Page 60 of Sutton and the CEO Forever

“Was it a stroke? Or a heart attack?” Katie whispered.

Brian wrapped his arms around her, “It’s likely that they don’t know yet. They will need to run some tests.”

The front door opened, and an EMT helped guide the stretcher with Reena’s limp body strapped to it. The woman was full-figured; she was at least three hundred pounds and proud of every one of them. It was an effort to make sure she was safe getting her down the steps and into the vehicle. Then they were speeding away, and a very small and scared Alice was standing in the doorway.

She looked like a child that had been left behind. Reena and Alice had always been a bit of the odd couple. As plump as Reena was, Alice was thin. But the lost vacant expression in her eyes nearly ripped Katie’s heart out of her chest.

She didn’t think about her actions, breaking out of Brian’s arms and going over to the older woman.

Yelling over her shoulder, she called out to Knox, “We will bring Alice to the hospital.”

Knox turned to Brian and nodded. “I am going to head back and pick up Candice. She’ll want to be there.”

“Do Mark and Sutton know?” Brian asked quietly.

Knox nodded. “Sent a text a few minutes ago. They will meet at the hospital as well.”

Otterville Falls Hospital didn’t have a large waiting room, but that really didn’t matter. People made room where they could, spilling a bit into the ER, which was empty other than Billy Sutherland’s boy, who had swallowed $5.72 in change.

The mood was somber as the sun began to rise. The smell of rich coffee filled the air, and Styrofoam cups were passed around as they all waited to hear the news.

Shortly after ten in the morning, Dr. Young came out of the operating room. There was an air of sadness that clung to him despite the smile he had pasted on his face.

“We did everything that we could,” he patted Alice’s hand. “There is a possibility that she will make it through this, but she suffered a pretty severe stroke at home and another on the way here. Honestly, Alice, if she lives, I don’t know what her quality of life will be like.”

Alice nodded as if she was understanding, but does one really ever understand when the rug has been pulled out from under them? Does one comprehend that the person they loved and laughed with might be there in body, but you may never speak with them again?

Sutton wrapped an arm around Alice’s slender waist, “We will stay here with you as long as you want. And I already talked it over with Mark; we will pay for whatever is necessary to help Reena. Don’t you be fretting about bills or care.”

Alice nodded again, but this time her lip trembled.

“I just,” she tried to clear the emotion from her throat, “I just don’t understand. Reena was fine all day. She wasn’t complaining of anything. I just don’t get it. Why?”

A fat tear plopped onto her cheek, followed by another one.

Sutton pulled the older woman into a hug and looked at her husband, Mark.

Brian was standing next to Mark and squeezed his brother’s shoulder, “I will help in any way I can.”

Mark nodded distractedly and then straightened, “Thank you, the nanny is supposed to have this afternoon off. Can you take care of the twins for a few hours?”

Brian’s mouth went dry. He had wanted to help, but babysitting hadn’t been what he intended.

“We would love to,” Katie chirped from beside him. “Avery and Evie are the cutest babies ever!”

Brian blew out a breath. “Yeah, of course.”

Mark smiled, “Thanks man, I know that Sutton will feel better if they are with family.”

It struck Brian every time Mark said something like that. For so much of his life, their father had gone out of his way to make sure that Brian felt like he wasn’t a part of their family. It meant a lot that Mark didn’t follow in their old man’s footsteps.

At noon Martha and Earl came in with a delivery of sandwiches from Abberly’s. Many of those that were waiting decided to head home until further notice. Katie and Brian hugged Alice fiercely and said their goodbyes to Sutton and Mark before headed out to watch the twins.

“How much do you know about babies?” Katie asked conversationally.

Brian gave her a side-eyed glance, “Not too much.”

Katie scrunched up her nose, “But you are their uncle, so you have spent time with them.”

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