Page 19 of Shimmering Emeralds
Meg reached up to accept the cell phone Dani was holding out to her. Putting her hand over her mouth as she stared at the screen, she said, “Oh, she’s so tiny.”
Turning concerned eyes up to her friend, Meg asked, “Is she strong enough to survive?”
I doubted there was any way Dani could know that, despite her shiny, new medical degree. It was impossible not to be impressed by her caring bedside manner, though, when she gave her friend a confident look and said, “Babies are often tougher than they look, and this one comes from great stock.”
Dani didn’t make any empty promises she couldn’t keep, yet she still managed to reassure Meg enough that the concerned expression on her face over her niece’s fragility eased a bit.
The line between Meg’s brows returned and furrowed a bit deeper as she asked, “Have you heard anything about Claire?”
Dani nodded before reassuring her, “Your sister came out of the surgery just fine and is now in recovery. Alex and your mother are both by her side. My mother and Claire’s obstetrician are checking on her regularly. She and the baby are in good hands upstairs.”
Meg’s worry-filled expression eased a bit, but she still looked concerned, so Dani added, “There’s nothing you can do up there. You are right where you should be.”
When Dani reached past me to grab Meg’s hand, I stood to offer the young doctor my chair. She accepted it without acknowledging me or the polite gesture.
The two women sat holding hands and staring at the fragile-looking child in the hospital bed. I wanted to something––anything––to help, but I didn’t know what to offer. Finally, I said, “Can I run down and get you two some food or a drink?”
Meg immediately shook her head. “No, my stomach is too upset to handle anything right now.”
It had been too long since Meg had eaten anything, but I didn’t want to argue with her. Dani glanced in my direction. Concern was etched on her face as we shared a silent conversation. Neither of us said a word, but I nodded my understanding and agreement that we needed to get Meg to eat something before she passed out from sheer exhaustion and overwhelming stress.
I hovered, uncertain what to do with my hands as the women sat together.
When Dani mentioned that she felt like she needed to be four places at once and listed them out, I jumped at the opportunity to help.
“I’m not the right person to check on your dad or Dean’s new baby, and I’m probably not welcome upstairs with Meg’s family, but I’d be happy to go take care of your dog for you.”
Dani blinked in surprise over my offer. It was obvious that she wanted to accept it, but was uncertain about doing so. “Mmm. I don’t know. Bruiser doesn’t usually like other males––especially not strangers. So, he might become aggressive with you.”
Bruiser sounded like the name of a dog that I would be wise to stay on his good side. Although I was concerned about having my head bit off by a big, angry canine, I was clearly not needed here, and I wanted to do something to help.
“I’m sure it will be fine,” I said with a great deal more confidence in my tone than I felt.
Dani gave me a long, wary look before finally reaching into her purse for her keys. “I’m staying in the apartment above Mimi’s Diner.”
I held out my hand to accept the keys. My gulp of concern was much louder than I would have hoped when Dani warned me in a stern voice, “If he attacks, don’t run.”
Pretending to be calm as I headed out the door I said, “Right. Stand there and let Bruiser maul me. Got it.”
17
Meg
As soon as Levi quietly closed the hospital room’s door behind him, I turned to glare at Dani. “I can’t believe you sent him to deal with Bruiser all by himself.”
“Oh, he’ll be fine,” Dani said confidently, unable to keep the almost-gleeful, anticipatory smile off her face.
We were distracted from our conversation when a no-nonsense nurse hurried in to check on Harper. Dani asked her several questions, and I tried to focus on their conversation, but it felt as if they were speaking a foreign language. I simply couldn’t follow along, despite my best efforts.
The nurse made a few notations and left as quickly as she had arrived. I turned a questioning gaze to Dani, hoping she would translate what they’d been discussing into non-medical jargon.
She dashed my hopes that there might be some bit of good news to latch onto when she shook her head saying simply, “No change.”
That, I could understand––even though I didn’t want to.
The two of us sat in silence for what seemed like an eternity. I knew that Dani had other loved ones she should be checking in on, but I couldn’t bring myself to suggest it. I didn’t want to be here all alone, staring at my comatose daughter and praying for a miracle.
When the door opened the next time, it was Levi who sauntered in to rejoin us. I didn’t want to admit, even to myself, how relieved I was that he had returned rather than going home.
