Page 108 of Protect My Heart
‘Thank you, but no. I’m fine.’ She smiles, glancing at Mia’s belly, which has grown a lot the past couple months. ‘Let’s go sit down. Get you off your feet.’
Mom takes her over to the chairs in the waiting area while Nick and I stay behind.
‘We talked to the doctor before you got here,’ Nick says. ‘He said it’s angina and that they probably just need to adjust the meds he’s taking.’
‘Angina means he’s not getting blood to the heart. That’s serious.’
‘The doctor said we shouldn’t worry. They’ll run some tests, but the doctor thinks it’s most likely a narrowing of the arteries, not a blockage. Taking the meds and watching his diet should help. He doesn’t think Dad needs surgery.’
‘You see why I don’t want to move away? What if this happened when I was in Boston?’
‘You’d get on the next flight and be here. It’s no different than if something happened to Mia’s parents while you guys were here.’ He checks his phone. ‘Lyndsay just got here. I’m going to go meet her outside.’
I walk over to where Mom and Mia are sitting.
‘Nick went outside to meet up with Lyndsay,’ I say, sitting beside Mia.
‘Mrs. Kanfield?’ A nurse walks up to her. ‘I need you toanswer some questions for the insurance.’
‘Of course.’ Mom gets up and follows the nurse to a room near the waiting area.
‘Nick said Dad’s probably okay,’ I tell Mia. ‘They’ll just need to adjust his meds.’
Mia reaches over and holds my hand. Just that small gesture makes me feel better. It’s good she came. I like having her here. The more time I spend with her, and the more things we go through together, the more I realize how much I need her in my life. How much we need each other.
Mia’s phone rings. ‘It’s my mom. I’ll go outside. I don’t think I’m supposed to use my phone in here.’ She answers the call as she hurries to the door. ‘Hey, Mom.’ She stops. ‘He what? Wait, slow down.’ She continues out the door.
She sounded worried. Something must’ve happened. I get up and follow her outside.
‘Mom, are you sure?’ Mia’s hand is resting on her stomach and I notice she has tears in her eyes.
I come up beside her and put my arm around her. ‘What’s wrong?’
She holds her hand up, signaling me to be quiet so she can hear. ‘Mom, don’t worry about me. I’m not too pregnant to fly. I could be out there tomorrow.’ She nods. ‘Okay, I’ll let you know.’ She ends the call.
‘What happened?’ I ask, moving in front of her.
‘Dad fell down the stairs. He’s in the hospital. He broke his arm and maybe a rib. They’re not sure yet. They’re still running tests.’
‘Is he going to be okay?’
‘My mom said he probably will, but at his age, it’ll take him a long time to recover.’ Mia looks up at me. ‘I’m going to go out there and stay with them. For as long as they need me. I know I promised you the summer, but I need to do this, Jason. I’m sorry.’
‘Mia, you don’t have to apologize. You’re going.’ I hold her hands. ‘We’re both going.’
‘But you can’t. You have baseball camp and your dad and—’
‘And you. We’re a couple. I go where you go. And while we’re there, we’ll look at some apartments.’
‘Does that mean .?.?.’ She waits for me to tell her.
‘Do you really think I’d let you move out there alone?’
‘Jason, this whole time you’ve resisted the idea of moving. You wouldn’t even talk about it.’
‘Because I was thinking of myself and what I wanted. But it’s not just me anymore. I have to think of all of us. You. Me. Our baby. Your parents. We’re all a family now.’
‘But what about your family here? And your job?’
