31. Liam
31
LIAM
I pace the floor of my office, my hands clenched into tight fists by my sides.
It’s been six days. Six agonizing days since Emma vanished from the hospital room. Six days since I last set eyes on her or heard her voice. The walls feel like they’re closing in, and I can’t focus on anything but the message on my phone screen. “Not now, I need some time.”
The words loop endlessly in my mind, a relentless mantra fueling my growing anxiety.
I slam my fist against the mahogany desk, the jolt barely registering in the maelstrom of emotions churning within me. I just finished a twelve-hour shift, and I should be exhausted, my body craving sleep, but instead, I’m here, in my office, consumed by worry, pacing the four walls like a caged animal desperate to break free.
I reach for my phone for the hundredth time today, the familiar weight a cold comfort in my sweaty palm. The screen displays a lone message, a cruel reminder of my current predicament. My gaze darts toward the clock on the wall—3:14 AM. I just can’t sleep or rest, my mind fueled by worry and a potent blend of coffee and adrenaline.
The phone vibrates, a sharp jolt that sends a spark of hope coursing through me. Perhaps… But the fleeting optimism dies a swift death as I see it’s just another news notification. I toss it back on the desk, a sigh escaping my lips in a defeated whoosh.
I’ve tried everything to reach Emma. Calls go unanswered, texts remain ignored. My trips to her house and loud knocks on the door have been met with empty silence, the only response the disapproving creak of the porch swing. Even Damon and June, blissfully unaware on their honeymoon with Ethan, are of no help. My inquiries about Emma's condition are met with evasive answers and a veiled sympathy that only deepens the knot of worry in my stomach.
My father, usually a fount of information, has been strangely tight-lipped. Requests for details about Emma's illness are met with vague pronouncements about “wedding stress”—a flimsy explanation that does little to assuage my mounting fear. I even resort to asking the staff about her a desperate attempt to glean some kind of truth. But no one seems to know anything, and her medical file, inexplicably, has vanished without a trace.
Every fiber of my being screams that something is wrong, terribly wrong. Is she okay? If so, then why this deafening silence? Is she hurt? Sick? My mind conjures up a terrifying array of possibilities, each one twisting the anxiety tighter within me.
Frustration boils over, and I slam my fist against the desk again. This is torture. The helpless feeling of being shut out, left in the dark, is tearing me apart.
With a resigned sigh, I pick up the phone and dial Damon’s number. It rings once, twice, before my brother-in-law’s voice crackles through the receiver.
“Liam? What’s up, man? It should be…” Damon’s voice trails off, a hint of surprise in his tone. “Three-fifteen in the morning over there? Everything alright?”
I rub a hand over my face, the exhaustion finally catching up to me. “Hey, Damon,” I force a smile into my voice, a touch more strained than I’d have liked. “Just…couldn’t sleep. How’s the honeymoon going?”
“Amazing,” Damon replies, genuine enthusiasm in his voice. “June and Ethan are having a blast. Seriously, you need to get yourself a vacation, man. Maybe you should come with?—“
“Seriously, man,” I cut in. “I don’t think you need an extra pair of hands building sandcastles.”
“We’ve been doing more than building sandcastles, boy. Watching dolphins, scuba diving, riding Ferris wheels. and visiting the museum and aquarium with Ethan… We’re doing more than sandcastles.”
“Ah,” I chuckle weakly. “Sounds like you’re having a good time. Glad to hear it.” I hesitate, then blurt out, “Have you spoken to Emma lately?”
“Yeah, actually,” Damon replies. “We had a good hour-long chat this morning.”
My heart lurches. An hour-long chat. Why hasn’t she spoken to me? A pang of jealousy, sharp and unexpected, pierces through me.
“Oh, really?” I manage to force out. “She…seemed okay?”
“Yeah, seemed great,” Damon says, his voice cautious. “High spirits, good mood. The usual Emma.” He pauses for a beat, then adds, “But…you know me, Liam. I can usually read between the lines.”
My throat constricts. “What do you mean?” I ask, my voice barely a whisper.
“There’s something…off,” Damon continues. “She’s putting on a brave face, but…I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s breaking down inside somewhere.”
“Breaking down?” A cold dread settles in my stomach. What have I done? “Did she say anything? About me?”
“Nope,” Damon continues, the hesitation in his voice evident. “Not directly. What’s going on?”
I swallow hard. “I haven’t talked to her in a while.”
Damon’s silence is telling. “You two have a fight?”
“Sort of,” I admit, running a hand through my hair. “It’s complicated.”
