Page 31 of Meant to Be
The delivery was quick, one of the perks of having had multiple children. Subsequent births usually went faster. After getting Mrs. Alexander settled, and the pediatric nurses checked the baby, they all left mother and father gushing over their newest addition.
“It’s amazing how no matter how many kids you have, each one seems like a miracle.” Sally, the nurse who’d assisted, walked with her down the hall.
“It is.” Sydney felt a pang of sadness. Although she wasn’t beyond childbearing years, she was just over thirty, with no prospects for marriage or a family.
“I’m heading to the machines for a soda. You want something?”
Sydney shook her head. “No thank you. I’m going to change and go to the clinic.” Sydney headed toward the locker room and was just passing the nurses’ station when a nurse called to her.
“Doctor Preston. Oh, God. Did you hear what just happened to Jenny?”
The nurse grabbed Sydney’s forearms as if she needed the strength to hold her up. Her breathing was quick and shallow, signs of distress that kicked Sydney’s heart rate up as she went on high alert.
“What happened?” Sydney worked to keep her tone even, hoping it would calm the woman.
“She was in the parking lot and someone attacked her.” The nurse began weeping.
“Oh, God.” Bile rose. It was Sydney’s turn to grip the woman’s arms praying her knees wouldn’t buckle. “Is she okay?”
“She’s in emergency, but it doesn’t sound good. The police are there. God, Kevin won’t make it if she dies—”
From somewhere Sydney mustered the words, “She’s young and strong.” It was cliché, but it had to be true.
“Why would someone do that? She never hurt anyone.” The nurse looked at Sydney as if she had an answer.
The problem was, Sydney just might have the answer.
Not againran through her mind like a mantra.
“The police are here.”
The words propelled her into action. She rushed to the elevators. When they didn’t open fast enough, she ran to the stairwell and descended the four flights to the emergency room.
As she ran to the main area, she saw Mitch giving a hug to a weeping Kevin.
Oh, God. No. Not again.
Sydney’s knees buckled. She extended a hand to brace herself against the wall and bent over, trying to catch her breath.
“Are you alright?”
Sydney turned her gaze to a nurse rushing toward her.
“I’m okay. Jenny Taggard. How is she?”
The nurse didn’t respond right away.Of course, she wouldn’t. I’m not family.But apparently determining the scrubs indicated Sydney belonged there, the nurse said, “She’s in surgery.”
Not dead. Sydney straightened. “What happened?”
The nurse’s eyes narrowed, partly in concern and partly in confusion. “She was stabbed out in the parking lot. She was lucky it happened here and someone found her.”
“Prognosis?”
The nurse shook her head. “I’m not sure.”
“Thank you.” Once the nurse left, Sydney turned toward the wall, braced herself with both hands, and willed herself to pull it together. She needed to tell Mitch and Kevin what she knew — how this was all her fault. She shook her head. Jenny and Kevin had everything, and in one moment, it could be gone.
Taking a deep breath, Sydney stood, turned, and made her way up the hall. Kevin sat in a chair, bent forward, with his head in his hands.
