Page 58 of My Merry Mistake
“Did he even ask what was wrong with her?” Poppy asks.
Eloise shakes her head. “He sounded very . . . busy.”
I huff out a breath, irritated. I already don’t like this guy.
“I mean, theyarenew, I guess?” Poppy says, like she’s trying to give the guy the benefit of the doubt, but seriously, the guy should at least want to make sure she’s okay.
The doors to the hallway open and a nurse in blue scrubs walks toward us.
We all stand—and I’m not sure how I’ll react if the news is?—
“Are you here for Raya Hart?” he asks.
Mrs. Hart signs the question, then continues signing as she says, “Yes, we are.”
“She asked me to come out and give you an update,” he says. “I’m Matt.” As if sensing the question hanging in the air, he holds up a hand. “It wasn’t a stroke.”
I exhale—we all do—as a huge weight seems to be lifted out of the room.
“So what—she’s faking it?” Eloise cracks, and Poppy hits her on the arm.
“I’m guessing you’re Eloise,” Matt says. “Raya told me not to listen to anything you say.”
Eloise’s laugh sounds accidental, and it makes the rest of us laugh too. Relieved laughter, tinged with gratitude, ripples through the room.
I immediately like this nurse. He’s diffused the tension and made the whole family—and me—feel better in three sentences.
“So what was it?” Raya’s mom asks. “If it wasn’t a stroke?”
“Hemiplegic migraine,” he says, as Poppy signs. “It’s a big word that means a really,reallybad headache.”
“Oh, thank the Lord,” Raya’s mom says softly.
“Good news is that she’ll be totally fine. Hemiplegic migraines caused her exact symptoms: numbness, tingling,clouded vision, and it is often mistaken for a stroke, but it’s not.” He scans our small circle. “We’ve got a few more things to check on, but you should be able to head back and see her pretty soon. She’s in great hands, and she’s going to be just fine.”
Mr. Hart stands and holds out a hand, face stoic. Matt takes it in a firm handshake. They nod at each other—a silent, respectful thank-you—then he says, “We’ll see you in a bit,” and turns to leave.
Raya’s parents sit back down, and there’s a moment where we all just look at each other. Then her dad smiles in relief as the sisters hug, and her parents hold hands.
I feel like I shouldn’t be here. The moment is private, and I’m not family. But I don’t want to go—not yet.
Eloise pulls back from the four-way hug and frowns at me. “Wait a second.” She cocks her head to the side, slowly, like she’s shifting gears. “What were you doing in her office? Please tell me you’ve proven yourself and are now having an illicit affair.”
“Eloise!” Poppy pushes her. “Time and place!”
“What?” Eloise pushes her back, playfully. “Raya could use a little shake-up.” She shoots me a look. “And we’re pulling for you.”
I shake my head. “Sorry to disappoint you, but no. No illicit affair.”
Eloise pouts, but their dad gives me a firm nod, like I’ve passed some sort of test I didn’t know I was taking. If he knew how much I think about his daughter, he might not feel that way.
I lean forward. “I did bring her chocolate, though.” I say this quietly, because I don’t want my humiliation broadcast to the entire hospital, but Eloise lets out a sound that can only be described as a squeal.
“You did?”
“The dark chocolate ones, like I told you?” Poppy says, leaning in.
I nod. “She didn’t get to eat them, though. All this happened before she could.”
