Page 40 of Love and the Laws of Motion
But her feet simply wouldn’t move.All she could do was stare in mute horror at the sliding doors, feeling vaguely queasy.She restlessly paced the stretch of sidewalk out front, keeping her eyes averted from the bank of waiting ambulances, and cursed her weakness.
A black car pulled up at the corner and Nick stepped out on the sidewalk.The rush of relief she felt at the sight of him was embarrassing.And scary.The last thing she should start doing was depending on him, at least for anything outside of computer help.
“Hey, are you okay?”
Her embarrassment ratcheted up another notch.She didn’t want him seeing this side of her, too scared to walk through a stupid hospital door.
“Really, you didn’t have to come.I’m fine.”Which was a lie, since she’d spent the past five minutes staring at a set of sliding doors in terror.
“Stop.I’m here.Let’s go see how she’s doing.”
She turned and braced herself.It had been fourteen years.She was an adult now.Surely she was making a big deal out of nothing.She was probably going to walk in and be perfectly fine, and all this drama would have been for nothing.
The sliding doors opened for them and Nick ushered her in ahead of him.Her sense memory was triggered immediately.The antiseptic smell, the overly bright fluorescent lights, the cacophony of beeps and bells and overhead announcements—in an instant, her throat felt tight and her heart began to pound.Nick gave her a quick, assessing once-over, then placed his hand on the small of her back, propelling her forward.Thank God he had, or she might have stopped right there and refused to take another step.But his brisk efficiency grounded her, focused her.
In another moment, she found herself at the information desk, asking the nurse for Janet’s location.Then there was a map to consult, and elevators to find, and before she knew it, they’d made their way to the right floor.
“What happened to her?”he asked as they walked down the long, bright hallway toward the right wing.
“The paramedics said they thought it was a heart attack.”
“Were you with her?”
“Yes.She just...”She stopped, swallowing hard.He laid his hand on her back again, the firm, warm pressure of it bringing her back to the moment.“She collapsed.Her skin was so pale and gray.And I could barely feel her heartbeat.”
“Lots of people have heart attacks and they’re fine.”
“I know.But—” It was too hard to finish that thought.She didn’t tell him that she’d seen death in someone’s face once before, and she’d seen it again today in Janet’s.
The nurse looked up as they approached.
“Hi, I’m looking for Doctor...um, Janet Finch.She was brought in by ambulance about an hour ago?”
The nurse typed her name into the computer.“It looks like she’s still in surgery.”
“Surgery?”Livie echoed.“What for?”
“Are you a family member?”
“I’m her graduate student.”
“I’m afraid I can only give out patient information to family members.”
“But her husband is in Vancouver, and her son is in Chicago.”
“Hospital policy.Sorry.”
Nick turned to Livie.“Can you call one of them?Her husband?Her son?They should know what’s going on.”
“Anita already called them.They’re on their way.But I have their numbers.”
“Call,” Nick urged.“They’ll want an update and it’ll reassure them, knowing you’re here with her.”
They found the waiting room and Livie made the calls.Her husband’s phone went straight to voice mail, but she reached Andy, her son.He was at O’Hare, trying to get on the next flight to New York.Nick was right.Andy thanked her profusely for being there when he couldn’t be and he promised to call the hospital as soon as he hung up, so they’d give Livie updates until he could get there.
Within fifteen minutes, a physician’s assistant had come out to fill them in on her situation.Yes, it had been a heart attack.Tests showed blockage in two arteries.She was in surgery now to clear the blockages.They’d know more when she was out.
“Is it...”Livie began, then paused, not sure if she should ask what she was thinking.
