Page 33 of From Fake Dates to Forever Goals

“I’m trying to get ahold of Sebastian Kane. Is he speaking?” I hear a woman’s voice over the phone.

I sit up immediately. Ava notices my sudden shift in demeanor and sits up, too.

“Yes,” I answer.

Something about the way she speaks gives me a strange feeling.

“This is Dr. Linda Matthews at St. Petersburg Hospital,” she introduces herself.

I feel my heart sink immediately.

“Your mother has had a heart attack. She is in stable condition…”

The doctor goes on to tell me how they have her on medication and that she is being monitored. The words go right through me as all I can think about is how I need to be with my mom.

I jump up from the couch.

Ava panics and rushes to my side.

“I’ll be there as soon as possible,” I say, disconnecting the call.

I sit down, burying my head in my hands.

“What’s wrong?” Ava asks, kneeling by my side.

“It’s my mom; she’s in the hospital,” is all I say as I walk over to the closet to take out a suitcase. “I need to go to Chicago.”

“Are you going alone?” Ava asks.

I shrug, feeling my mind wander in a thousand different directions. Hearing she had a heart attack makes my knees tremble, wondering if she’s all right.

“I’m coming with you,” Ava tells me.

“You don’t have to do that, Ava.”

“I know I don’t have to, but I want to.” She looks me straight in the eyes.

“Thank you,” I say, hugging her tight.

A few hours later, we land at O'Hare International Airport and head straight to the hospital.

Ava is by my side the whole time. She is just as worried as I am.

They tell us that my mother is in the Cardiac Care Unit but is with doctors at the moment, and we will not be able to see her for another hour. So, we wait in the cafeteria.

Ava holds my hand the whole time until we are finally allowed to see my mom.

“How are you feeling?” I ask, kissing my mother on the forehead.

Stupid question, Sebastian. Look at her!

It pains me to see her hooked up to a monitor. She is the strongest woman I know, and I never thought I would ever see her this way.

She nods, unable to speak much.

I sit there holding her hand.

“I brought someone to meet you,” I say.

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