Page 89 of The Story of Us
He followed the noise to Eloise’s jumper. Her phone was underneath it, the screen full of notifications and missed calls.
Shit.
Nate’s gaze zeroed in on the text.
Mary: Call me. It’s an emergency.
28
The normally twenty-minute drive to the hospital in Somers Gully only took nine minutes, but each one was excruciatingly long as Eloise wondered what would be waiting for them when they arrived.
Nate’s big palm settled on top of her thigh once he’d parked his car. “Ready?”
She shook her head, unshed tears catching on the ends of her lashes.What if …
“Joanie will be fine.”
Hearing him use her grandmother’s nickname when he usually didn’t brought on more tears. How could Nate promise that? Fragments of what Mary had said over the phone had been bouncing around Eloise’s mind the whole time they’d chased the rising sun to the hospital.
Suspected heart attack.
Found her in the kitchen.
Hit her head when she fell.
All that added up to bad, bad, bad. Eloise wiped her eyes with the sleeve of the oversized jumper Nate had tugged over her head when her arms wouldn’t work as she tried to get dressed, and different smells surrounded her. Nate’s cologne, the hint of a bonfire lingering on the cotton. Tangible reminders of how much her life had changed in only a few weeks.
And it might be about to change forever in the very worst way.
“Come on, Tiger.” Nate unclipped Eloise’s seat belt and gave her hand one more squeeze. “I’ll be with you the whole time.”
* * *
It was worsethan Eloise had imagined.
Joanie’s small frame was dwarfed by the hospital bed and monitors. Her eyes were closed, an oxygen tube under her nose. Eloise’s steps faltered. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Her grandmother was barely knocking on the door of her seventies. Anyone who spent more than five minutes in her company knew Joanie was an enigma.
But right now? She looked like a frail old lady. Her faded pink hair was flat, her skin sallow except for the large purple bruise peeking out from underneath the bandage on her temple.
Nate’s hand settled on Eloise’s back, and he guided her forward into the otherwise empty room. Where were her parents? Charlie and Sera?
“Why don’t you sit down and I’ll find everyone.” Nate nudged her towards the chair next to the window.
Sitting was the last thing Eloise wanted to do. She wanted to see Joanie’s doctors, hug her parents, blink her eyes, wake up from this nightmare. Last night had been the best night of her life. How cruel was the universe to immediately follow it with this? Eloise wiped her eyes, not trusting herself to speak.
“C’mere.” Nate wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. She went willingly, her body moulding against his with a new intimacy after everything they’d shared in the last few weeks, especially overnight. Nate’s voice was quiet and soothing. Like a warm blanket on a cold night. Designed to ward off a chill and protect her. Eloise wanted to hide inside it and pretend everything was fine. That they could be like this forever.
A noise outside the door distracted her, and she lifted her head. Mary and Michael entered the room, each holding a cup of takeaway coffee, followed by Charlie and a woman in a white lab coat. Her blonde hair was pulled into a ponytail, and funky orange glasses were perched on her nose.
“Darling, thank goodness you’re here.” Mary rushed forward, and Eloise untangled herself from Nate.
“What happened?” she asked.
The doctor looked around the cramped room, lips pinched, brows pulling low when she recognised Nate. “It’s family only in here, folks.”
“I’ll wait outside,” Nate whispered, squeezing her hand.
Eloise’s grip on Nate tightened. The warmth of his palm against hers was all that was stopping her from totally losing the plot. If he left, she’d crumble. “No. He’s family.”
