CHAPTER FOURLydia’s POV
CHAPTER FOUR
Lydia’s POV
I am in the office, canceling Mr. Greene’s meetings, and stacking his documents, when I get a call.
“Is this Ms. Reid?” a gruff voice asks.
My heart races, I feel a chill in my spine, and slowly, I nod like he can see me. “Yes, I am Ms. Reid.”
“Great. Your son is Leo Reid, right?”
“Yes.” My knees wobble, my throat constricts. “What’s happened?”
“He was involved in an accident and is in the hospital right now. Can you come down?”
I crash into the air. I hear the wind swirling in my ears. The world spun in my head. He tells me the hospital where Leo has been admitted to and I drop everything.
I run into Makayla’s café which is opposite Eric’s enterprise. The café is filled with warmth and the smell of cappuccino, espresso, latte, and all other kinds of coffee.
I look for Makayla behind the counter, but I see her serving a customer. I waved frantically to get her attention.
“Hey, girl, aren’t you in the wrong place? Your workplace is right there?” she points towards the tower of Greene’s Enterprise.
I hurried towards her and her expression changed as she saw the panic in my eyes. “What is it? Is your boss being shitty?”
“Leo has been in an accident.” Tears stream down my face and she drops the latte cup in her hands.
“Wait, what? I’ll lock up and come meet you.”
“No, no. You don’t have to do that. You can stay.”
“I insist. Leo is my godson, too.” She doesn’t listen to me and starts going around, shutting up the store.
“I have to go, Kay,” I say while walking out. I quickly yell out the name of the hospital where Leo has been taken to as I walk through the door. I get into a cab and tell the driver where I am going.
He drops me at the hospital and I dig my purse for a bill. I don’t even wait for my change and I run into the hospital, my heels clicking hard against the marble floor.
I get into the emergency unit and look for Leo’s ward. I get directed by a receptionist where Leo has been admitted. I walk faster than I have ever done, my heart thumping faster with every second.
I get to the hallway where his room is and I see a doctor talking with Eric Greene. I thought he said he was going to a meeting.
I walk to the doctor he is chatting with. I hope this doesn’t get me fired.
“Mr. Greene, I thought you were going to a meeting.” My voice shakes.
“Lydia?” Eric asks as he turns around to face me.
“Lydia Reid?” the doctor asks. I turn to him and nod. “Yes, Leo Reid is my son.”
I turn to Eric Greene and see the shift in his face. Suddenly, I begin to piece things together. He hit him. That’s the only reason he is here in the hospital.
“Did you hit him?”
He nods slowly. “It was an accident. He was riding the bicycle directly towards us. We didn’t see him. I am so sorry.”
“You’re sorry? You’re sorry? Can ‘sorry’ make him better? Can it?” I don’t even realize I’m shouting now.
“Yes, I am sorry,” he says with a stoic expression. “And he was riding on the street. On a school day. Why is that, Lydia?”
“Can you hear yourself? My son lies in the hospital and all you can say is sorry? And what do you mean he was riding a bicycle?” my forehead scrunches in confusion despite the rage and fear churning inside of me.
He shrugs. “Well, it could have been a hit and run. It could have been worse.”
I sulk and I feel like throwing something in his face. I am threatened to spill the fact that he just hit his son, but I won’t ever tell him that. I turn to the doctor.
“How is he?”
“He’s doing well, he’s better.” The doctor leads me to his room but as I walk out, I stare deeply into his eyes with fury.
He follows me and I turn to him. It’s cool to snap at your boss when you’re both off work. “Where are you going?”
“To see how he’s faring,” he replies in the softest tone I’ve ever heard from him. Well, maybe, I read him wrong. He has a soft spot.
I shake my head. “He’s not your son, please stay out of my business,” I say in complete seethe. I bang the door in his face and turn to Leo who’s connected to a drip. Poor Leo.
I peer outside the window and I see Eric Greene still standing outside, looking hurt. I feel bad for locking him out, and for the record, he is his son.
I am tempted to stand up to open the door for him, but my leg is stuck to the floor. Maybe he should suffer a little bit.
Leo’s hand is matted to a sling and he sleeps peacefully. Looking at him now, I see a little Eric in bed. I kiss his cheek and smile. He will get better.
I pulled up a chair and sat next to Leo’s bed. I stroked his head while he’s sleeping. The doctor enters and informs me of Leo’s condition. He has a small fracture on his left arm, as well as a slight concussion. They gave him some medication to keep his pain down and help him to sleep and rest. Other than that, the doctor said, he is one lucky boy.
I wait for Eric to leave, but he doesn’t budge—he takes a seat outside the room, still waiting for me.
I put him aside and take out my phone to check my notifications. Makayla sent a text to tell me she’s on her way to the hospital. There are a lot of emails I haven’t checked, so I scroll past them. Suddenly a new text notification comes in. I see it’s from my landlord. I leave all the others and check it.
As I open it, I see words like “Dear Ms. Reid,” “sorry,” “house,” “water main break,” “flooded the house” and “evacuated.” I re-read the text three times, but arrive at the same conclusion: I am unexpectedly homeless. I hear myself gasp loudly and a shaky sob escapes my mouth.
Eric Greene runs into the room and walks up to me, holding my shoulder. I don’t even care if I'm pissed at him. Am I even pissed at him? He pulls me up and hugs me while I cry into his shoulder.
For a long time, I have cried only into the shoulders of Makayla, and it is weird and comforting that Eric Greene lends his. I cry and sob, letting out all my emotions. First there’s the shock of Leo’s accident, and now my homelessness. Through all my sobs, Eric doesn’t ask; he just supports me. So, yes, I misjudged him.
I take a moment to catch my breath and calm myself. “Sorry, but I just found out I’m homeless; I have just been evacuated from my house.” I explained shakily. “Leo and I don’t have a home.”