Page 65 of My Heart to Keep
She’s all mine. So don’t get any ideas.“The best.”
Silence filled the ten-by-ten room, which had stark white walls, two posters of medical information, and a TV hanging from the ceiling in the corner, which was as dead as the eerie quietness.
“The doctor should be in anytime,” Mrs. Thompson said. “What’s taking so long? Surgery should’ve been done by now.”
I wasn’t knowledgeable on how long open-heart surgery took, but it had to be hours.
Just then, a short man in scrubs came in, taking off his cap. His expression was blank.
Mrs. Thompson and Quinn jumped up at the same time.
“Dr. Fleming,” Mrs. Thompson rushed out. “Is my husband okay?”
Quinn held her mom’s hand. Both of them were tense and breathing heavily.
I said a silent prayer.
“Your husband is out of surgery. Initially when we spoke, I thought he had two blocked arteries, but we found a third. We had to do a triple bypass. He’s in ICU. He should be awake shortly.”
“So he’s going to be okay?” Quinn’s voice cracked.
Dr. Fleming gave her a warm smile. “We’ll see how he does within the next twenty-four hours.”
Of course doctors couldn’t or wouldn’t say for sure if a patient would be okay.
“When can we see him?” Mrs. Thompson asked.
“I’ll have a nurse come to get you in about an hour. Your husband was very lucky to have someone who knew CPR.”
Quinn looked over her shoulder at Trevor and smiled through an ocean of tears. “Trevor saved him.”
Dr. Fleming nodded his head of dark hair at Trevor. “Well done, son.” Then he left.
Quinn returned but not to sit next to me. She commandeered the chair on the other side of Trevor and grabbed his hand. “I owe you so much.”
He draped his arm around her. “I’m glad I was there.”
My stomach felt like it dropped off a cliff. I didn’t know if the jealousy coursing through me was blinding me or if what I was truly witnessing was real. But I got the crazy impression that Quinn was falling for the dude.
Darkness spilled in through the window in Daddy’s hospital room. He’d been in and out of consciousness with the pain meds he was on. Carter was sitting on the floor with his legs kicked out and his head resting against the wall. Momma was sitting in a chair butted up to Daddy’s bed. Liam hadn’t arrived yet. His flight was delayed.
I’d chewed every one of my nails off since Daddy had been rushed to the hospital, and I’d shed enough tears to last a lifetime. My stomach had a boulder in it, and I still smelled like the pigpen. But I didn’t care. I wasn’t leaving until I could talk to Daddy and see him at least smile.
I didn’t know what we were going to do with the farm.
As if Carter were in my head, he said, “I’m going to head home and feed the animals.”
We had no one to help us except Trevor. I had yet to ask him how he knew CPR, but it didn’t really matter. I was just thankful he’d been there. I’d been a deer in the headlights, and if it weren’t for him, Daddy would be dead.
I popped up off the chair on the other side of Daddy’s bed. “Do you want me to go with?” I wanted to stay, but the farm was too much work for one person.
Carter held up a hand. “Stay with Mom. I can handle it.”
“Call Maiken and Trevor. I’ll give you their numbers. They can help.” Maiken had been a godsend in taking care of the horses that morning. I wasn’t sure if Trevor knew what to do since he’d barely started working at the farm.
“Son,” Momma said, sounding like she was losing her voice. “Please put a sign up on the farm store window, letting our customers know we’ll be closed for a few days.”
Carter kissed Momma on the head. “I will. I got this, Mom. Just take care of Dad.” Carter headed for the door.
