Page 28 of Always Be an Us

I cross my hands over my chest, and I notice Emma clasping her hands in front of her. Her eyes are also shut, lips moving in patterns.

I’m not sure but I think she’s praying.

I can’t remember the last time I prayed. Probably when I was twelve, around the time of my grandmother's death. When she died anyway, despite my constant beseeching, I figured things like prayer were a waste of time.

But now, for Emma, I send a quick one up to whoever is listening

Let the old man be okay.

Just as I think it, the curtains open and a short man in scrubs and a face mask walks out. Emma bolts to her feet. I straighten up too, while Amelia remains sitting.

"How is he?" Emma's hand shakes as she asks the question, fear leaking out of her pores. Part of her probably didn’t want to ask, scared of what the answer would be. But she asked anyway.

The doctor offers her a little smile, and just like that some of the tension bleeds from our muscles.

"We’ve managed to stabilize him," he says, the words punctuated by Emma's quick intake of breath. "However, the damage is already done. He has what we call severe atherosclerosis which means that the arteries supplying blood to his heart have been compromised. We’ll need to put a stent in, which would require surgery."

"Surgery?"

"Yes. But not to worry it’s a very common surgery and relatively safe. We can get him scheduled right away."

Emma swallows, her eyes move rapidly, and then nods. "Can I go see him?"

"Of course." The doctor gestures to the curtains. "The nurses are cleaning him up, but you should be able to go in a bit."

"Alright. Thank you, doctor."

He nods and gives me a curious look before heading off.

Emma hugs herself and physically holds herself together while her shoulders tremble.

"So he’s ok?" Amelia asks and Emma turns to her. Emma pauses and blinks as though she completely forgot we were here.

"Yeah, it looks like it." She offers Amelia a brave smile and then glances at me.

I can still see the bitter fear in her eyes. She knows Grandpa is not out of the woods yet.

"He’ll be fine," I tell her again and I don’t know if that helps but she does smile again.

"Thank you," she says. "And thanks for bringing me here. And staying."

Is that our cue to leave?I nod. "No problem. Thank you for watching my daughter. Today and before."

She nods and then gestures behind her. "I’m going to go in there now. I’ll see you later, Amelia. And…" Her gaze shifts to me, questioning.

"Declan," I offer, hardly believing it’s the first time I’m giving her my name. It feels like we're already past that at this point.

She nods. "Declan. I’ll see you both around."

"See you," Amelia answers for the both of us.

Emma waves as she walks away, disappearing behind a curtain.

"Is her grandpa really going to be okay?" Amelia asks me quietly.

"I think so." We should be leaving but I still feel vaguely unsettled like there’s something unfinished.

Even now I can picture the sadness and despair in Emma's eyes when she turned away, the tension still in her spine.

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