Ville answered on the first ring.
“Hey, sugar,” I said softly, so glad to hear his voice. I leaned against the wall, my entire body ready to collapse. Even though I hadn’t been that worried, medically anyway, this was still my mom. But she was good and Ville was there, right on the other end of the line. Damn but did I need one of his hugs. The kind that put me back together.
“You good?” He was trying for casual, but I heard the edge underneath. “How’s your mom?”
“Good. Out of surgery and in recovery. We’re all gonna get a few minutes with her and then we’ll head home. Hawk and Dad are staying tonight so they can bring her home in the morning.”
“That’s good. We’ve got everything handled here, so don’t worry. Mal has all the kids wrangled, Carter is taking care of food logistics, and I’ve got the rest. Jenn will come home to a clean house and fresh sheets on the bed.”
“You guys just stepped up huh?” A warm feeling fluttered in my stomach. I wasn’t surprised about Mal. He’d wanted to come to the hospital to be here for both Mom and Crew, but he knew his skills were better put to use watching the kids. Particularly because, after Mom and Dad, Mal was the one Demi trusted most with her children. Not that she didn’t trust the rest of us, because she did. But if it came down to it, Mal was the top pick.So much so that Demi and Luke had changed their will, so that if anything ever happened to them, Mal and Crew got the kids.
I couldn’t even blame her. Mal was an outstanding father.
“You Harringtons are always taking care of everybody else. It’s time we all took care of you.”
Tears filled my eyes, and for the first time since I saw Mom in the kitchen, they threatened to spill over. I had to suck in a breath through my nose and lift my face to the ceiling so they didn’t fall.
“Baby?”
Oh damn. And the endearment too? It was almost too much. I tried to laugh, but it came out watery. “I’m gonna need major squishing when I get home.”
“Whatever you need,” Ville said and it sounded like a vow.
Someone touched my shoulder and it made me jump. I whipped around to see Demi. Her smile was shaky and she mouthed, “Your turn.”
I’d been so occupied with Ville, I hadn’t even realized Crew returned and Demi had gone in. I nodded at her and grabbed her hand, both giving and taking strength. This was my twin after all. I pulled her into my embrace and kissed her cheek. I was only an inch or so taller than she was.
“I’ve gotta go, sugar. I’m gonna see Mom.”
“I’ll be waiting for you,” he said. “See you soon.”
“Later.”
I hung up and shoved my phone in my pocket, then hugged Demi full on. She squeezed back just as tightly. Both of us appreciated the deep pressure for regulation. We always had. When we were little, it wasn’t uncommon to find us wrapped around each other. Mom joked that was how we were in the womb too, even though I knew it was impossible since we were di-di twins, because we were fraternal, and each had our own gestational sac.
“Go on now. Let’s keep the line moving.”
I nodded, gave her one last squeeze, and headed down the hall. Dad was seated at Mom’s bedside, holding her hand. She was clearly still a bit out of it, but since they’d only done sedation and not general anesthesia, she was awake and talking.
“What’s the verdict, Dr. Harrington?” She asked, some of her usual twinkle in her eye.
“All fixed up now, Mother mine. And you’re going to do everything the cardiologist says from now until forever so we don’t have a repeat, yes?”
Mom’s face became serious and she held out her left hand. I rounded the bed and took it quickly, being careful of the IV in the back of it.
“Thank you for insisting, honey. I really thought it was nothing. I would have continued to ignore it.”
“Makes the expense of medical school worth it, huh?” I waggled my eyebrows and perched on the edge of bed. Mom tightened her hold until the pull of the needle made her wince. “I wouldn’t have let you, Mommy. But you’re going to be just fine.”
“Thanks to you.” Dad’s voice was gruff and he squeezed my elbow, which was all he could reach.
For a few minutes, we sat there in silence, just soaking it in. Mom was fine and on the road to recovery. In a few weeks, itwouldbe like it never happened, except for the semi-regular cardio visits and the new daily medication. She’d be back to herself and hopefully, never have this issue again.
I had to hope. The world would stop turning if Mom wasn’t in it.
Hawk and Dad got a hotel room for the night and since I’d driven Dad’s truck to Colorado Springs, they had a way home. Gemma had decided to stay with them as well, still too worried about Mom. The rest of us piled into the remaining vehicles and headed home.
It was almost midnight by the time our caravan of vehicles pulled onto the ranch. Juanpablo started to bray the moment Bodhi’s truck, which was in the lead, rounded the curve. I’d ridden back with Luke, Crew, and Demi. We’d tossed the car seats into the storage space of Luke’s SUV, and Demi and I spent the ride cuddled up with each other in the backseat. None of us reacted to the donkey at all.
