Page 50 of Until Waverly

“Tell me about it,” Jackson said, rolling his eyes before sitting at the already too small table. “I’ve had time to think about all this. I can’t say I wouldn’t have done the same.”

Cobi nodded. “All of us would, especially if it was our wives and kids. However, the father broke the law. He held an entire floor in a hospital hostage because he was in shock, angry, and grief-stricken.”

“He wanted was his son,” I said. “Every time we asked him to sit. Or to go to the NICU, he said, let me see my son. Let me see my wife.” I shook my head. “His wife, by then, was in the morgue. How do you say that to someone who just lost his entire world?”

Jackson audibly swallowed. “I couldn’t do it.”

“Nor could I,” Franks murmured. “However, I also wouldn’t have allowed the irrational side to take over.”

“He wasn’t in the right frame of mind,” I replied. “He hadn’t been. It wasn’t his fault he was escorted to the wrong department. Whoever brought him up should have known to take him to the NICU. They’re two floors above us.”

“Do you remember who it was?” Cobi pressed.

“No,” I said. “I’d been doing rounds with Joyce. We were checking on two of our slow movers.”

“We need the name of the person who conveyed him to the L&D floor.” He waved off the statement. “We’ll figure it out from the hospital later. Can you tell me how he acted before the takedown?”

I sank into my chair, my appetite gone. He’d been crazed. Beyond panicked. He was angry—rightfully. Agitated. He wouldn’t listen to anything we said to him. Wouldn’t even try. He’d been so sure his son was with us, and nothing we said to the contrary penetrated his consciousness. “How would you act? He was scared, worried, panicked—beyond so. Angry we wouldn’t just show him the baby. All he wanted was his wife. His life was being torn apart. I’ve wondered what would’ve happened if one of us had gone to the NICU, snapped a few pictures and brought them back, how he’d have reacted.”

“Why didn’t anyone do that?” Cobi continued to write on his small notepad.

“We were shut down,” I said. “Access to the elevators was cut off. The doors were all locked, so we couldn’t even use the stairs. I don’t even think anyone thought about using our phones to text the photos. We were all more concerned about keeping our patients comfortable. We had one doula and one resident doctor on our floor for six mothers. Dr. Hahn never came back after being attacked.”

Jackson took my hand. I didn’t want his warmth or comfort, yet I took it, needing it more than I realized. Reliving those hours upon hours locked in with the distraught father twisted me up. I hated it for the father. Playing over those moments with Cobi, I wished there’d been something we could have done to help the father while I’d also feared what could happen next. Wondering if Alandria would ever see me again or if I could ever apologize to Jackson for being so stupid about never telling him about Alandria.

I should just do it now.

Rip the bandage off.

“When the phone call from Detective St. James came in, what happened next?” Franks asked, placing his mug on the table.

Too late.

“He became more agitated,” I said. “He hit my hand with the receiver because Detective St. James wasn’t doing what he asked. He said he had a gun, though I didn’t believe he’d ever use it, but…” I shrugged. “He was too far gone by then.”

“Do you remember how long the conversation between the two lasted?” Franks pressed, keeping his tone soft and approachable.

“Minutes, maybe? It felt like hours. They argued—” I held up my hand “—sorry, he argued with Detective St. James. Demanded his son several times, even though we’d told him where to go, then it’s all a blur.”

“Your doctor filled in what happened next, along with Joyce. You gave all of them a scare, girl,” Cobi said. “They thought you were going to stroke out on them.”

I closed my eyes, feeling the sting of tears behind my nose and at the corners of my eyes. I didn’t remember any of that. Embarrassment and a sense of failing everyone crept in, fisting my chest. “I’m sorry.”

“You don’t have to apologize, sunshine.” Jackson squeezed my hand, his warmth seeping in, pushing away the cold. “None of us can even understand the stress you were under.”

“Dr. Jay said that was a one in a billion break in your leg. Couldn’t do it again if you tried. The concussion, happenstance.” Cobi nodded. “Is there anything else you can think of?”

I shook my head. “No. Other than I can’t imagine what he was going through. I hope he gets some help and his son grows to be a happy and hale baby.”

“Thanks for your time, Waverly,” Cobi said. “We’ll be in touch if we have anything else for you.” He tapped his notepad with his pen. “Just know you’ll be required to testify in his trial.”

My heart sank. “I understand. I’ll be ready.”

Chapter17

Waverly

Four weeks later…

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