Chapter Thirty-five
Angie took the call that evening when her nursing friend from the hospital phoned with the news that the ambulance was arriving with Jack at any minute. Frantic, she yelled loud enough for the whole house to come running. Both Mark and Mia arrived from the lower floor with Maisie close behind.
Mark spoke first. “Angie, what’s up? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Unable to speak at first, she reached her hand out to empty space. Then she fainted.
Mia’s heart dropped and fear replaced her usual calm. Something must have happened, and it wasn’t good. She ran to help a reviving Angie sit up, using her arms behind the woman’s back to support her.
“Auntie, can you tell us what’s upset you?”
Angie seemed to take forever to answer and when she looked at Mia, her eyes glowed with a love so strong, it stopped Mia’s next words. Instead, she just hugged her aunt and gave her the time she seemed to need. The others, sensing a moment, kept quiet also, though they both reached out.
Finally, Angie lifted her head from Mia’s shoulder, patted Maisie’s head now on her lap and whispered, “He’s okay. Jack’s okay.” Tears began falling, drenching her face, and Mia felt her own response to Angie’s words. Her heart stopped while she choked back her own screams.