Page 67 of The Feud

The nurse chatters away at Sylvie and I figure she’s in good hands. I don’t intend to be gone long.

The lobby for the children’s ward is just down the hall and when I walk in, I see my family gathered around Marcie, talking in hushed tones. On the other side of the room, Rosemund and Gabe sit together. No sign of Lionel, but I’m not surprised he’s absent. Putting aside the fact he’s not a doting grandfather, he’s seems like the type who would consider it a colossal waste of time to sit around a waiting room when there’s business to be done.

“How is she?” Gabe asks as he reaches me, and my parents and siblings also turn to face me.

“Awake and says she feels pretty good. The nurse is in there now.”

“Can we see her?” my mom asks.

“You can,” I say, jerking my head down the hall. “In fact, you should go now, but don’t stay long because when I get back in there, you’re going home with everyone else and getting some rest.”

No one else in my family asks to see her as they can all tell I’m not going to let her get overwhelmed or worn out. But my mom… I can’t deny her.

Although my family knows this information, I say it for Gabe’s benefit because he’s the one who found her and got her the help she needed. I don’t care if Rosemund hears it or not. “They’re not sure what’s going on. They did a CT scan of her chest and it’s all clear. They are going to have a cardiologist and pulmonologist evaluate her, but they are anticipating letting her go home tomorrow, assuming she remains stable.”

“May I see her then?” he asks politely.

I’m surprised when Rosemund chimes in, “I’d like to visit as well.”

My eyes cut back and forth between them and rather than answer, I say to Gabe, “Can I talk to you alone?”

Rosemund’s lips purse but Gabe nods, following me out into the hallway. I walk down a few paces and turn to face him with my arms over my chest. “Listen… I really appreciate what you did and I’m starting to understand you really care for my kid, but she doesn’t want to visit with your parents anymore over at their house. She doesn’t feel comfortable.”

I brace for him to blow up, but he rubs at the back of his neck, his voice nearly cracking. “Yeah… can’t say that I blame her. My parents aren’t the warm-and-fuzzy type and I’m guessing you understand more than ever why Alaine wanted Sylvie with you.”

There’s something in his tone… maybe fatigue? He’s definitely rattled by Sylvie’s close brush with… well, I don’t want to think about just how bad it could’ve been.

“Yeah, I’m understanding now. But she still wants a relationship with you. I don’t know what that means or what it will look like, but we’ll work something out. No visits today though. I want her to rest, but soon.”

“I appreciate it,” he says grudgingly. “I’ll tell my parents that Sylvie won’t be doing overnights anymore.”

“Will they be mad?” I ask, prepared to handle any fallout on Sylvie’s behalf.

Gabe laughs mirthlessly. “I doubt it. Once they realize they can’t turn her against you, I can’t see that they’ll waste efforts anymore.”

“And all to control the winery?” I say with a disgusted shake of my head, because how can they not want to be around Sylvie, their own flesh and blood? “Your family has issues.”

“Don’t we all,” he replies. “But don’t lump me in with my parents as far as Sylvie is concerned. I’ve been her uncle from the moment she was born and while Alaine wanted you to have custody, she trusted me implicitly to make sure she was protected as far as the winery goes. It’s why she made us co-trustees, so don’t expect me to back away from it.”

“One could argue that she didn’t trust you, which is why she made me co-trustee,” I point out.

“You’ll never know that for sure, but I do. She wanted someone experienced in our industry to guide you, to help keep the business profitable and growing for Sylvie.”

I level a skeptical look at him. “And yet you tried to buy Sylvie out.”

“My dad tried to buy you out. I was only the messenger. But that’s moot and you’re going to have to keep dealing with me.”

“I’m painfully aware of it,” I drawl and throw a thumb over my shoulder. “I’m going to get back to Sylvie. I’ll text you an update when I know for sure she’s being discharged.”

“Appreciate it,” he says and turns to walk away.

CHAPTER 24

Ethan

Opening the back passenger door, I hold my hand out to Sylvie. She doesn’t need it but takes it anyway, sliding out of her seat. As we turn to the house, neither of us are surprised to see the entire Blackburn clan plus Marcie standing there.

I chased Marcie out of the hospital last night, forcing her to go home to rest. I kept everyone else updated throughout the day yesterday as the two specialists looked Sylvie over. Everything had returned to normal and they were stumped, although the cardiologist wants to see her in his office in two weeks. I pushed for a diagnosis and they didn’t have one, which has made everything very scary.

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