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“I’m afraid it isn’t entirely pleasant, Sammy. I just spoke with the girls. There appears to be an emergency with Malory.”
She gave a short gasp, followed by a rustle in the background. “I’ll call an ambulance.”
“Already done. I am on my way. I will text you the hospital address as soon as the neighbors come through.”
“Thank you, Adrian.”
Ignoring the several “Good morning, Doc”s and “Hello”s, I hurried into the elevator and tapped my feet impatiently as it traveled downwards. Malory was one of the strongest people I know. She was even more vibrant at sixty than most people in their thirties. Dana was the spitting image of the beautiful blonde woman who welcomed me with open arms into her life after Dana introduced me to her. And after her daughter’s demise, she offered to raise the twins, as I knew next to nothing about parenting and was in a rough place due to the loss of my dear wife. Our grief somehow brought us even closer as we had both lost someone important to us.
Ding!
‘Kirkland Hospital, Gainesville,’ It read. I quickly forwarded the text to Sammy, entered the address into my car GPS, and pulled out of Vitality’s parking lot.
During the entire trip to Gainesville, a million thoughts rushed through my mind. I wasn’t ready to lose anyone else. My heart kept pounding against my chest as flashes from Dana’s death hit me with full force.
“The babies are strong and healthy,” Doctor Harry had said. And she smiled, one of those huge smiles that lit up her eyes and the entire room. The heart rate monitor showed nothing amiss, and I remembered the burst of happiness that I felt. Suddenly, her face paled, and the monitor started blaring urgently. Everything was wrong. I snatched the nearest pair of gloves and, seizing the opportunity, my best friend Brad dragged me out of the room.
I knew it when a nurse stepped out of the room with a gloomy and pitiful look on his face. I had raced into the room, pushed the doctor aside, and yanked the sheet off her. They had no business covering her up like that. She had two kids and a responsibility towards them, towards me. I had performed CPR till my hands hurt, and Brad forcefully pulled me from her again.
“Time of death, 11:58 pm.”
I had crumbled to the ground and clutched my chest as I felt my heart shatter into a million pieces. When the clock struck midnight, my life had suddenly taken a downward spiral, and I blamed myself for it. I shouldn’t have gotten her pregnant. I would like to think she would still be alive and well if she didn’t have to deliver my children.
“We’re here,” the automated voice of the GPS chimed. It’s funny how much time passes when you’re lost in thought. I had been driving for a while, and the hospital was in sight. I pulled into the huge parking space and parked. I walked into the huge hospital building, straight to the huge front desk.
Two women sat behind the desk, but one was busy on the phone. I walked up to the other, who was peering from behind a huge desktop computer at me. “Hello, I’m here to see Mrs. Malory Roberts.”
“Who are you to her?”
The other lady had gotten off the phone and now gave me a quizzical look like she was trying to figure me out.
“I’m her guardian.”
“That’s not what it says here. Her guardian, a certain Ms. Sammy Roberts, who claims to be her daughter, arrived just two minutes ago.”
“I know you,” the other woman said with conviction. “You are Doctor Black. The Doctor Black of Vitality clinic.”
At her words, the other lady gasped. “I knew you looked familiar. A doctor is attending to Mrs. Roberts.”
The sound of approaching footsteps snatched my attention. “Adrian Black, is that you?”
The voice was familiar, and I turned around to see Doctor Harry Steele, the man who had announced Dana’s death. Hot on his heels were Sammy and my girls. I shook Harry’s hand and caught Sammy and both my girls in a bear hug.
“Daddy, will Granny be fine?” Aurora asked quietly.
“Of course, sweetie. You girls were very brave today. I am so proud of you.”
“Are these…?”
“Yes. Meet my daughters, Aurora and Rose Black. And this is Sammy, my sister-in-law.”
“Oh. So, Mrs. Roberts is…”
“My mother-in-law,” I supplied.
Harry cleared his throat and gave me the eye. “We need to talk.”
“I’ll stay here with the girls,” Sammy offered. So, I followed Harry into his office. I had no luxury of taking in the space or décor as my mind was on other, more important things.
