Page 110 of The Grumpy Boss Agreement

“My Dad said that Charlie is having trouble breathing.” Cole grabs me by the arm and sprints to his car. “They’re taking him to Sisters of Mercy here in South Shore.” He looks faintly panicked.

“Sisters of Mercy will treat Charlie very well,” I try to soothe as we get into the car.

“Sisters of Mercy is not a very nice hospital. But… I don’t seem to have much of a choice.”

. “I don’t need you to tell me what my closest hospital is like. It takes care of South Shore families just fine and it’s run on South Shore taxes.”

Cole purses his lips. “Can we put this conversation on ice until I see my kid?”

“No need. I’m just saying that I live in this town. I don’t need someone that was raised in the Cape to tell me that my local hospital is subpar.”

“Okay, okay. I’m sorry. I’m just worried.”

He didn’t need to say that. He’s driving twenty miles over the speed limit as it is. I put my hand on his arm and give him a tense smile.

“Charlie’s going to be fine.”

Cole is silent as he pulls into the small hospital parking lot. The hospital itself is a white building approximately the size of a big box home improvement store. As we head inside, I make sure to follow Cole closely.

Cole rushes over to the reception desk.

“I got a call about my son Charlie Bennett.”

The receptionist looks at us both. “Can I see some ID?”

We both hand over our identification as I text my father, letting him know that I’m here.

“Cole!” Mr. Bennett pops his head out of a set of swinging doors. “He’s okay. He’s being seen in here.”

Cole grabs my arm and moves to the door. I can see his dad narrow his eyes as he looks between us. But he simply steps back and waves us through the doors. As I pass Mr. Bennett, he touches my shoulder.

“Nice to see you again, Savannah.”

I smile. “You too. Wish it was under better circumstances.”

There are four small examination areas here, each separated with green curtains. Mr. Bennett takes us to the second area, and pulls back the curtains to reveal Charlie lying on a gurney.

Cole gasps. “Jesus.”

Charlie’s mouth and eyes are swollen almost shut, and his face is an alarming shade of reddish pink. His breathing sounds ragged and harsh, and he is attached to some sensors. I suppose that they are to monitor his heart rate and breathing.

Cole lets go of my hand and flies over to his son. He sits down and brushes back Charlie’s matted bangs. Charlie opens his eyes, though they are still so puffy that they are narrowed into slits. “Daddy?”

“Hey kiddo. How are you feeling? Are you okay?”

Charlie shakes his head and closes his eyes.

“I had trouble breathing,” he croaks. “They gave me some bad-tasting medicine but now I’m having trouble… um… keeping my eyes open.”

“Oh, buddy.” Cole’s voice is tense with emotion. He pulls up the blankets around Charlie’s little body. “Close your eyes. We are going to stay and watch over you, okay? We’ll be right here when you wake up.”

“Promise?” Charlie whispers.

Cole kisses his knuckles. “I swear.”

Charlie turns his head. He is out like a light in the next few seconds.

Sarah sits up and gently releases her grip from Charlie’s hand. She stands and folds her arms, shaking her head. “That was the scariest hour of my life. Lord alive.”

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