Page 87 of Embers in the Dark

“I left you alone at the table for two minutes and you couldn’t even handle a simple meal on your own,” she teases.

“What can I say? I’m lost without you.” He blinks in her direction, and she pushes his shoulder in a playful manner.

I really do love them together. Eric was the biggest player in high school. He was the star lacrosse player, and had a new girlfriend practically every week. I never thought he’d settle down and he took his time, but Brittany seems like a great fit for him. They compliment each other pretty well.

“The best part was seeing he consumed the entire appetizer plate of them by the time I returned.” She laughs.

“I was starving.” He throws his arms up.

“Eric, I was gone for half a second. Really, stop being dramatic.”

“We’d been busy that day.” He emphasizes with his eyes doubling in size. With the way her cheeks redden, I can fill in the blanks.

“Okay you two, we can stop there with the story time from the honeymoon, thank you. Younger brother ears here.” Tucker covers his ears.

“Yes, your innocent ears are so delicate and all.” Eric rolls his eyes.

“Exactly. He is oh so innocent and all,” I say as I scoff.

“I really am. Baylee is such a bad influence,” Tucker says, popping a tater tot into his mouth.

“I’m sure.” Eric narrows his eyes.

“So, Baylee, how’s the new school?” Brittany changes the subject before the conversation gets awkward and I’m the one with the reddened cheeks.

“It’s good. I really love the program. I’m hoping to get a job soon though,” I add. Now that Myles is no longer a threat, I feel comfortable getting a job again.

“Oh yeah? That sounds great. Somewhere specific?” Eric asks me.

“I mean, ideally a paid internship would be nice at a physical therapist’s office or something. That would be a dream.” I smile. “But I think starting with a coffee shop or something along those lines would be a good for now, then this summer going back to interning in my line of work would be ideal.”

“How exciting,” Brittany says.

I look over at Tucker and he simply smiles at me. Brittany and Eric start chatting about something together and he leans over to whisper to me.

“You know you don’t have to work if you don’t want to right now. You can focus on school if you need to,” he tells me.

“I appreciate that, but I think it might be good for me. I’m used to working a few hours a week. I always save up a little for myself too.” I reach over and kiss his cheek.

“Just know the offer stands if you change your mind, Firefly.” He winks.

“Sorry to break things up, but maybe we should headback up to the floor. They said after eight would be a good time for us to return,” Eric says, looking at his phone.

We gather our trash, and grab the extra snacks we got to take to the room.

Taking this time downstairs gave us the energy we were longing for after hours of sitting in Carolyn’s room, watching her lying there in the same state with no change. It’s been draining seeing her so weak all day. My heart hurts for her, in addition to seeing the pain in the eyes of both Tucker and Eric throughout the day. I was hopeful as the hours passed, but when I saw she made no change, it felt as if a piece of me kept breaking seeing that she wouldn’t improve. It’s encouraging that she hasn’t gotten worse though.

The intensive care unit is situated in its own dedicated wing. We arrive on the floor from the elevators, move through the double doors, where security scans our guest passes and the nurses’ station is straight ahead. The minute we walk in, we can tell something is immensely wrong.

It’s as if things are moving in slow-motion. I look over and see the doctors, respiratory therapists and nurses rushing into Carolyn’s room. I stand there, motionless, unable to understand what’s happening.

I have no clue how much time passes before someone comes to speak to us, but it feels like all the air is pulled from my lungs before I finally take a full breath. I brace myself, prepared to hear she’s gone. My eyes are full of tears, and I reach for Tucker’s hand, not even pretending that my own hands aren’t shaking.

“Are you Carolyn Malloy’s sons?” the charge nurse comes up to us to speak to us.

“Yes, we are.” Both Eric and Tucker stand up straighter. I still see commotion in the room, what looks to be a doctor is still inside with nurses and other medical personnel, so I have to assume she’s still alive, right?

“Your mother’s heart stopped and we called a 'code blue’right before you entered the unit,” she begins, “that’s why you saw all of us running around. We were able to stabilize her, but she’s currently intubated.”

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