Page 25 of Sassy Surrogate
“Go grab your bag and your phone. We’ve gotta go,” she says as she dashes over to the living room to do the same.
“Rebecca-Rose, what the hell is going on?” I feel tears well in my eyes as fear grows in me like a living entity.
I watch as she takes a calming breath. “Mom’s been hurt. I don’t know how bad. Now get your shit together and let’s get going.”
For a split second I’m paralysed by her words, and then I whirl into action, my mind racing a million miles an hour. By the time we reach the emergency room, Rebecca having blown through every stop street and red light along the way, I’m all but hyperventilating. I’ve imagined every bad scenario, and it’s freaking me out. The not knowing is killing me.
She pulls up to the emergency doors and just about pushes me out of the car. “Go. Go. Go. I’ll park and come find you. You go see what’s happening with Mom.”
Despite my own fear, I stop a moment to squeeze her hand. She loves my mom almost as much as her own, and I can see how hard Becca is working to hang on to her composure.
“I’ll see you inside, babe.” And with that, I jump out and make a dash for the ER.
Bursting through the doors, I frantically search for my grandfather. Making my way farther into the room, I spot him as he climbs to his feet. His colour is no better than Rebecca’s, and I feel my heart stutter in my chest. I swear, I’d never believed that it was a physical feeling. But standing in the chaos of the hospital, I can honestly say I feel it.
Rushing over to him, I throw my arms around him, hug him close to me, and promptly burst into tears. “Hey now, Pumpkin. I’ve got you.” He rubs a soothing hand over my back.
I feel another set of arms wrap around me. “Hi Pop,” I hear Rebecca whisper, tears evident in her voice.
We stand huddled like that, drawing comfort from each other for a long while. No one saying anything. Eventually we step back, and I grab Pop’s hand, needing the security of his touch. “What happened, Pop? Is Mom okay? Where’s Gram?”
“Slowly, sweet girl. You’re wound tighter than a spring.” He gives the hand he’s holding a gentle squeeze. “Gram’s over at the admissions desk, filling out all Mom’s paperwork.”
He pauses a moment. Swallows down emotion. “I’m not a hundred percent sure what happened yet. Gram and I went to the supermarket. When we got back, we found your mother lying unconscious on the kitchen floor.”
A sick feeling of dread starts to build in my chest. I can only pray that I’m wrong, but as we wait for my grandmother to return and for any news from the doctor on my mother’s condition, I can’t help but think this has something to do with my father. God help his rotten soul if it has. Before this is all over, I might well need bail money.
12
Heath
For someone who has spent his entire adult life focused on work, I can’t focus for shit at the moment. I find my mind constantly filled with thoughts of the exquisite Danica Brand and the brief but intense kiss we shared.
In all the years since I’ve become aware of women as sexual beings, I’ve never once encountered someone who lights me up the way she does. I want her underneath me, wrapped around me, above me. Basically, any way I can get her, and it makes me twitchy.
If I’m being brutally honest with myself, it scares the crap out of me.
Perhaps it’s time to plan a trip of some kind to distract me. Whether it’s business or personal makes no difference, just something to take me anywhere but near her. Maybe now’s a good time to fly out to see Felicia. That will definitely take my mind off Danica.
Coming to a snap decision to do it, I reach for my phone to make a note for Rebecca to make travel arrangements in the morning when it rings in my pocket. Considering it’s well after eleven at night, I can’t imagine this call is anything good.
I’m a little taken aback when I see the very woman of my current mental turmoil’s number flashing on my screen.
“Danica, is everything all right?”
There’s no response from her, but I can hear a lot of background noise. A public address system rumbles to life, but I can’t quite make out the announcement. From the little I do manage to hear, it sounds like she’s at a hospital somewhere. My stomach clenches.
“Danica, answer me. Are you okay? Do you need me to come get you? Are you hurt? Where are you?”
“No, I–” Her voice catches, and she clears her throat. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called. I don’t know why I did. I’m sorry.”
With that, I’m left listening to empty air. Frantically, I attempt to open my contacts list, but in my haste, I keep hitting the wrong icon. I’m about to lose my mind when I manage to get it open and dial her number. The call rings to voicemail.
I hit the end button and dial again with the same result. As I sit listening to the start of the recording, I contemplate leaving a message. Since she’s not answering the calls, I figure she’s unlikely to listen to the voice message either. So I decide to try one more time, and if she doesn’t answer this time, I’ll get Jensen to work his magic and track her down.
I’m about to hang up on the third call when she answers.
“Hello?”
