Page 43 of Love and the Laws of Motion
Nick disentangled himself from Livie as she got to her feet.“We don’t know yet.She’s still in surgery.”
Gemma took a step closer and reached out to squeeze her shoulder.“You doing okay?You haven’t been back here since—”
Livie cut her off.“I’m fine.Nick came to sit with me.”
Gemma glanced over at him, something new and assessing in her eyes.Nick lifted a hand in greeting.He hadn’t stopped to think when he got Livie’s message, he just came right away.Was that weird, though?They were friends, but only for a few weeks.With something this personal, maybe he should have stayed out of it and left it to her sisters to support her.
But after today, their friendship didn’t feel all that casual.He hadn’t talked with someone the way he’d talked with Livie since...well, he wasn’t sure he ever had.Being here with her when she needed someone felt right.Which is why he decided to stay, even though Gemma was there now.He did make himself useful, though, going for coffee and bringing back snacks to sustain them while they waited.
An hour later, Janet’s son arrived.Nick was sure that’s who the windblown guy in jeans and a rumpled oxford shirt was the minute he stepped into the waiting room, his frantic eyes darting from person to person.
“Are you Livie?”
She jumped to her feet.“Andy?”
“How is she?”
“Still in surgery.”She filled him in on the last update from the nurse, which hadn’t been terribly informative.
Andy was pale with worry.“Thank you for being here, Livie.She’ll be so grateful to hear you stayed.She talks about you all the time, you know.”
“Me?”
“She said she hasn’t had a graduate student in years with your kind of potential.This black hole thing she’s doing is the most important research of her career.She’s so excited that you’re here to work on it with her.”
Livie’s eyes went glassy again.“She’s brilliant.It’s an honor to be working with her.Do you mind if I stay until she’s out of surgery?”
“Of course not.”
They all settled back in on the uncomfortable sofas, flipping through outdated gossip magazines or staring at the TV with unseeing eyes, waiting for word.It didn’t take long.Fifteen minutes later, the doctor finally came to find them.He was small and wiry with a wizened face and glasses, and still in scrubs, his face mask hanging loose around his neck.
“Mr.Finch?I’m Dr.Singh.”
They all scrambled to their feet and Andy crossed to shake the doctor’s hand.“How is my mother?”
Singh didn’t smile reassuringly, Nick noted.He didn’t smile at all.“We’ve successfully cleared the blockages in both arteries.”
“That’s good news, right?”Livie asked.
“Yes,” the doctor replied, still grim-faced.“However, there is more damage to her heart muscle than we like to see in someone her age and in her state of health.”
“Damage?”Andy pressed.“What kind of damage?”
“The heart muscle is always damaged by an incident like this.Many factors contribute to the severity.”
“And you’re saying her damage is severe?”
“At this time, yes.But as she recovers, the damaged muscle may recover as well.It’s impossible to say how much at this point.Only time will tell.”
Livie and Andy exchanged an anxious look.Neither one looked at all relieved.Nick didn’t blame them.None of this sounded like good news.
Andy rubbed his hand across his mouth.“Can I see her?”
“She’s still in post-op, under sedation, but yes, you can see her.”
“How long until she’s awake?”
Singh hesitated in a way Nick didn’t like.“The anesthesia will have worn off completely by morning.”
