Page 108 of Meant to Be
“If he dies, Patrick…”
Patrick put his arm around her. “You’re getting ahead of yourself. I’ve called his family and they should be here any moment.”
“You called? God, I should have done that.”
“It was the least I could do. Julia has been arrested and will be given a psychiatric evaluation within the next few days.”
“How could she do this?”
He shook his head, leaned forward, and rested it between his hands. “I didn’t see it either, Sydney. I just didn’t see it.”
Sydney pressed a hand on his back.
“Maybe if I’d told her sooner about me…”
“What about you?”
He turned his head to look at her. “I’ve been seeing someone. Not for long, but I care about her. I hadn’t told Julia because you know how she is…” He paused. “The fact that I say that suggests there were signs and I ignored them.”
Sydney rubbed his back. “I’m glad you’re seeing someone.”
“What can I do for you? Do you want me to call your parents?” He straightened and scrubbed his hands down his face as if the gesture could rid the guilt and horror. She’d already tried that and knew it didn’t work.
“I don’t want to deal with them now. They’ll find out soon enough.”
“Are you sure? What else can I do?”
“Nothing, unless you can turn back time.” For a moment, she thought about what her life would have been if she’d ignored her parents and married Mitch when he returned from boot camp. But going there was simply an exercise in torment. That was the thing about life. One couldn’t ever really know what might have been. She only had now. And now she was in more pain than when she’d been stabbed.
“I’ll sit with you until his family arrives.”
“Thank you.”
When Mitch’s parents arrived, along with Lexie and Drake, there still wasn’t news about Mitch’s condition. He’d lost a lot of blood. The possibility the bullet had hit a vital organ was strong. But they prayed the doctors could fix him.You’re broken.Oh, God.
His family sat in the same waiting room, but Sydney had no right to join them. Mitch was fighting for his life because of her. So she stayed on her side with Patrick, until he left in the early hours of the next morning.
When the doctor came in and told them Mitch would survive, Sydney nearly fell to her knees. His parents were allowed to see him, but not her. She understood. She wasn’t family. Still, she held vigil. When he could see guests beyond his family, she’d be there.
“Doctor Preston?”
She looked up at Drake. “Under the circumstances, you should call me Sydney.”
“You’re exhausted. Let Lexie and me take you home.”
Sydney shook her head. “No. I can’t go until I see him.”
Drake sat next to her. “It will be a while. Besides, you look terrible. It won’t do him good to see you like this.”
“What do you mean a while?”
Drake took her hands. “His parents are worried… because of the situation… you might put him in danger.”
“But Julia has been arrested.” Her words didn’t have much oomph behind them. In reality, she was too tired to fight and couldn’t blame them. She’d brought nothing but pain and violence to Charlotte Tavern.
Mitch’s parents entered the room. His mother was crying, but her softened expression suggested they were tears of relief. “He said, ‘Mom.’”
“And then he was out like a light. He always was a deep sleeper.” Mitch’s father had his arm around his wife and pulled her closer. It made Sydney think about what Mitch had told her about his parents’ love that first night in his home.
