Page 89 of Lies and Lullabies
“Really?” I asked Ethan after he disconnected his call. “You didn’t want to give it more time?”
“You. Go to Boston. Get the twelve thirty flight, bud. Before the storm shuts down the airport. I’m calling you a car.”
“There’s a twelve thirty flight?”
Ethan didn’t answer. He was already on the phone again.
I jumped out of my chair and went to throw a few things into a carryon bag.
Twenty-Three
Kira
Pacing the surgical waiting room was my new hobby. After several more laps, the clock revealed that only two minutes had passed.
I was going to make myself crazy before Adam’s surgery was over, but I didn’t have the first idea how to calm down.
For a change of pace, I powered up my phone and decided to worry about Vivi for a few minutes. I ducked into the linoleum hallway to make a call.
Eight missed calls,complained my phone. And every one of them was from Jonas.
Ignoring those, I pulled up my friend’s number and dialed.
“Hi Kira,” Kathy answered. “The girls are doing great together.”
“That’s good to hear. Should I say hello to her, or just let them carry on?”
“Vivi is too busy to miss you right now.”
“I’m sure you’re right.”
“Any news on Adam?”
“Not a word yet. But thanks for asking.”
“Hang in there,” Kathy urged. “It’s all going to be fine.”
“I can’t thank you enough for taking Vivi today.”
“Stop saying that! It’s nothing. Now go be there for Adam.”
“Thanks. I will.”
I disconnected the call, just as a text message popped up.Sweetness. Please call me. I’m getting really worried.
Oh boy. Making Jonas worry had never been the point.We are fine, I tapped out.Just need some time.
His response was immediate.Where are you?
I didn’t really want to get into it. But maybe if I gave him a clue about what kind of a week I was having, he’d leave me alone.I’m at Mass General,I typed.That sounded dire, so I added:Adam is having a small surgical procedure today. Sorry, can’t talk now.
I sent the message, then went back to pacing the waiting room. Adam’s surgery wasn’t supposed to last very long, but they’d taken him into the OR forty minutes ago already. I shouldn’t have had that third cup of coffee. Big mistake. My stomach behaved as if it meant to climb up my esophagus and eject.
A doctor came through the double doors leading to the operating rooms, and every head swiveled in his direction. “Barnaby?” he called.
The Barnabys, lucky souls, jumped out of their chairs and went to consult with him. I walked over to the window for the fiftieth time and looked out. It was still the same view of the dumpsters, with a narrow slice of a congested roadway in the distance.
Sigh.
