Page 65 of Tell Me Lies

As I look down at Maci, I hate to wake her. She looks peaceful, and I have no doubt she so badly needs the rest she’s finally getting. But I was up with Amelia most of the night, and she isn’t getting better. In fact, she’s getting worse. She won’t drink or eat anything, and I can’t keep her fever down. Her cough also seems much deeper now, and since her doctor left to go to Massachusetts to visit family right after he swung in and saw her two nights ago, the emergency room is really my only option.

“Mace,” I whisper, brushing a few loose strands of hair away from her pretty face.

Her eyes flutter open, and immediately, she looks panicked, and I’m sure it’s because she’s in my bed.

“Sorry we’re both in your bed. She just really wanted to sleep in here. And then we dozed off together.” She stops, looking around quickly before sitting up. “Is she okay? Where is she?”

“She had a rough night. I slept in the recliner with her because I wanted you to get some rest.” I keep my voice low. “I’m going to take her to the ER. I just want to get her checked out. Her cough is worse, and her body is on fire.”

Within seconds, she’s out of bed and shuffling across the room toward the door. “Just let me throw on some leggings and a sweatshirt, and I’ll ride with you,” she calls over her shoulder. “Can you let Clyde out to pee real quick?”

“Already done,” I toss back. I knew she wasn’t going to let me go alone, so I tended to him before waking her.

“And feed—”

“You know Clyde. The big guy wouldn’t even go outside to pee before I fed him.” I stop her. “It’s all taken care of. I’ll load Amy in the truck. Come out when you’re ready.”

Nodding, she quickly rushes toward her room to change.

Hanging on to Amelia with her head resting against my shoulder, I follow Maci toward the emergency room doors. She seems a little off, but then again, she’s been off for days. And ever since we pulled in here, she looks like she’s seen a ghost or something.

Who knows? Maybe when her dad died in a car accident, they brought him here. I never did ask her where that happened. I just assumed it was probably in Boston, where she grew up.

“You all right?” I ask softly as the doors open for us and we walk inside.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” she assures me before patting Amelia’s back. “Just ready to get our girl feeling better—that’s all.”

Amelia coughs a few times, which, just like all night, turns into her gagging. Thankfully, the waiting room isn’t entirely full, so nobody looks at me like my kid’s spraying the plague through the emergency room, infecting everyone. Then again, we’re in a fucking hospital. We might as well go to McDonald’s and lick the doorknob in the children’s playground area because this place isn’t any better.

I walk toward the desk, where a woman who appears in her fifties asks me about thirty questions, and finally, we’re checked in.

“Should we go in the corner, opposite of Gertrude over there?” Maci mutters over her shoulder as I follow her, looking over at the old woman who’s glaring at us. “She doesn’t seem to like kids too much.”

“Gertrude can suck my dick,” I utter, and Maci whips around to look at me, her eyes wide as she glances down at Amelia. “Relax. She’s sleeping.” I shrug.

She rolls her eyes but continues walking until we’re in a corner by ourselves. Sitting down, I adjust Amelia in my arms to make sure she’s comfortable. She stays asleep, and I fucking hate it. Out of her three and a half years on this earth, this kid has never slept this much. Ever.

Maci takes her phone out of her pocket and begins furiously texting. Once she’s done, she glances over at me. “My mom has been asking for nonstop updates on Amy. I just let her know we’re at the hospital.”

“Your mom asks about Amy?” I ask the question, but it’s more of a thought.

She looks surprised, her eyebrows pinching together the slightest bit. “Of course. Why wouldn’t she?” The corner of her mouth turns up. “She knows Amelia is special. We FaceTime with her every now and then.”

I have no idea why, but, fuck, I love that. I guess it’s because Amelia doesn’t really have much family. The day she was born, her mother’s family told me that they didn’t wish to be in her life. All they wanted to know was that I would care for her. I promised I would, and that was that. I’ve never really understood why they didn’t want to stick around even though their daughter was gone. But maybe they hoped it would make things less confusing for Amelia.

Before I can answer, Maci stands. “Hey, I’m going to use the restroom, okay? If they come out to get you guys before I make it back, I’ll find you. Okay?”

“Sounds good, sweet thing,” I drawl before watching her walk to the restroom.

Her yoga pants hug her ass but flare out at the bottoms of her legs, and her hair is in a messy bun. She’s still the most beautiful woman in this room by a mile though. Well, she and Amelia both.

Two doors slowly open, and a woman dressed in scrubs walks out, looking down at the clipboard in front of her. “Amelia Sterns,” she says, finally looking up.

She looks so familiar, yet I can’t figure out why. As soon as she spots me, she gives me a warm smile. I always hate this feeling, like I’m supposed to know who someone is and yet I have no fucking idea.

“Oh my word,” she whispers, coming closer. “I wondered if I’d ever get to see this sweet baby again.”

It hits me that this is the nurse who brought me to my daughter. The woman who assured me it was all going to be okay. I thought she was lying at the time, but it turns out, she was right.

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