Chapter 32 #2
I smirk at Amelia. She is undeniably calm. She’s been through worse than this and is the guardian of a teenager, so she knows what she’s doing. But it’s good she’s here. Because even though I’ve been trained to be calm, trained to be in control and think versus feel…
My insides are a motherfucking mess.
Amelia draws Rina in for a big hug, whispering something into her ear that none of us can hear, and my smirk grows. Because look at this. This group of women who band together to support their people. This family that is so strong in their love.
They are billionaires. They are famous.
But no one else knows them as this.
The family that would walk through fire for each other. The ones who only allow others who follow that motto into their lives.
I shoot up a silent thank you. Not a prayer. A thank you. Because love and trust like this don’t come easy. And are never a given or foregone conclusion. But Octavia Abbot-Fritz and her children deserve every ounce of it.
I hold on to Rina’s hand and then we’re all going for the elevators. Only, we have to check in at the main desk. Get clearance for going up to this special pavilion. And then be escorted there because evidently, they don’t mess around with security.
The dragging minutes in between us doing all this and getting to the floor feel like hours and our already frazzled nerves are on their last straw.
I don’t even know if I’m making sense at this point.
All I know is that I can’t handle this. I’m trying.
I’m trying for strong and brave because that’s all I know, but I already lost one mother.
I can’t lose another.
The doors part and we’re greeted by a nurse with dark hair and a kind smile. “You must be the Abbot-Fritz family. I’m Kelly. Please, come this way.”
“Is my mom okay?” Rina immediately asks.
“We’re running some tests and some of them aren’t back yet.” She glances at Rina. “You’re an ICU nurse, correct?”
Rina bobs her head.
“Good. Okay. Her CBC showed an elevated white count around twenty-two thousand, as well as a left shift.”
“She has an infection,” Rina interjects.
“Yes. We’re running blood cultures and have started her on antibiotics and fluids because it appears she’s also a bit dehydrated.
An infection isn’t uncommon during or shortly after undergoing chemo.
Her immune system is greatly compromised.
But her EKG and chest X-ray are good. No obvious indication of a PE (pulmonary embolus) or pneumonia and her vitals are holding. ”
Rina squeezes my hand, her palm clammy against mine.
“Thank you,” she whispers as we’re led around, only to find six Fritz men, including Dr. Fritz Sr., speaking to two doctors in the middle of the hall.
There is a large nurses’ station off to the side with a couple of people there working on computers, but other than that, the floor is empty and quiet.
It’s so unlike any hospital floor I’ve ever seen.
I’m guessing this is a very private, very exclusive floor in the hospital.
The Fritz men turn as one, spotting us. My eyes lock with Luca’s turbulent ones, much of the color drained from his face. He’s not alone in that. His brothers and father appear as though they’ve aged ten years in the last hour.
I walk straight for him, releasing Rina so I can wrap my arms around him and hold him close to me.
His face hits my neck, and he breathes me in, his body trembling against mine.
He kisses my neck and then pulls me in front of him, my back to his stomach.
All the Fritz men are cocooning their women, holding on tight.
Kaplan and Dr. Fritz embrace Rina as Brecken isn’t here yet.
“We’re still waiting on one more, but please continue, Frank,” Dr. Fritz says to one of the doctors.
What appears to be the lead doctor pushes the bridge of his glasses up his nose as he takes in each of us.
“Sure. Of course. As I was saying, we’re still not sure as to the source of the infection.
I’ve ordered an abdominal CAT scan, which they’ll do shortly, and we’re still waiting on some lab results, but we should know more by tomorrow. ”
“Can we go in and see her?” Rina asks.
“Yes. She’s resting comfortably and the floor is yours. There is also a lounge in the back, and you have access to a concierge who will see to anything you need.”
“Thank you,” we all manage to mumble, shell-shocked and scared.
“Where is Breck—”
“I’m here,” he calls out, sprinting down the hall. “I’m sorry it took me so long. Traffic from the financial district was awful.” He throws his arms around Rina, who immediately starts to lose it against him. “No, baby. Shhh. It’s okay. Don’t cry.”
Tears line my eyes that I instantly swallow down.
“I was bringing her in this morning,” Dr. Fritz murmurs, his voice distant.
“She had been doing better all week, but last night, she didn’t eat much, and she was weak.
I told her I wanted her to get some imaging and blood work done, and she refused the emergency room.
Too public, she said. She didn’t want news of this to get out.
” He emits a deep sigh, his hands on his narrow hips.
“We had an appointment with her doctor and then…” He trails off and clears his throat.
“Well, now that we’re all here, I think it’s safe to say that we won’t be doing Thanksgiving at the compound tomorrow.
” He runs a hand through his thick salt-and-pepper hair, much the way all his sons do when they’re scared or frustrated.
“We’ll do it here,” Grace suggests. “We have the floor to ourselves, and it doesn’t have to be anything special. But it’s not Thanksgiving without Octavia and this is where I want to be.”
“Same,” everyone agrees.
Dr. Fritz sighs, but there’s a small hint of a smile on his face all the same. “Then this is where we’ll do it. No doubt Octavia will complain. She won’t relish us making a fuss over her, but she’ll just have to get used to it.”
“I’ll take care of bringing in food,” I offer.
“I’ll help,” Elle jumps in, tossing me a grateful smile as she leans against Landon.
“Me too.” Amelia places her hand on Oliver’s chest and stares up into his eyes. “We’ll take care of everything. You focus on your mom.” Oliver leans down and places a soft kiss on her lips.
“I guess we’re doing a hospital Thanksgiving then.” Dr. Fritz shakes his head, his eyes bouncing down to the floor. “Just don’t tell your mother. We’ll make it a surprise for her.”