One Moment (The Little Hollow Series Book 1) (21 page)

She got up and gave me a hug before stepping back. I repeated what the Doctor had said and we made our way into one of the family rooms.

It had a double bed pushed up against the far wall, a bedside table with a lamp on top and a chair in the corner. I put my purse down on the chair and sat on bed.

“She’ll be okay, Sam, she’s a tough cookie. Do you need anything? Coffee, food, water?”

I rubbed at my temples. “Some water would be awesome, thank you, Kee. You don’t have to be here you know but thank you all the same. I never would’ve been able to drive here earlier.”

Squeezing my hand, she told me that it was her best friend duties to be here before picking up her purse and shutting the door behind her.

I flipped off my sneakers, lay back on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. If I thought I was exhausted earlier, it was nothing compared to now; I couldn’t keep my eyes open and within minutes I was gone.

I wrote a letter to Lyle and Betty after I’d packed up all of my things. No one was on the desk as I came into the B&B tonight and I was hoping it would be the same for on the way out.

I didn’t want to say any hasty goodbye’s and I didn’t want to have to tell them why I was leaving so abruptly.

Slipping the money for my few days stay in the folded up piece of paper, I also hoped they weren’t downstairs because they would never take it from me. I gave the room one last look over and picked up my duffel bag to head downstairs trying to make as little noise as possible.

I made it down without alerting anyone of my presence and left the letter and money inside a book one of them was currently reading. I looked around the reception area before placing the keys for the room on top of the book and made my way out the door to my truck. I sighed and started it up.

An hour into my journey my cell started vibrating in my pocket. Pulling over, I didn’t recognize the number. Could it be Sam? Probably not but my heart still picks up a wicked pace in my chest.

“Hello?” Hoping to hear her voice, I was disappointed that it was Lewis’s.

“Hey, man, it’s Lewis. I don’t know if you’ve left yet or not but Cindy’s been rushed to hospital to have her stomach pumped. I know Sam told you to leave but I just thought you should know and maybe make your own decision, you know?”

I was in a catch twenty-two.

“Shit! What hospital?” I didn’t even have to think about it, I was going back whether she wanted me there or not.

“St. John’s. I don’t know anything else right now but I’m headed there as soon as I get off the call with you. Keeley’s with her so she will be fine but I just thought you deserved to know. I’ll meet you in the emergency waiting room?”

“Yeah, I’m on my way. Thanks, Lew.” I hung up and made a U-turn towards the hospital.

I arrived outside a half hour later spotting Lewis’s car, with the hospital being twenty-minutes away from Little Hollow, we’d made it around the same time. I looked at the entrance with a big weight on my chest.

What if my presence here made things worse for her? I didn’t want to cause any distress I just needed to know she was going to be alright.

I walked into the emergency room and immediately spotted Keeley and Lewis deep in conversation. I walked up to them trying to make myself known before I invaded their privacy.

Clearing my throat did the trick and Kee looked up at me confused before turning to look at Lewis. “You called him?”

She wasn’t angry, she was just puzzled as to why I was here. She looked at me again, exhausted. “She asked you to leave, Connor. You shouldn’t be here.”

Running a palm over her face, she stood up to face me and I put up both my hands in surrender.

“I’m not here to cause trouble. I just need to know she’s alright then I promise I’ll leave.” She studied my face before sighing.

“We’ve been allowed to stay in a family room across the hall from where they’ve got Cindy. I’ll take you to her but if she starts freaking out, you need to leave. Got it?”

I nodded seriously and followed her down a long corridor. “I can only guess what’s happened but do you mind filling me in? Lewis told me that Cindy had to get her stomach pumped but what has the doctor said?”

She had a faraway look in her eyes as she told me that they’d had to put her into a medically induced coma.

“Shit. I didn’t know it was that serious. That woman needs help.” Kee kept facing forward as we walked but I could swear her eyes had a sheen to them.

She cleared her throat and said, “I told her I’d get her some water, give her this.”

I took the bottle then froze outside the door she was pointing at. “Well, go on then. You made your bed, now go lie in it.”

She had a smirk on her face as she turned and walked back in the direction of the emergency waiting room.

Pulling on the door handle, I opened it just a fraction before tapping my knuckles against the wood. I couldn’t hear anything so I pushed it open a little further so I could peer into the small space. I breathed out a small sigh of relief as I noticed she was sleeping.

I walked into the room and moved her purse off the chair opposite the bed. Sitting down as silently as possible, I looked over to her, she looked so peaceful and untroubled; this was what I needed to see. I knew she wasn’t doing okay right now, but a good night’s sleep is what she needed.

