Page 22 of Counter Attack

“That’s good, isn’t it?” Judith said.

“Yes, but your husband had a heart attack prior to arriving at the hospital. He sustained damage to his heart muscle.”

“Will he be all right?” Alexis asked.

“Barring complications, he’ll live, but we won’t know how much damage occurred for a day or two.” He turned to Judith. “Has he exhibited any signs he was having heart problems, like chest pain, shortness of breath, or being more tired than usual?”

“Only the last one,” Judith said. “But when I asked him to make an appointment with you, he said he was fine.”

“No surprise there,” the doctor said with a chuckle.

“When can we see him?” Alexis asked.

“You can go in now, but don’t stay over five minutes. He’s very tired, drifting in and out of sleep.”

Memories of his father hit Nathan. Much like Carson, Paul Landry had loved Pete’s burgers, been overweight, and never exercised. In Nathan’s last memories of him, he was hooked to wires and tubes after bypass surgery. Surgery he didn’t recover from.

Surgery Nathan talked him into having.

“I’ll stay here.” He didn’t want images of Carson hooked to equipment embedded in his mind.

“No,” Judith said. “You’re like a grandson to us both, and he’ll want to see you.”

There wasn’t much way to say no to that. The Stones were the grandparents he’d never had, and Nathan couldn’t disappoint them. He brought up the rear as they followed the doctor through the ICU doors.

The antiseptic smell was stronger in the ICU than the waiting room, and there was no beautiful scenery to distract him. Only critically ill patients.Please, Lord, don’t let Carson die today.

The doctor paused at Carson’s room.

“I have other patients to see, but don’t stay over five minutes,” Dr. Holley cautioned once again.

Judith pushed the door open, and Alexis followed her into the room. Nathan reluctantly walked in behind them. A monitor beeped a steady rhythm, not like the erratic beat he remembered with his dad.

“Carson,” Judith said, taking her husband’s hand. “Are you awake?”

“Of course I’m awake. Raise me up so I can see.”

Nathan relaxed slightly at the sheriff’s crusty tone. Maybe he was okay. He ventured a glance toward the older man. No tubes. Just the IV and oxygen.

Judith searched for the button to elevate the head of the bed, and Nathan stopped her. “He’s just had a stent, and they may want him to lay flat.”

“Ignore him,” Carson growled.

“I don’t know what I was thinking.” She turned to her husband. “We’re only allowed in here for five minutes, so let’s not use it arguing.”

“I know Nathan’s here, but is Alexis?”

Alexis stepped up to the bed and squeezed his hand. “You need to behave.”

“That’ll be the day,” Judith muttered.

“Since we don’t have but a minute, I need you to do something.”

“Anything, Gramps.”

“Good. Remember that, ’cause you’re not going to like it.” He closed his eyes briefly.

Alexis turned toward Nathan, her eyes questioning, and he nodded. “Maybe we better come back later,” Nathan said.

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