Page 29 of The Pursuit of Her Happiness

“Ok. Ms. Palomeni.”

“I don’t understand.” I face him, my hand on her leg over the blanket. “She already had a head CT. And her wrist x-ray.”

“Uh…I’m taking her for an MRI.”

“An MRI? Of what?”

“I’m sorry, I can’t disclose—”

“Listen here, you pipsqueak motherfuc—”

“POLK!” Madison slides into the room, his President voice silencing the verbal beatdown Jason has coming. “Thank you. We’ll be waiting here for her return.”

Jason works quickly, despite his hands shaking, detaching Quinn from the heart monitor and IV, and wheeling her bed out of the room as Madison and I watch in stony silence. Once he’s gone, Madison sighs wearily.

“Ford is down the hall. He had a CT scan—”

“Is it like a two for one special?” He’s unimpressed, so I close my mouth and keep it that way.

“His doctor explained that he has an arachnoid cyst.”

Apparently, I have a death wish. “Why did they talk to you, but her doctor won’t talk to me?”

“Because I’m listed as his emergency contact and have medical power of attorney.”

“Oh. That makes sense.”

“I’m glad you see it that way.” His sarcasm is not appreciated. “We’re waiting on a neurologist to speak with us.” My brain rifles through my medical knowledge. Ford’s troubling behavior starts to make more sense. Dammit, I was good and ready to fuck him up for how he’s treated Quinn…but now he might have a legitimate reason.

“It’s placement and size are causing mood swings, agitation, depression, seizures—”

“He’s probably had it for years, if not since birth, and it’s steadily grown over time. Slowly altering his behavior and personality in small enough increments that no one would have noticed.”

I exhale shakily, my stomach churning a little. “Except Quinn.”

Madison frowns, but nods in agreement. “Except Quinn.”

“What if…what if,” God, I can’t even put the words together. It’s too hard to admit.

Pres puts his hand on my shoulder and squeezes tight to get my attention. “Don’t borrow trouble. For what it’s worth though, I saw the way she lit up when she found you in the clubroom. She never looked at him that way. Betty assures me that you two are the real deal. I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”

“Yeah.” I rub the back of my neck, then put both hands behind my head and take a deep breath. “But what if he gets treatment and decides that he does want her?”

Madison laughs and I don’t like it. Because I know it’s at my expense. “Polk, Quinn is an amazing woman. And it’s clear she cares for Ford; her actions today speak volumes about her capacity for compassion. But if you think for a minute, she would be swayed by his sudden medically induced epiphany then you don’t know her as well as you think you do. And if you honestly think that Quinn is the type of woman to give herself to you in any way then turn around and drop you for someone else, you don’t deserve her, and I’ll be the first to set her up with someone more deserving of her affection.”

“The fuck you will!”

“Step right, son. Betty has Lenny’s number saved just in case.”

“Fuck off.” I say with no heat, not wanting to get my ass handed to me by Pres. “I gotta call Joe again. I think he’s still listed as her emergency contact. And…and…” I sit down on the edge of the bed and rub my hands over my face, “they just took her for an MRI, after already doing a CT Scan. She’s had facial paralysis and headaches and I’m sure other symptoms she’s ignored.” I glance up at my president, the man I have pledged to follow and beg with my eyes for him to lead me right now. “I’m fucking terrified, Pres. All of that could mean some serious shit. And I can’t…”

“I just fucking told you not to borrow trouble,” he spits out. Head in my hands I push back the threat of tears at the prospect of losing her. Slow or fast…losing her at all is not acceptable. “Yeah, Lincoln, I’m gonna have Joe Palomeni drop off Marco and Salvatore to you and Audrey to keep for the night. He’s needed here so someone will fucking tell us what’s going on.” He’s silent for a moment, grunting here and there. “Fucker has a medical excuse for being a piece of shit. I don’t know, yet, we’re waiting on the neurologist. Surgery but don’t know when. Yeah, I’ll keep you posted.” I stand up when he disconnects the call. He glaresat me for a few seconds, then raises his right eyebrow ever so slightly. “You gonna call him or just stand there being a useless fuck?”

I can never explain the science behind it, but Madison being Madison makes me feel infinitely better. He’s right, I’m being a useless fuck. I need to sac up and handle the situation. Quinn is going to be obstinate and difficult about whatever is going on, wanting to go it alone, and I need to show her I’m strong enough to shoulder the burden. I need to prove that I’m at her side for the rest of my natural life and beyond.

I pull out my phone, click on my recent calls and tap Joe’s number.

“Hello?”

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