Page 80 of Keeping You

I nod again, feeling better now that I have more information. “Thank you.”

“Of course.”

I leave the nurse’s station and head back to the waiting room. Grayson looks up as I join them, and the pain written all over his face has me nearly buckling at the knees. I sit beside him and immediately take his hand and give it a squeeze.

“He’s conscious, and his EKG and ECG were clear, and his cardiac panel came back good, too. They don’t suspect a heart condition.”

Grayson relaxes back in his chair and runs his free hand over his face. I watch some of the worry fade.

“They told you all that?” he asks.

“I just told them that I’m a nurse in Vancouver and here to see my father-in-law. She looked up his file. Nurses stick together. I knew that we’d both feel better with any information they’d give us, so I needed to try.”

He leans forward and whispers, “Thank you,” across my forehead before pressing his lips there. He holds them there as he wraps his arms around me, and I lean into him, lending him whatever extra strength I can. He pulls his lips away and leans his head on top of mine.

“Randall Maxwell,” the doctor calls, and we all stand at once.

“Yes,” Grayson says.

The doctor holds his hand out for Grayson and they shake. “My name is Dr. Ritter. I’ve been looking after your father since his admittance to the ER. We’ve run all the tests, and he seems to be doing okay for now. I’d like to keep him for twenty-fourhours for observation, and then we’ll release him. He’ll need to make some lifestyle changes, fewer fats, leaner meats, and more exercise. He’s in room 3315. You guys can go visit for a bit before visiting hours end.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” Melanie says and leads us all down the same hallway the doctor walked out of.

When we get to Randy’s room, Melanie pushes open the door and gasps lightly before she rushes to his bedside. He’s in a hospital bed and gown attached to all the normal monitors. He has an IV in his left hand dispensing saline to help keep him hydrated.

Randy looks confused when Grayson and I walk in behind Melanie and Chloe. “Mel, you didn’t have to call them.”

“Yeah, she did, Dad. You had a heart attack,” Grayson says.

Randy waves his free hand in front of him. “I’m fine.”

Grayson grips the rail at the foot of the bed and ducks his head between his shoulders, taking a few deep breaths before he looks back at his dad. “No, Dad, you’re not fine. A heart attack is serious. I’m just glad that I was only an hour and a half away. I’m not sure I could have taken it if we were back in Vancouver. You need to take care of yourself. You’re going to need to change your diet and start exercising. We can’t lose you. I can’t lose you.”

Grayson is using all of his strength to keep it together. I see the way his muscles shake as he grips the rail. His eyes are full of torment. There’s a knock at the door, and a nurse enters with a tray.

“Good evening, Mr. Maxwell. I have your dinner here.” She places the tray on the rolling table and moves it closer to him, removing the cover for him. It’s a stereotypical cardiac care unit meal. Chicken breast, brown rice, and cooked bell peppers and green beans.

“Thank you,” I say before the nurse leaves us.

Grayson’s stomach growls, and I realize it’s been a while since we’ve eaten. I reach into my purse and grab a protein bar and hand it to him. He shakes his head.

I position myself so he has to make eye contact with me. “Please. For me.”

He takes the bar from me and unwraps it and takes a bite. I smile at him and settle at his side, running my fingers through his hair.

“Randy, you’ve got to eat,” I say.

He grumbles but starts to cut his chicken breast.

“We’ll stay with you guys for bit to get Randy settled and work to get a good diet going for him,” I say.

Grayson stares at me.

“Oh, we can’t ask you guys to do that. What about work?” Melanie asks.

“I’ll call the hospital. We’re staying. It’s not up for discussion,” I say.

Melanie wipes at a few tears and gives me a warm smile. “Thank you.”

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