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“Father, don’t let me die. My children need me. Please don’t take me away from them.”
* * *
Twenty minutes later, Grayson helped Olivia into the back seat of the FBI agent’s car and fastened the seat belt for her. Her booster seat was in their mother’s car, but he hadn’t bothered to retrieve it. After shutting Olivia into the back, he slipped into the passenger seat next to the agent, not so preoccupied that he failed to appreciate the modern dashboard and display.
“This car is fire.” It even came with leather upholstery. The sound system was probably gas, too, except the agent was playing classical music, like what his grandparents listened to.
“Thanks. I like it.”
The instant Grayson clicked his seat belt into place, Fitz flew down the driveway with gratifying haste. “Tell me exactly what the paramedics said.”
The man’s ultra-calm demeanor roused Grayson’s respect. His father was like that, too, when he was working. Only Fitz wasn’t working; he was just babysitting.
“Um…” Grayson thought back to the frightening scene moments before when the paramedics trundled his mother into the back of the ambulance but refused to let them join her. “They said she might need a transfusion.”
The words engendered a quick nod as they spun out of the driveway onto the main road. “You said Sentara Obici Hospital?”
“I think so.” Grayson had been too busy consoling his distraught little sister to pay close attention. A glance back at Olivia showed him her tears had dried. She probably thought now that Fitz was here, everything would be okay.
Grayson wasn’t that naïve. He knew by the way the paramedics had reacted to all the blood that his mother was in danger of dying. If she did die, it would be his fault. He shouldn’t have told his aunt’s secret until she got word to him that she was coming back. He should have just covered for her like he’d promised he would. Instead, he’d shocked his mother so badly she started bleeding.
“When did your aunt leave the country?”
Grayson glanced at the agent’s taut profile. He’d had to explain when he called Fitz why Aunt Grace wasn’t there to help. “Earlier today.”
The agent’s jaw jumped but that was his only reaction. The Lexus accelerated abruptly until they were going sixty in a forty-five.
Ten minutes later, they were at the hospital. Grayson got Olivia out of the back seat, then tugged her along to keep up with Fitz as he stalked ahead of them into an emergency room full of people, straight to the information desk. “We’re here for Faith Saunders. She would have come in a short while ago.”
“Faith Saunders.” The woman consulted her computer. “Yes, she’s up in L&D.” She pointed to a hall behind them. “See that elevator there? You’ll take it to the third floor, where you’ll turn left.”
“Thanks.”
Fitz swept them into the elevator. As it rose, Grayson glimpsed a bead of sweat on the man’s temple, close to his auburn hair. A wave of dread rose inside him at the realization that Fitz was worried his mom wouldn’t make it, too.
Please.The elevator gave a lurch before spewing them out on the third floor. Fitz swept them toward a closed door with a glass insert and a big red sign that read Labor and Delivery—so that was what L&D meant. Fitz pushed a call button next to the door while casting a protective glance back at Grayson and Olivia.
A plump brunette appeared on the other side and spoke through a little speaker. “Can I help you?”
“We’re here for Faith Saunders,” the agent repeated.
“Oh, good.” Looking relieved, the nurse slapped a button, and the door gave a click before swinging silently open.
It occurred to Grayson as the three of them entered L&D that the nurse just assumed they were all family.
“She’s prepped for an emergency C-section. Dad, you can come with me, but the kids will have to wait out here.” She gestured toward the comfortable seating area on their left, with a television playing a Disney TV show.
Grayson’s back stiffened. His gaze flew to Fitz’s watchful expression. He could tell the agent was waiting for him to say he wasn’t the father. But Grayson kept his mouth shut. He didn’t want his mother to be all alone in there.
He gestured with his chin while at the same time squeezing Olivia’s hand hard in a message to keep quiet. “Go ahead, Dad. We’ll be okay here. Tell Mom we love her.”
Fitz stood for an indecisive moment before he swiveled on the balls of his dress shoes and followed the nurse up the hall.
* * *
Wearing paper scrubs that covered him from head to toe, along with booties and a silly, poofy cap, Fitz edged into the operating room with a sense of utter helplessness. His gaze flew to the bright red blood staining the mound of sheets in front of the surgeon. The C-section was already underway, and Faith herself appeared to be sleeping, with a tendril of brown hair slipping from her cap.
“Mr. Saunders, pull up a stool.”
