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“Thank you. I think I saw that in his chart, but we’ll double-check.”
The nurse left, and Teresa rushed through the door with Jacob right behind her. I ran into her arms, shaking. It was already three in the morning, and I was a complete mess.
“What’s happening? Did you hear anything?”
“His spleen ruptured. They took him to surgery for a splenectomy.”
“Thank God you were with him.”
We sat down on the couch by the window, and I blew my nose into a tissue.
“I’m going to get us some coffee. Laura?”
“Yes, please.”
“Milk? Sugar?”
“No. Black.” Because my soul felt like the black abyss in a cup. And I needed caffeine.
“I’ll be right back.”
Teresa wrapped her arm around me and brought me to her side. “He’s a vigorous man. He’s going to be okay.”
“And what if he’s not? What if he goes without ever knowing his son? I was about to tell him, but then he brought up my dead baby girl. My parents told him about my stillbirth.”
She covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh, my.”
“It threw me off, and then his spleen ruptured, and I never told him about Foxy.”
“The good news is he’ll be bedridden, so you’ll have another chance. And it will give us more time with Foxy. I’ve been toilet-training him.”
“I’ve noticed. Thank you, but I can’t tell James while he’s recovering.”
She gripped my hand. “Honey, if you’re looking for the perfect time, there’s never going to be one.”
“I’m figuring that out. He also told me he loved me.”My eyes doubled in size.
“I thought the fact was obvious. He’s crazy about you.”
“I’m crazy about him too, but I can’t reciprocate when I’m a liar.”
“We already had this conversation. Tell him the truth and move forward.”
Gosh, I wished it were that easy. When I’d finally felt ready, everything fell apart. My shoulders drooped, and I checked my watch.
“I pick up Foxy in four hours. What if the surgery’s not done by then?”
“Jake can pick him up if you’d like. We’re a family, Laura. You’re not alone.”
“Thank you.” I lowered my head to her shoulder. Teresa’s constant support made me yearn for my mother. We had been close before I lost the baby, but we drifted apart soon after. Over time, I’d realized I wasn’t the only one resisting the relationship, and I couldn’t figure out why. Although my parents called to check in with me, they kept their distance as much as I did. Maybe Teresa was right when she advised me to speak with them first.
As if on cue, I saw my mother passing through the hall.
“Excuse me.” I stood up and caught up to her. “Mom?”
She turned around with a look of surprise on her face, but smiled. “Laura? What are you doing here? Is everything all right?”
“No. A friend of mine is in surgery. James Silver.”
