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“Ryder Kincaid.” I’m waiting for her to tell me that Jordyn’s mom has forbidden me to have access to her. I’m ready to fight, but when she speaks again, I realize I don’t have to.
“We’ve been trying to reach your future father-in-law. Would you happen to have a way to contact him?”
I nod. “I’ll let him know.” Eventually. I’ll let him know, eventually.
I know he’s a big shot attorney here in Atlanta. I don’t have his number, but I can find him. After I check on my girl.
“Come with me. I’ll put you in a room and have someone come and update you on your fiancée and her mother.”
“Thank you.” It never occurred to me to worry about Jordyn’s mother’s injuries. That makes me sound cold-hearted, but after everything she’s put Jordyn through, I can’t seem to find it in me to care. I don’t want her hurt, but she’s not my priority.
“Gianna,” I call, and she and Calvin stand and walk toward me. “They’re taking us to a room for an update.”
“How? I’ve been trying.”
“They can’t deny me access to my fiancée.”
She smiles through her tears. “I knew I liked you, Kincaid.”
“It’s not a lie,” I find myself saying.
The nurse appears and leads us down the hall. She opens her mouth. I’m sure to say Gianna and Calvin can’t be back here, but I beat her to the punch. “We are her family. All three of us.” I dare her to argue with me. I must look like a man ready to lose his shit, because she nods and motions for us to enter the small room.
“The doctor will be with you.”
Just like that, she’s gone, and we’re in this tiny little room, waiting yet again to hear.
“What did you mean? It’s not a lie?” Gianna asks me.
“We talked about it. She said yes.” That’s kind of how it happened. It’s the gist of it, anyway. I’m sure if Jordyn wants to give Gianna all the details, she will. It’s not my place.
“She loves you.”
“I love her,” I reply as the doctor enters the room.
“Family of Jordyn Astor?”
“I’m her fiancé. Ryder Kincaid.” I stand and offer him my hand.
“I’m Dr. Jackson. I’m the attending physician who worked on your fiancée and her mother when they were brought in.”
“How is she? They? How are they?” I correct, because she might be a hateful bitch, but I still want her to be okay.
“Mr. Kincaid, your fiancée is in surgery. Her right leg was broken in two places and required surgery. She’s got a lot of cuts and bruising. There was a laceration on her spleen and her liver, but we expect her to make a full recovery.”
“Thank fuck,” I say, feeling some of the heaviness in my chest release. “And her mother?”
I can see it in his eyes before he speaks the words. “I’m sorry, Mr. Kincaid. Mrs. Margaret Astor didn’t make it.”
The heaviness is back. I stumble, and reach for the chair, and fall back into it. “Does Jordyn know?”
“She doesn’t. She was in and out of consciousness when she was brought in. We ran tests and took her straight to surgery.”
“Thank you.”
“Jordyn’s still in surgery. They were finishing up, and she did perfectly. Once she’s out of recovery, we’ll come and get you. You’re welcome to stay here until then. I’m sorry for your loss.” He stands and leaves just as quickly as he arrived.
“She blames herself.”
“What?” My head whips around toward Gianna. “What do you mean she blames herself?”
“When I was talking to her, before the paramedics got there. She said her mother wasn’t moving, and that she wasn’t sure she was breathing. She said that if she hadn’t tried to pull the purse back out of her arms, they never would have wrecked.”
“No.” I stand and start to pace the room. “That’s not true. It was instinct. She didn’t do this. Her mother was distracted.”
“I know that. You know that, but Jordyn, she was already blaming herself.”
“No,” I say again.
“She’s going to need us to be strong for her.”
“I’ve always been strong for her. I’m not going to stop now.” Which reminds me. “I need to call my family. She needs us. All of us.” Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I decide to text in the group chat with my brothers. I have one that has the entire family, but I can’t deal with double the questions. My brothers can tell our parents and their wives.
Me: Jordyn was in an accident. I’m at Atlanta General. She’s in surgery. Just talked to the doctor. He said she’s going to be okay. Her mom didn’t make it.
Maverick: What do you need?
Merrick: On my way.
Brooks: I’m on shift. I’ll find someone to cover me, and I’ll be there.
Orrin: Getting in the truck now.
Declan: How are you?
Rushton: I’ll call Mom and Dad, and head that way too.