“I’d guess you haven’t spoken to her since she landed in the hospital.”
“Yes,” I confess. “I arrived in her room after my morning shift to find her gone.”
“She’s mad, mad, man.” Damon scoffs. “What did you do to my sister?”
I shake my head, even though he can’t see me. I mutter an apology, feeling the weight of my mistakes. “I’ve really messed up, Damon.”
“We suspected something, and we’re getting worried, Liam. June and I are thinking about cutting the trip short and coming home.”
“No, don’t do that. I’ll handle things. Don’t worry.”
“Can I trust you?”
“You have my word. I love Emma, Damon. I won’t let anything happen to her.”
“Listen, Liam, you better keep your word, man. She’s important to us. I’m only listening to you and not getting on the plane outta here because whatever is going on here, you’re the only one who can fix it.”
I run a hand through my hair, frustration gnawing at me. “I know, Damon. I just don’t know where to start!”
“Well, that’s the problem, isn’t it?” Damon replies. “You haven’t spoken to her since… Well, you know. Since the hospital.”
I flinch at the reminder. The memory of finding Emma’s empty bed, the sterile silence of the room, is etched into my mind. “I’ve tried, Damon, I swear I have! She won’t answer my calls, won’t reply to my texts. She’s also not at home.”
“Find her.” There’s a sharp edge to Damon’s voice now. “Look, Liam, I know you two had a fight, but I’m having faith because you love Emma, and she loves you. Talk to her, man. Figure things out.”
I clench my jaw, the guilt gnawing at me. “It’s not that simple, Damon. There’s something more…” I hesitate, debating whether to confide in my best friend.
“Something more?” Damon prompts, his voice laced with concern.
I take a deep breath. “Dad was tight-lipped about it, but…there seems to be more to Emma’s illness than he’s letting on. He keeps mentioning stress, but…”
“But what?” Damon presses. “Is it serious?”
“I don’t know,” I admit, my frustration spilling over. “I don’t think it’s serious or he wouldn’t hide it from you. But her medical chart is missing. It’s like someone doesn’t want me to know something. I’d bet she told him to hide it.”
Damon whistles sharply. “That’s…not good. Look, Liam, maybe June and I should come home after all.”
My heart pounds. The thought of them leaving their vacation on my account sends a wave of guilt crashing over me. “No, no,” I say quickly. “Don’t do that. You guys deserve this trip. Give me forty-eight hours.”
“You have thirty-six,” Damon says sternly. “Emma needs you, Liam. And for the record, we trust you. Just…promise me you’ll talk to her. Find out what’s wrong, and fix it.”
“I promise, Damon,” I say, my voice thick with emotion. “I won’t rest until I do.”
I hang up the phone, a renewed sense of urgency coursing through me. I can't wait any longer. I have to see Emma, have to talk to her, face whatever demons are keeping us apart.
I grab my keys and jacket, a surge of determination replacing the anxiety that has been plaguing me. I will find Emma. I will apologize, explain, and most importantly, listen. I love Emma, and I know, deep down, that whatever the issue is, we can face it together. As long as I can break through her walls and reach the woman I love, there is hope. And right now, hope is all I have.
The first step to figuring out where she might be is in this same hospital. I rap my knuckles against the oak door of my father's office, the sound echoing through the sterile hallway. No answer. Disappointment gnaws at me, but I’m not giving up. He wouldn't be sleeping at this hour, not with the hospital buzzing with activity even at night.
Pushing the door open, I peek inside. Just as I suspected, the room is bathed in the soft glow of his desk lamp, his paperwork spread out in meticulous rows. He looks up as I enter, a flicker of surprise crossing his features before settling into his usual stoic mask.
“Liam,” he says, his voice gruff. “What brings you here at this hour?”
I cast a sideways glance at the towering stacks of medical charts lining the shelves, a silent accusation hanging in the air. “Dad,” I begin, my voice tight, “I need to know what's going on with Emma.”
He steeples his fingers, his gaze unwavering. “You know I can't divulge patient information, Liam.”
“I know,” I sigh, the frustration bubbling over. “But it's Emma! She disappeared from the hospital, won't answer my calls or texts, and I can't find her anywhere.”
He studies me for a long moment, then finally nods. “Alright, Liam. Take some days off. Start at dawn if you need to.”
“Thanks, Dad,” I mutter, relief washing over me. I will find Emma, no matter what it takes.
But before I can turn to leave, another thought strikes me. “Dad,” I say, hesitation lacing my voice, “I know you're loyal to your patients, but…” I trail off, searching for the right words. “I just need to know… Is Emma alright? Is she…sick?”
