Bereft - Jennifer Foor Page 0,79
long on my hair, and messed up my makeup once before finally getting it right. Every detail had to be perfect. This second chance was all we were going to have. If we screwed this up now there was no going back. I had to live with that.
I don’t even remember the forty minute drive to Annapolis, or the horrible traffic I had to endure to get there. I managed to find a close parking spot and hurried into the restaurant, hopeful he was there waiting for me.
After letting the hostess know about our reservations, she took me to our table and handed me a menu while I waited.
Five minutes passed.
Then ten.
Nearly twenty.
I tried calling his phone but got no answer. Figuring he was stuck in rush hour traffic, I ordered a glass of wine and tried not to worry.
Before I knew it, an hour had gone by and no Grayson.
While I tried his number again, I paid for my wine, figuring he’d changed his mind about us. Maybe Grayson wasn’t as ready to move forward as me. Maybe it was too late for reconciling.
I made it to my car before Stephanie called. I ignored the first one, because I couldn’t bear to break her heart with the news. Then she continued calling me until I finally picked up. “Honey, he didn’t show.”
“Mom,” she sounded frantic. “It’s Daddy. The neighbors found him out front unconscious. I’m trying to get to the hospital now.”
“What? No. He’s meeting me for dinner.” I was in denial.
“Mom, you need to come. I don’t know much. Mrs. Constance said she thinks it’s his heart.”
“His heart? Your dad is healthy as an ox. I’m sure he’s going to be fine,” I lied. I didn’t want her driving while breaking down, especially in the city. “Where are they taking him?” I was already getting in my car prepared to speed to get to them.
“Hopkins. They’re taking him to Hopkins. That’s why I know it’s bad. Why would they take him there if it wasn’t?”
She had a point. “I’m on my way, sweetie. Please be careful. I’ll see you in thirty minutes.”
My drive into Baltimore was full of emotions. I kept thinking about the worst of scenarios, arriving and him already being gone. I wondered how long he’d been suffering, and if he’d been in a lot of pain, but tried to push through it to make our date. I wondered if this was a direct result of the toll our breakup had put on him.
My heart was shattering again, and I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to handle any more bad news.
The parking garage was full when I arrived at the hospital. I managed to squeeze into a small spot and wedge my body between the opposing vehicle to exit. The elevator took forever to retrieve me, and just as I was about to make a beeline for the stairs, I heard the ding.
I dashed through the double doors of the emergency department, my nerves on high alert. Dizziness swept over me. I was freaking out, nervous and determined to get to Grayson. He had to know I loved him. I couldn’t let something happen to him without him knowing that.
While the receptionist looked up his last name, I tapped my feet, searching the room for an open door I could run through to find him myself. Then she handed me a visitor’s log I had to fill out. I’m not even sure if I wrote a name. I scribbled something and shoved it back toward her, taking the badge and darting for the double doors where I knew I’d find him.
There again, I stood waiting for someone to help me.
Finally the doors opened. I showed my badge and walked as I spoke to the nurse. “My husband. He was brought in earlier by ambulance. My daughter said it might be his heart.” Just speaking the words out loud sent bile rushing to my throat. I’d done this to him. I’d sent him to his breaking point. His heart wasn’t just broken over our breakup, it was shutting down. Tears filled my eyes once again as the relevance sunk in. I needed to see him; to know he was going to make it. A million scenarios were running through my mind, yet without answers I couldn’t think of anything positive.
She brought me to a private room where I found Stephanie leaned over the bed, she backed away with tears in her eyes the moment