Page 42 of Silver Fake

“We need to get her to the hospital,” one of the paramedics says to Bill.

“Of course,” he says. He looks at John. “I’m riding with her.”

“Yeah,” John nods. “I’ll be right behind you.”

Bill and the paramedics rush Nancy out of the ballroom to get her to the hospital. I feel torn.

I want to go to the hospital with John, but I’m not sure what he expects. Something is wrong with Nancy, and I want to be there for him because I can see he’s very worried, but I’m not sure if I should invite myself to go with him to the hospital. Moments ago, he looked so happy, more than happy, and now all the color is drained from his face.

He takes off after the paramedics, and I am trying to keep up. We make it out to the parking lot, and he turns around suddenly, giving me an apologetic look.

“I’ve got to go to the hospital to be with her. I need to make sure she’s going to be okay.”

“Of course.” I reach out, wanting to comfort him. “If you want me to come.”

“No.” He cuts me off. “I mean, it should probably just be family. I don’t want the doctors distracted by lots of people.”

“Yeah. Sure,” I say, trying not to let him see how hurt I am that he doesn’t want me to go. Fake relationship or not, I care about Nancy and want to be there for her as much as I do for him, but it’s not my place to push the issue.

“I’ll call when I can,” he says. He comes back over to me and gives me a kiss on my cheek. “I’ve got to go.”

I wrap my arms around myself and watch as he gets in his car and drives away. Tears begin to run down my face, but I don’t have the energy to bother wiping them away.

“Hey.” Denise puts her hand on my shoulder, and I turn around to face her. “I was going to ask if you’re okay, but I can see you’re not.”

She puts her arm around my shoulder and pulls me close. I rest my head on her shoulder.

“He didn’t want me to go,” I say, and my voice sounds so small I barely recognize myself.

“Oh, honey.” She rubs her hand up and down my arm.

“I don’t even know why I’m crying. I knew this was all fake. It was always supposed to end tonight. I shouldn’t be surprised. Of course, he wouldn’t want his fake girlfriend at the hospital for something so personal to his family.”

“Come on,” she says. “Let’s get your stuff and get out of here. I’ve got a tub of mint ice cream with our names on it.”

“You know I love you, right?”

She laughs. “I know. I love you too, girl. Now, come on. Let’s go home.”

CHAPTER14

John

I sitin the waiting room of Barton Beach General Hospital, staring at the beige walls that surround me.

My Dad and I have been waiting for what feels like hours, and I can feel the exhaustion starting to set in.

This night has turned into such a disaster.

One minute, I was twirling Lisa around the dance floor, lost in the rhythm of our favorite song, as I kissed her. The next minute, I see my Mom in a crumpled heap on the ground.

At this point, I don't know what to think. Even in her seventies, my Mom has always been the picture of health. And it's hard to reconcile that image with her lying in a hospital bed.

I keep telling myself it's probably nothing, just like when she had that scare with the flu a couple of years ago. I try to distract myself from the weight of the situation by taking in my surroundings.

The waiting room is surprisingly spacious, with several rows of cushioned chairs lined up neatly against the walls. A muted television plays in the background, flashing news reports and commercials in rapid succession. A tiny tray of coffee cups and sugar packets sits on a table in the corner, and the faint aroma of stale coffee fills the room.

My Dad is sitting next hunched over next to me, staring at his hands as he rubs them together. Occasionally, he glances over at me with a worried expression, his eyes full of fear and uncertainty.

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