Page 26 of Always Be an Us

But then something happens to end it all.

Grandpa lets out a loud choked sound, his eyes going wide.

They meet mine for a long fearful second and then he collapses on the floor.

Chapter Eight

Declan

The old man clutches his chest, his eyes wide and panicked as he falls to his knees.

But his panic is still nothing compared to the sheer terror in Emma’s voice when she screams, "Grandpa!"

She dashes to him, the mug slipping from her grasp and crashing to the ground.

As the old man bends over gasping for air still clutching his chest, Emma falls to her knees beside him grabbing his shoulder. "Grandpa? What’s wrong? Grandpa please!"

He doesn’t answer although I don’t think he needs to.

The man is clearly having a heart attack.

I immediately bolt into action, rushing to hoist him up.

"What are you doing?" Emma screeches beside me.

"Taking him to the hospital. The ambulance will take too long to get here." Grandpa stumbles in step when I try to get him to lean on me, but he’s light enough that I just sweep him into my arms. I meet my daughter's wide fearful gaze. "Get in the car, Amelia."

This time my daughter doesn’t argue with me, clearly reading the seriousness of the situation. She nods and turns, dashing for the car

Emma jogs ahead of me too and opens up the back door so I can lay her grandpa on the seat. She climbs in beside him while Amelia climbs in at the other side leaving the front seat empty.

Then I get in my seat, turn in the ignition, and bolt out of there like hell is on my heels.

Throughout the ride, I keep my eyes on Emma and her grandfather through the rearview mirror. The man’s eyes are squeezed shut and his breathing is shallow. His hand is still on his chest, periodically releasing groans of pain. But at least he’s still breathing and that’s the important part.

Emma was previously demanding answers about what was going on with him but she quieted down after I shook my head at her in the rearview mirror.

Her grandfather can’t answer any of her questions. I know the questions are probably her only outlet for the terror roaring inside her but it’s not helping.

Grandpa needs to focus to keep himself breathing.

Amelia watches the older man apprehensively and pats his side every once in a while. She meets my eyes, her own fear trembling out of her gaze. Questions light in her warm brown depths.

I nod at her, trying to induce an assurance I don't feel.

He’ll be ok, I mouth.

God, I really hope I didn’t just lie to my daughter.

The hospital is a fifteen-minute drive away and I zoom right up to the emergency entrance rolling down my window and shouting," We need a gurney! Someone is having a heart attack."

A nurse who had just finished escorting an older woman into a car nods and runs back inside through the sliding doors.

I hop out of the car and Emma’s door opens too. She’s talking to her grandfather in low tones as the hospital sliding doors open once again, revealing an army of nurses pushing a gurney up to the car door.

Emma stands aside as they carry her grandfather onto the gurney, throwing out instructions to each other.

After strapping him in, they begin wheeling him.

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