fine. If you take care of Ella, I can get a bit of sleep and come and get her in the morning.” It took all the acting skills she had learned during med school to keep the neediness from her voice.
“Are you sure? But let me at least come and get you. Let me take care of you. I can stay with you in your condo, or you can come home with me.”
The way her mom insisted would have been annoying any other day. It reminded Jess that she was weak and helpless like Ella. She sighed. “Can we talk about it tomorrow? I’m too tired to think.”
“Oh, Jess, I’m so sorry, honey. What do you need right now?” The compassion was worse than the concern, and it tugged at Jess’s composure until it threatened to unravel.
I won’t cry. I won’t cry in a fucking hospital bed. In my own fucking department. Where anyone can come and see me and blab about it to the whole fucking staff. “Just…nothing. Please.” She choked on the last word.
“Okay. We’ll sort it all out later. Tomorrow morning I’ll pick you up, and we’ll plan the next steps together. When do you want me to come?” Here was the mom she needed. No fussing, just practical reassurance.
“Thanks.” The paperwork should be ready early, even if Jess had to do it herself. If she set her alarm to six, she could even get a couple of hours of paperwork in. “Could you come around eight?”
“I’ll be there. Sleep well. I love you.”
“Love you too.” Jess voice shook. When had she said this last to her mom?
She rubbed her eyes. Sleep. She needed to get back to sleep.
As if she could with all the problems looming ahead like the ascent of a mountain. She’d have to plan every step and handhold carefully so she wouldn’t fall.
Chapter Four
Lena plucked the mint leaves from her tea and stirred a dollop of honey into it. She cradled her favorite ceramic mug against her chest and breathed in deeply. Nothing was as good as fresh herbs. Some days she couldn’t believe how lucky she was to live in Maggie’s garden.
The door swung open and nearly hit her in the face.
Lena jumped back, and tea splashed all over her front and soaked her top. Hot, burning tea. Ouch. She pulled the thin cotton from her skin and looked up.
The disheveled woman with dark circles beneath her eyes looked familiar. She glared at Lena from beneath unkempt hair. “What are you doing in my house?”
Wait? Her house? Oh. Was that Jess? Nothing of the beautiful afterglow of giving birth remained.
“Shouldn’t I ask you that?” The skin on Lena’s chest burned, and she tried to cool it by flapping her top, but it was too tight to give real comfort.
“I don’t have to explain anything to you. This is my family’s house. What are you doing here?” Jess stepped closer and towered over Lena by at least a couple of inches.
“I live here.” Lena snarled right back. She wanted to kick the intruder out, but then it clicked. Jess obviously didn’t know she had been living in the garden house for the last ten months. Lena’s anger deflated. “You’re Jess, right? I’m Lena. Maggie rented the house to me.” She held out her hand.
“Dr. Riley.” Jess ignored her hand and stepped past Lena, looking around the room with a frown. “My name is Dr. Riley, as is my
