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The doctor nodded. “So shortness of breath wasn’t anything new for her?”
I shook my head. “Unfortunately, no. I didn’t even think to ask her this week how she was feeling. Not that she would’ve told me anyway. My mother was a proud person. She didn’t like to burden anyone with her problems.”
The doctor nodded.
“What I’m thinking is that she got a blood clot, likely in her leg, due to her not walking. That probably stemmed from the surgery she had, and likely today just broke loose as she moved,” the doctor explained.
I closed my eyes as the reasons why started to wash over me.
She’d had the surgery because I’d encouraged her to do it.
It was my fault.
She died because of me.
“But, saying that, from what you’ve told me, she was already frighteningly sedentary in the first place, so this could all just be a large coincidence. We just won’t know until or if you want to do an autopsy,” she said.
I looked up at her, unsure when I’d taken my gaze away.
“Do you suggest having the autopsy?” I asked.
She shrugged. “Honestly? It’s not a necessity. Knowing the exact why of it won’t change anything.” She shrugged. “On the death certificate, her cause of death will officially be listed as a heart attack.”
I rubbed my hands over my face and thought about what in the hell I was going to do. How I was going to get through this.
“I’ll ask my dad if he wants one,” I said. “But honestly, I don’t see why I would need to have one done. It’s not like it was a complication from her surgery, which would be the only reason why I would think we’d need one. It’s been too long.”
The doctor nodded her head in agreement.
“The funeral home that you’re going to use for her…do they need to be called to come get Mrs. Hooch?” Castiel asked.
I hadn’t thought about that, but hell, I probably should have.
That was when Pru, who I hadn’t realized had come back, spoke up. “Usually we wait until about seven in the morning to make the calls to the funeral homes. Since it’s just now four in the morning, we should probably give them a bit more time.”
I thought about that courtesy.
That was a considerate thing for the hospital to do.
But, since I worked at said funeral home, I could probably make it happen faster if I’d wanted.
But there was no reason in the world to wake up Sid, the man who did all the pickups, this early in the morning. Pru was right, nothing would be solved right now.
“Is my dad finished?” I whispered.
“He’s still in there. He asked to be alone,” she murmured.
I cursed and stood up, knowing that I couldn’t leave him in there by himself.
“Are we…are we done here?” I asked. “Is there any reason that we need to stay?”
Both the doctor and Pru shook their heads.
“No,” Pru answered. “If you’ll give us the name of the funeral home…” She smacked her forehead. “Oh. I guess I know which one you’d like to use. In that case, no. We’re all done. We’ll call you if we have any other questions, but other than that, you’re free to leave at any time. We’ll take care of your mother until the funeral home arrives.”
I felt Castiel stand up behind me, and we were so close that I had no choice but to take another step forward or risk falling on my face due to how I was leaning.
His hand went to my waist and he curled it around my belly, pulling me back in to steady me.
“Sorry,” he murmured.
I shrugged it off and took a step forward, offering my hand to the doctor first.
“I know that you tried everything to save my mother, and I truly appreciate it,” I said.
The doctor smiled sadly and shook my hand. “It’s always a heartache to lose a patient. I’m so sorry for your loss.”
I patted her hand and let go, turning to Pru.
“I know that I know you and that I’ve met you, but right now my brain is fried and I can’t remember who you belong to,” I muttered. “I’ll figure it out, though, and I’ll remember you at the next party that Jubilee forces me to go to.”
Pru grinned. “Hoax is my husband.”
It all clicked into place, and I snapped my fingers, giving her a small smile. “Got it.”
She patted me on the shoulder and then showed me the way to room ten where my mother and father were.
She stopped right outside the door and gestured for me to go inside.
I couldn’t make myself open the door, afraid to see what I’d find on the other side.
Castiel took pity on me and opened the door himself.
I closed my eyes in a vain attempt to shut everything out, but once I heard my dad’s quiet murmurs, I opened my eyes and stared.
