Page 85 of Check the Halls
Aside from my teeth grinding together, the waitingroom is quiet. I’ve been pacing around the room and adjacent hallway since they wheeled Maddy away from me. She looked so small and scared in the hospital bed.
The first thing I did was call Maddy’s mom to let her know what was going on. Darlene’s initial shock was quickly replaced with borderline hysteria. Not that I blame her one bit. I managed to calm her down by repeating the words the doctor had told me.
Routine procedure. Minimal risk. Speedy recovery.
I promised to call her the moment Maddy was out of surgery and I intend to keep that promise. As soon as I hung up, I called Beth. She and Foster were two hours away, on their way to a Humane Society in Pembrooke to pick up the dog they’re rescuing. She immediately told Foster to turn the car around, but I assured her I was fine.
But I’m not fine. Far from it.
Which is why I tried Will next only to get his voicemail. Finally, without hope or expectation, I tried a number I never would have expected to call.
“Hey,” Austin greets me as he walks into the waiting room dressed in a hoodie and joggers a mere fifteen minutes after I got off the phone with him. “Any update?”
“Still in surgery.” My voice comes out rough and far from steady.
“Are you okay?”
No. I am not okay. Maddy is somewhere in this building, open on a table, surrounded by masked men and women, and I’m out here. I feel helpless and useless and so fucking scared.
“Ben?” Austin says, but I barely hear him over the noise in my head.
I can’t make myself speak, so I just shake my head,and the next thing I know, Austin puts his arms around me. Not to wrestle me to the ground or put me in a headlock.
Austin Crawford is hugging me. And, goddammit, I need it.
“She’s going to be alright, man.” He releases me and makes me meet his gaze. I’ve never seen him look so sincere.
“You don’t know that,” I mumble, wiping at my stinging eyes.
“I had the exact same surgery when I was twelve. Bounced right back. They let me go home that day and I recovered in no time at all. Seriously, man. I was better off without it. The useless fucker of an organ was slowing me down. And don’t get me started on the scar. Womenloveit.”
A laugh chokes out of me and I rub a hand roughly across my face. “You’re such an asshole.”
He grins at me. “An asshole who made you feel better.”
I nod. “Yeah. Maybe a little.”
“I’m looking for Madelyn Clairmont.”
My head snaps around to see a man with an expensive-looking haircut in an expensive-looking suit standing at the nurses’ station.
“I’m Derek Boudreau.” He says this like it should mean something to the overworked and underpaid woman in front of him.
I already knew who he was. I recognize him from Maddy’s socials.
The nurse rolls her eyes like she can’t believe there’s another one. “I’m sorry, you aren’t listed as an emergency contact.”
I start towards him, but Austin places a hand on my arm and gives me a look that says, “Think this through.”
Jesus. What is happening here? Austin Crawford is acting as my voice of reason. This must be an alternate universe where nothing makes any sense.
As much as it pains me to admit it, he’s right. If Derek is here, it’s likely because Maddy’s mom called him. And given that he was her fiancé up until a few weeks ago, it makes sense that he’s concerned.
Would Maddy want him here? The thought pains me, but they were together for years. She was going to marry him.
Was. I fight against the strong urge to mark my territory and decide to be the bigger man.
“She’s still in surgery.” I tell him with calmness I definitely don’t feel. He turns to face me slowly, his eyes narrowing as I continue. “It shouldn’t be much longer.”
