Page 49 of Deception & Daylight
As the engine blares to life, the radio picks up where I left off on my playlist, an acoustic guitar reverberating throughout the confined space as I put it in drive and pull onto the interstate. I’m absorbed in the lyrics of a Ruby Lynn Hayes song, when the music is abruptly cut off by the shrill sound of my phone ringing through the speakers. The display tells me Maggie is calling, and the sudden feeling of contentment that hits me is a shock to my system.
I tap accept, not giving myself time to consider what it means that I’m so easily excited by the mere sight of Maggie’s name. “Hey there, Wildcat.”
“Miles.”
The way she says my name has me immediately on edge. The tiny hairs on the back of my neck stand on end at the rapidly unfurling sense of unease. “What’s wrong?”
There’s rustling on the other end of the line and I hear her mutter something to someone out of earshotbefore she finally responds, “It’s Lucy. There’s been an accident.”
“What happened? Where is she?”
“She fell down the stairs. The paramedics are here now. They’re taking her to the hospital.”
I inhale a steadying breath, clutching the steering wheel as I try to tamp down on the rising panic that’s clawing at my chest. As if sensing my distress, Maggie continues, “She’s going to be alright. I’ll stay on the line with you until you get to the hospital, okay?”
The drive to the hospital is a blur and I quickly pull into the first parking spot I can find, dashing towards the double doors. Some of the tension eases when I find Maggie waiting for me and pull her into my arms.
“She’s in the ER. I couldn’t go with her because I’m not family.”Not family my ass.When I finally meet her eyes, she looks terrified and my need to soothe her overrides all other instincts.
Without thinking, I interlock our fingers and pull her along with me as I head straight for the nurse’s station. I make eye contact with a short, grey haired woman with a kind smile. “What can I do for you, dear?”
“I’m Miles Barlow. They just brought my mother in. Can you tell me where she is?”
“I should’ve known. You look just like your mama. I’m Doris. It’s nice to finally meet you. I’ll go check in with the doctors and give you an update. Hold tight.”
Maggie leads me to a bank of chairs and urges me to sit down. I wrap her in my arms, no longer certain if I’m comforting her or myself.
Doris returns a short while later with a clipboard and a somber expression that has my hackles rising. “She’s looking a little worse for the wear, but you can follow me and I’ll take you to her. It’s best if you stay calm. She does have a concussion and any sudden loud noises willcause her more pain.”
The sterile scent of antiseptic thrusts me back in time to a memory I’d rather not revisit as she leads us down a long hallway before stopping in front of a windowless door and knocking lightly. “Come in,” a quiet voice calls from the other side. Doris gestures for us to head inside. “If you need anything at all, just press the call button on the side of your mama’s bed and someone will be right in.”
Stepping into the stark, brightly lit hospital room is jarring. She looks so tiny in the massive bed, and her eyelids droop slightly as she reaches for us. “My baby,” she says, her voice a little garbled. “And my sweet girl. Thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me,” she responds, taking my mom’s hand in hers while I grasp the other one, trying to mask the panic that threatens to consume me. Before she can say anything else, a doctor enters holding a clipboard against his chest.
He offers me a handshake. “Hello. I’m Doctor Shaw.” He’s a tall, slender man, likely in his late fifties with grey hair and a closely cropped beard. “Lou. Not exactly how I wanted our date to go this evening.”
My eyes go wide and it seems I’m not the only one who’s shocked as I take in Maggie’s stunned expression. “I had hoped to meet you under different circumstances, Miles. But it’s nice to finally meet you all the same. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“I’ve heard absolutely nothing about you,” I retort, my tone slightly clipped.
“I was going to tell you, sweetheart,” Ma says. “I just hadn’t found the right time.”
Guilt claws at me as my eyes rake over my mother in her hospital bed, an IV hooked up to her arm as the sound of the heart rate monitor fills the oppressive silence that’s fallen over the room. The last thing I need to worry about right now is the fact that my mom is dating some doctor. Even if we weren’t in this situation, I should be happy for her. She’s been alone for a long time, and if anyone deserves happiness, it’s Lucy Barlow.
“It’s fine, Ma. Let’s just focus on getting you better.” I squeeze her hand, letting her know I’m not mad at her for keeping secrets. “How’s she doing?” I ask, turning to Dr. Shaw.
“She has a mild concussion and a hairline fracture in her left hip. The fall was likely caused by the cancer treatments. I warned you to be careful, Lou.”
The world around me grows hazy and frantic voices become a dull hum in the background with one word replaying over and over in my mind.Cancer.
Mags
My fight or flight instinct has been running on overdrive since we arrived at the hospital. Everything about this place is threatening to pull me under, from the sterile scent permeating the halls to the stark white walls, and the whirring sounds of the machines keeping people alive. But I have to hold it together for Lucy, and for Miles. An onslaught of terrifying memories is lurking just beneath the surface. My hold on them is tenuous at best, but I can’t afford to break down right now. Miles needs me.
“She has a mild concussion and a hairline fracture in her left hip. The fall was likely caused by the cancer treatments. I warned you to be careful, Lou.”
Cancer. Lucy has cancer. Worry claws at my chest when Miles goes silent. Lucy reaches out for him, but he doesn’t move, and her pleading eyes find mine. I step into his space, cup his cheeks with both hands and force him to look at me. “Miles, baby. Breathe.” The world aroundus disappears as he grips my wrists and leans his forehead against mine, inhaling a shaky breath. “There you are,” I whisper when his eyes finally regain focus.