His gaze meets mine, an unreadable emotion flickering in its depths. For a moment, I think he won't answer. Then, a barely audible, “She's okay” escapes his lips.
“Okay?” I repeat, the word feeling hollow on my tongue. “Okay how?”
He doesn't answer, and I know I won't get anything more out of him with the patient confidentiality shield raised. With a defeated sigh, I turn toward the door.
“Liam,” he calls, stopping me in my tracks. His voice is softer now, almost hesitant. “She's not sick.”
I swing back around, my heart pounding with a mixture of hope and confusion. “Then what's going on?”
He stares at me for a long, lingering moment. Then, a flicker of something akin to regret crosses his features. “She's…okay, Liam,” he repeats, his voice strained. “That's all I can say.”
I open my mouth to argue, but he holds up a hand, silencing me. “Just…go find her, Liam. Talk to her.”
“I will,” I promise, a surge of determination coursing through me. “But…” I pause, a new thought forming in my mind. “Dad? Why are you looking at me like that?”
He looks away, a deep sigh escaping his lips. “Nothing, Liam. Just…go.”
There is something more, something he isn't telling me. But before I can press him further, his voice breaks the silence.
“I'm sorry, Liam,” he says, the words filled with a deep-seated sorrow.
“Sorry for what?” I ask, confused.
He remains silent for a moment, then meets my gaze with an intensity that sends shivers down my spine. “Because I set a bad example, Liam. My marriage to your mother?—“
“Dad,” I cut him off, shaking my head. “This isn't your fault. Don't blame yourself.”
He gives a curt nod. “You're not me, Liam. Don't be afraid of anything.”
“Afraid?” I echo, perplexed. “What are you talking about?”
He holds my gaze, his voice firm. “Just answer one question truthfully first, Liam.” He pauses, letting the silence stretch between us. “Do you ever…want to be a dad?”
The question hangs in the air, unexpected and heavy. Before I can even process it, the truth tumbles out of me. “Honestly? No. Not before. But…” My voice trails off, my mind whirling with a confusing mix of emotions. “But things are different now. I don't know why, but…” I look at him, “...the thought of having a child with Emma…it doesn't scare me anymore. In fact, it kind of…excites me.” The words feel strange on my tongue, a foreign concept that suddenly feels strangely familiar.
A ghost of a smile plays on my father's lips, a rare sight that sends a jolt of surprise through me. “Good,” he says, his voice gruff but laced with a hint of satisfaction. “Then go find her, Liam. Tell her exactly that.”
My mind races, trying to catch up with the bombshell revelation. Emma…pregnant? With my child? A whirlwind of emotions—shock, disbelief, a surge of unexpected joy—threaten to overwhelm me.
“She's…pregnant?” I stammer, the word coming out as a raspy whisper.
My father nods, his face uncharacteristically open. “You know I can’t tell, Liam.” .”
He doesn’t have to. Suddenly, everything clicks into place. The stress that made her faint, Emma's emotional state. It all makes a twisted kind of sense.
“Why didn't you tell me?” I demand, a mixture of anger and hurt bubbling up inside me. “Why all the secrecy?”
He sighs, a weary look crossing his features. “She… She wasn't ready, Liam. She was scared you’d never want to be a father. And frankly, I didn't want to see you two get hurt again.”
Shame washes over me. He’s right. My past actions haven't exactly instilled a sense of trust in Emma. But this… This is different. This is a chance, a new beginning, and I won't let it slip through my fingers.
Ignoring the questions still swirling in my mind, I grab my coat from the chair. “Where is she?” I ask, my voice thick with urgency. “I need to find her, tell her…”
“She's staying in Rogers Hotel,” my father replies, scribbling an address on a piece of paper and tearing it off. “It’s on Anderson Lane, at…” He rattles off the address, his voice barely a murmur. I snatch the paper from his grasp, my heart hammering against my ribs.
“Thanks, Dad,” I mutter, the words barely audible.
Without another word, I bolt out of the office, the address clutched tightly in my hand. My mind is a chaotic storm, but one thing is clear—I need to get to Emma. Now.
The cool night air whips against my face as I race through the hospital parking lot, adrenaline coursing through my veins. The world seems to blur around me, my focus solely on the crumpled piece of paper in my hand.
Tonight, everything will change. Tonight, I won’t just find Emma. Tonight, I will face my fears, embrace the future, and hopefully, convince the woman I love that we can build a family together. As long as she is willing to give me another chance.