Page 51 of Conflicted
“You didn’t tell me he was in town to perform.” It sounded like an accusation.
“They gave him Narcan, because they thought he overdosed, but something went wrong and now he’s in ICU. The doctor who spoke to me said something about heart problems.” Jewel seemed to curl into herself. “I don’t know, and no one’s been out to talk to me for quite a while.”
Before Ruby could reply or do more than give Jewel’s hands a reassuring squeeze, the double doors at the end of the waiting room opened.
A woman in scrubs and a white coat came out and called, “Luke Peters?”
Ruby stood up and waved, “Over here.”
The woman walked with strong, assertive strides in their direction. “Are you family?”
“I’m his daughter and this is my mother.” Ruby dared anyone to challenge her right to be there.
“Ms. McCormick?”
“Yes,” Ruby and Jewel answered in unison.
“I’m Dr. Adams. Mr. Peters is in bad shape.” Although the words hit like a sledgehammer her expression was kind – almost pitying. “He had a heart attack and there are signs of long-term opioid use. Do you know if he’s still using?”
Ruby and Jewel exchanged looks and Ruby saw the worry she felt reflected on her mother’s face. “He quit using heroin about five years ago. I didn’t realize he had a heart problem,” Ruby said.
The doctor continued, “We have him stable now, but he’ll be in the ICU until he improves. You can see him in a little while.”
“Will he be okay?” The words coming from her mouth surprised Ruby. She didn’t care about Luke, did she?
“It’s too early to say. We’ll have to run some tests when he’s stronger to see how much damage was done to his heart. He’ll need to take it easy for a while, that much I can say for sure.”
It was over an hour later when they were finally allowed to see Luke. Ruby and Jewel clung to each other as they followed the nurse to the ICU. “He’s awake now,” she said, “but you can only stay ten minutes.”
They both stopped at the entrance to Luke’s room, not prepared for the site of him hooked up to multiple monitors with tubes and cables everywhere, it seemed. “Can we go closer?” Jewel asked.
“Sure, just stay calm. He needs you to be strong right now.”
Ruby walked forward ahead of her mother. “So, you had a heart attack, Luke?” She knew she was stating the obvious but couldn’t think of anything else.
“Yes.” His response was barely a whisper and she had to move close to hear his answer.
“Did you know you had a bad heart?”
“They told me the last time I overdosed. That was over five years ago. I haven’t used anything since then.”
“Ruby, your father’s drug use is over and done with. I was with him when he got his five-year chip from NA. No need to belabor the issue.” Jewel seemed to have drawn strength from somewhere.
“Luke,” Jewel said as she took his hand, “I love you.”
“I love you, too, Jewel of my heart.”
“I think that’s enough for now.” The nurse had come in behind them and was checking the monitors. “He’s tired and could use some rest. You can see him again, later.”
Sandra and GT were waiting for them in the ICU waiting room. It was much nicer than the one they had been in before. The chairs and couches looked almost new and the magazine section hadn’t been destroyed.
“How is he?” Sandra asked.
“He looks gray,” Ruby said.
“He’s tired,” Jewel said. “He needs his rest.”
“I’ll go find Dr. Adams and see what she has planned. I wonder if they’ve done a cardiac cath. yet,” GT reminded them he was a doctor, too, and had access to information they didn’t.
