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A few hours go by until a nurse comes to the waiting room and takes me to Mom, who is now in the ICU. My limbs go weak when I look at her fragile frame on the hospital bed. Without any makeup and her beautiful smile, she looks older than ever. Memories of my father lying on a similar hospital bed visit me and a sob breaks free.
“Get well soon, Mom. Ray and I are waiting for you. We both need you,” I whisper as the lump around my throat continues to grow. The elderly nurse named Colleen affectionately strokes my back before telling me it’s time to leave.
The soundof my phone vibrating in my jeans pocket wakes me up. I sit upright with a hiss and my back feels sore from sleeping in a chair.
I look down at my phone before smacking it on my head.
Shit! I forgot to inform Hank that I can’t make the bakery order today. I look down at his number and cringe, but finally give in and press the green call button next to his name.
I inwardly pray that the call goes to his voice mail, but he picks up after a few rings.
“Hello, Hank. I’m sorry but I won’t be able to make today’s orders. My mom had an accident last night and underwent emergency surgery. I’m still at the hospital,” I blurt everything in one go.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” he barks over the phone, forcing me to pull it away from my ear. “You’re telling me this now? What will we serve this morning?”
“You still have scones, sandwiches, pies, and all the other stuff. You’re only missing the cupcakes.” I try to reason with him.
“So does every other bakery in town. It’s your cupcakes that are our best sellers.” I have half a mind to tell him that if my cupcakes are so important, maybe he should pay me more, but I remain silent. This job is important to me, now more than ever.
“Hank, I am really sorry. Please understand.” I hate that I have to beg this man.
“I always give you preference over other staff, you know that, but I’ll either have to cut your pay or we’ll have to make some other arrangement.” I wince at the lewd low pitch of his voice. This piece of shit is shamelessly hitting on me. Mom is not wrong about him.
“I understand you will have to cut my pay today.” As always, I ignore his lecherous advances.
“I don’t expect a repeat tomorrow.” He takes no time in getting back to his usual jackass self. But the conversation wakes Ray who patiently waits for me to finish the call.
How did I get this lucky with him? My sweet, patient boy.
“Sleep well, munchkin?” I ask after ending the call and pulling him on my lap.
He nods. “How’s Gigi?”
“Better. We’ll see her soon, once she’s in her room.”
“Will she live here?” He rubs his sleepy eyes with his small hands
“Just for a few weeks, baby. But we’ll visit her daily.” I kiss him on the forehead, tightening my arms around him. He doesn’t know how much comfort his small, tiny frame provides me. “Let me find you some hot chocolate. Why don’t you play with my phone for a while?”
I first go to the nurses’ station and it doesn’t take me long to find Nurse Colleen. She tells me that in about an hour they’ll move Mom to a recovery room. I’m just thanking her when a familiar baritone voice calls my name, “Hope.”
I turn around to find Zach dressed impeccably as always in a fine navy-blue suit. He has a leather duffel bag in one hand and a paper fast food bag in the other.
“Zach.” My chin trembles upon seeing him.
I can’t believe he’s here.
I take a few steps forward as he strides toward me. When he says my name again, the barricade holding my suppressed emotions bursts and I hug him tight.
“Hey, Hope, shush. It’s gonna be okay. I’m here. You’re not alone.”
My heart constricts, making my sobs erratic. If only he knew how much his words mean to me.
As I try to bring my hiccups down, I faintly register Nurse Colleen telling him, “Your wife was worried sick the whole night.”
I’m unable to correct her as continuous sobs tear through my chest but Zach politely thanks her for taking care of me. He then guides me into the waiting room where Ray is now playing with a red train. He most likely picked it from the toy’s basket in the corner.
I wipe the tears before glancing at the table where Zach just placed the paper bag. “You went to Cakes for All?” I ask as he passes me a cup and I immediately recognize the smell. “Did you get me a vanilla latte?”
