Page 35 of An Engagement for Erica

“I want to know the minute you do,” his mother said.

“There isn’t much you can do,” he said.

“I can be there for my son,” his mother argued.

“I might take you up on it,” he said softly. And he never had before.

He talked to his mother a minute more and then hung up when Michael returned.

“It’s going to be okay,” Michael said. “TC is a strong stubborn old man.”

He snorted. “He is that. But he’s old. Let’s be honest.”

“He’d walk across the room and smack you for saying he’s old.”

Tucker laughed. “He would,” he said.

Forty minutes went by and a doctor walked into the room. “Tucker Nelay?”

“That’s me,” he said, moving forward.

“I’m Dr. Lawson, why don’t we go into a room for privacy.”

He didn’t like the sound of that. “Michael, I’d like you to come too. You know him better than anyone. You’re like family.”

Michael jumped up and followed the two men into a small private room.

“Your grandfather suffered a hemorrhagic stroke. We need to stop the bleeding, but there isn’t anyone here qualified to doit. We are going to send him via ambulance to Yale New Haven. Just know, he’s not stable. But if he stays here, he won’t make it either.”

“Fuck!” he said, running his hands through his hair. “Do what you need to.”

“We’ll get him prepared and on the way.”

“Can I see him?”

“He’s not conscious, but you can. We’ll bring you back,” Dr. Lawson said. “In a few minutes.”

“Hang on,” he said. “Who’s doing his surgery?”

“I’m not positive,” Dr. Lawson said.

“I want Dr. James to do it,” he said. “I don’t care the cost.”

“Dr. Andrew James,” Dr. Lawson said. “I’m not sure if he’s available. We don’t normally put in requests even if your grandfather is a donor here.”

“I’ll make the call myself,” he said. “If you don’t.”

“I’ll put in the request,” Dr. Lawson said, “but there are no guarantees. A nurse will come get you in a minute to bring you in to see your grandfather.”

He pulled his phone out and called Erica.

“Hi, Tucker. How is your grandfather?”

“I need a big favor, Erica. The biggest there is.”

“Anything,” she said.

“They are sending him to New Haven. It’s a hemorrhagic stroke. He needs surgery. I want your father.”

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