“You’re so beautiful, Sammy,” I whispered under my breath. I rolled the bottle of water between my hands for a few minutes as I watched her. “I knew I missed you but until we got to speak again, I didn’t realize how much.”

I stood up and moved closer to put the water by her bedside. “I just hope you come to realize how much you meant and still do mean to me. I had a funny way of showing it but it’s always been you.”

I knelt down and kissed her head softly before padding across the room. I reached for the door handle, took one last look at her sleeping form and then left.

I blinked my blurry eyes open at the silhouette of a man walking out of the room. Where was I?

Feeling disorientated, I rubbed at my eyes. I must’ve been dreaming; why would Connor be here? I shook my head as I came to. I was questioning my sanity. But what if he was here?

My heart clenched before I jumped off the bed and shoved my feet into my sneakers. I barrelled out the door frightening two nurses walking down the hall.

“Sorry!” Which way did we come in from again? I chose a direction and walked in it until I recognized the emergency room.

“Kee? Lewis?” They turned my way, both with suspicious looks on their faces telling me everything I needed to know without me having to ask. “I thought so,” I said and Kee stood up.

“Don’t blame me, blame this goon here who called him.” She swatted at Lewis’s shoulder.

“Sorry, Sam. I thought…ah, I dunno what I thought. That it would’ve helped?” I waved my hand in the air dismissing him.

“Where is he?” They looked at each other then back at me.

“Well, he left.” I felt a strange wave of sadness.

“So, he’s really gone then?” I felt myself deflate, was it worth holding onto this grudge?

“Lewis.” Kee nudged her head in the other direction and he stared at her. “Men!” She rolled her eyes at me then turned back to him. “Would you go get us a cup of coffee please?” She smiled sweetly at him and he stood up. “Thank you.” I chuckled as I watched him walk away and I sat down.

“He drove back here to make sure you had everything you needed. He wanted to make sure you were okay. He didn’t want to upset you, Sam.” She stared at me intently.

“I’m really confused right now, Kee. I’ve managed perfectly fine without him for the past eight years, more or less, and now he’s just barrelled back into my life again and here I am wondering what I’m going to do now that he’s gone. I’m not sure this is what I want at all.” I stared at the floor, confused at my own feelings.

“So, you’re ready to admit telling him to leave was a big mistake? And I was right all along?” With a typical wicked grin on her face, I nudged her shoulder.

“Humble as always. What am I going to do?” She just shrugged a shoulder at me.

“What do you want to do? The ball’s in your court, Sam.” I thought about that. Was I ready to let go of everything? I knew holding it inside and pretending everything was okay wasn’t working for me anymore. But with my head swirling, I decided right now was not the time to be trying to work through all of my feelings.

“I’m not sure but whatever happens, it can wait until tomorrow. I’ve got a feeling it’s going to be an emotional day so I’m going to head back to bed. Go home, Kee, you can always come back in the morning.” She hesitated. “Seriously, I’m fine. Just go find Lewis and go home.”

There was no need for her to be here right now, all I was going to do was sleep anyway.

“You’ll text me as soon as you know anything?”

I nodded and she wrapped me up in a tight hug as we said our goodbyes. I watched her walk off to find Lewis and made my way back to the family room.

I didn’t know how I was going to get back to sleep. The thought that my mom nearly died tonight was a lot to take in so I did what I do best and blocked it out. Then I found myself drifting off to sleep with the image of Connor in my head instead.

I opened my eyes to a knock at the door, a nurse I hadn’t yet met stuck her head around.

“Sorry to wake you but we thought you’d like to know your mom’s test results came back. The doctor will be waiting just outside when you’re ready.”

Surely if there was anything to worry about she would’ve acted more urgently? Everything was fine. I repeated the mantra in my head as I took a big gulp of water and stretched.

Everything was fine, I kept repeating to myself. I carried on while putting on my shoes and made my way out to meet the doctor.

“Good morning. Samantha?” He asked, it wasn’t the same doctor I had spoken to last night but he had the same kind eyes. I smiled at him.

“Good morning.” I gave him a nod.

“My name is Doctor Young. I know you spoke with my colleague briefly last night but she’s caught up with another patient right now. However, I’m all up to speed. We received your mom’s test results.” I nodded for him to carry on. “I’m not sure how much you know about the tests that we took so I’ll explain. We took blood and ran four different tests to check the affect the alcohol is having on your mom’s body.”

He paused to let me take that in. “The first is a test that screens the level of GGT which is a liver enzyme that determines if an individual is drinking excessively. Now, I don’t want to upset you but your mom’s results came back with a level of a chronic drinker.” I scoffed, all they needed to do was ask me and I’d tell them how much she drunk.