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Ana rushed in along with two other nurses. They prepared Penelope for the move in a flurry of precise motions, disconnecting all the various tubes and instruments from the wall. The room was so . . . quiet. We’d even become accustomed to the bed movement.
Kane stood when they rolled her toward the door.
Dr. Ellis held up a hand. “She’ll return shortly.”
“I’m coming,” he pronounced.
The doctor shook his head.
Kane glared but stayed put.
The room was odd without Penelope and the bed. There was a big space where she was supposed to be. No matter she couldn’t speak, it was empty without her. Like someone had turned off the lights.
“Why won’t that bastard tell us anything?” Kane shoved a hand through his hair and yanked.
“It’s better he’s certain before scaring us for no reason.” How did I sound so calm and reasonable? I was losing my mind with worry.
“That didn’t work because I’m scared.” He paced through the room with long strides—as broken as I’d seen him.
“She’s okay.” I made the oath as much for myself as for Kane.
No change in Penelope’s condition was almost unbearable, but a potential backslide . . . was far worse.
Maybe whatever Dr. Ellis thought he heard was nothing. Maybe something was amiss with his stethoscope. Maybe his own ears were clogged.
And maybe I was grasping at possibilities because I was desperate for the problem to be anything but inside Penelope.
Please, God. Bring her back to us.
What felt like hours later,Dr. Ellis appeared . . . without Penelope.
“What’s the verdict?” Kane asked immediately.
“There’s internal bleeding—”
“Shouldn’t that have been caught by now?” Kane’s tone was just below a shout.
“Not necessarily.”
“Keep covering your behind,” Kane muttered.
“Even though Penelope’s breathing is controlled by the machine, the bleeding is causing an irregular heartbeat.” Dr. Ellis continued as if Kane hadn’t spoken.
“How do we fix it?” I fisted the hem of my sweatshirt, completely unprepared for whatever the doctor had to say.
“I have to perform a procedure to stop the bleeding. Penelope is in prep for surgery.”
“Is that safe?” She was fragile. Could her body handle surgery?
“If we don’t, she dies. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get ready for the procedure.”
“You’re not a surgeon,” Kane spat.
“We have a very good one on staff,” Dr. Ellis said calmly. “And I have experience.”
With that, he left.
If we don’t, she dies.
