29. Maddie
29
MADDIE
The hospital parking lot blurred around me, a sea of concrete and cars that barely registered as I hurried toward the emergency entrance. Ian walked beside me, his steady presence the only thing keeping me grounded in that moment. The automatic doors slid open with a soft whoosh when we reached them, and a rush of cool, sterile air greeted us.
“My dad just had bypass surgery,” I said when I stepped up to the volunteer at the information desk, my stomach twisting. “Which way do I go to see him?”
The man with barely graying brown hair glanced up from the desk. “Just down this hall.” He gestured to the left. “The waiting room’s at the very end on your right.”
“Thanks.”
Ian and I moved down the hall, the sound of our footsteps echoing in the quiet. When we reached a room with green carpet and mauve cushioned chairs, my eyes scanned the space, searching for my siblings. A moment later, I saw Lexi and Easton sitting together with their spouses in the corner.
“Maddie!” Lexi exclaimed, her eyes lighting up when she saw me. She rushed over, throwing her arms around me. “You made it!”
The weight in my chest lightened just a little as I hugged her back, the warmth of her embrace grounding me. “Is Dad okay?”
“He is,” Easton said, stepping up to me next, his voice calm but laced with relief. “They just told us Dad’s out of surgery and in recovery.”
“So...he’s actually going to be okay?” My breath caught as the first sliver of hope slipped into my chest.
“He’s doing well,” Easton said, his voice steady but full of emotion.
Relief flooded me then, and I couldn’t stop the tears as they spilled down my cheeks. Without thinking, I threw my arms around my siblings, and then a few seconds later, Lexi and Easton’s spouses, Noah and Juliette, both joined us, their support wrapping around me like a blanket.
We stood there for a while, holding on to each other, letting the fear of the last few hours drain away.
“Ah, I can’t tell you how relieved I am,” I told my family when we finally pulled apart, wiping my eyes and chuckling quietly. “That was seriously the longest drive of my life.”
“I know,” Lexi said, removing the glasses from her face to dab at her eyes with a tissue. “I was panicking, too.”
We all looked at each other again, seeming to feel the same relief as each other. There was a small movement behind me, and then I remembered Ian was watching all of us.
And when I noticed everyone’s gaze flicking toward Ian, who looked a little out of place but still calm and composed, I stepped back to his side, saying, “I guess you guys are all probably curious who I came here with. But, uh, this is Ian Hastings.” I cleared my throat. “He’s my boss.”
“Your boss?” Lexi’s eyebrows shot up. Her gaze flickered between Ian and me, probably remembering the story of how I’d accidentally kissed him at the club and the few details I’d texted her about our “engagement” story from the weekend.
Before she could say anything else, Ian stepped forward, extending his hand to Easton. “Nice to meet you all. I know it’s probably weird for a boss to tag along for something like this, but we were at a conference together. And when Maddie got the call about your dad, I wanted to make sure she got here safely.”
“We appreciate that,” Easton said, his tone polite but with the protective edge of a younger brother sizing someone up. “Leaving your conference early to bring Maddie here.”
“I’m glad I could do it,” Ian replied, sounding sincere.
Noah stepped forward next. “Good to meet you,” he said, his tall frame matching Ian’s as they exchanged firm handshakes.
“You too,” Ian said, his tone relaxed, though I could sense he was still a bit out of his element.
Juliette smiled as she introduced herself as my sister-in-law, the easy warmth in her voice helping to ease the tension. “Thanks for looking out for Maddie.”
“Of course,” Ian said, returning her smile. Then, glancing at me, his expression softened as he added, “She’s been through so much lately. I just wanted to make sure she didn’t have to face this alone, too.”
The words were simple, but they hit me with an unexpected force. He didn’t want me to have to do this on my own.
He wanted to be there for me.
I couldn’t remember the last time someone who wasn’t related to me had chosen to be there for me—without obligation, without being asked, without hesitation.
And it wasn’t just that Ian had offered; he’d rearranged his life, canceled important plans, and dropped everything to make sure I wasn’t alone in one of the scariest moments of my life.
That kind of care, that kind of selflessness...it was almost overwhelming. It made me feel seen in a way I hadn’t felt in years, maybe ever.
And it terrified me, because I wasn’t sure what to do with it—or what it might mean.
What I wanted it to mean, even though I’d been so sure this morning that I needed to forget all the feelings I’d been growing for Ian so I could focus on just doing well at my job and building a good life for Grant and me.
Ugh, there was so much going on right now. So many ideas bouncing around in my head. I just…I wasn’t sure I even had the bandwidth to sift through everything that was happening right now.
We all moved back to the corner where I’d first found my siblings, sinking into the mauve chairs as the conversation shifted to lighter topics.
A nurse in scrubs approached us a little while later, her clipboard in hand. “Your father’s awake,” she said, her voice kind. “You can go see him now.”
So my siblings and I filed into his room, leaving Ian and the in-laws in the waiting room.
“What are you all doing here?” Dad asked when he saw us, looking pale but alert, his tired smile tugging at my heart. “I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine,” Lexi said gently, taking his hand. “You had a heart attack, Dad.”
“I know.” His eyes softened, and his voice was hoarse as he muttered, “Didn’t mean to scare you all.”
“Well, you did.” Easton let out a quiet chuckle, though his voice was thick with emotion.
We spent the next little while catching up, laughing, and sharing updates. And after the nerve-wracking day I had so far, it felt good to have my dad talking and smiling, even if he looked exhausted.
Later, a nurse came in, her ponytail swinging as she adjusted Dad’s IV. And even though I hadn’t seen her in several years, it only took a moment for me to recognize her—Amber Leighton, an old high school classmate.
“Maddie Stevens,” Amber said brightly, her voice lifting with surprise and warmth as her gaze landed on me. “Wow, it’s been years! How have you been?”
“I’ve been good, thanks,” I said, blinking as recognition clicked. She’d been a year ahead of me in high school, a friendly overachiever who somehow managed to balance cheerleading with straight A’s. “It’s so nice to see you. I didn’t know you worked here.”
“I’ve been here a few years now,” she said with a shrug, her smile unwavering. “How about you? What have you been up to?”
“Oh, you know,” I hedged. “Just…life.” My voice sounded off, even to me, but I tried to force a small smile.
Amber didn’t seem to notice. “I heard you moved recently. I guess you’re not in Ridgewater anymore?”
“No, I’m not,” I said, unsure how much more to offer since we’d never been that close. Just had a P.E. class or two together.
“Your dad did great in surgery, by the way.” Amber’s gaze shifted to Dad, her expression softening. “A real champ.”
“Thank you,” I said, relief threading through my voice. “I was so relieved to see him again after getting the news this morning.”
“I bet. Especially with everything you have going on right now.” Her tone was kind, professional, and then she got a glint I didn’t quite understand in her eyes before she said, “Oh, and congratulations, by the way.”
Congratulations? I blinked. “Uh…thanks?”
What was she congratulating me on exactly?
Lexi and Easton had been standing nearby, quietly chatting while Dad rested. But seeming to realize this catch up with Amber might take longer than expected, Lexi gave me a quick hug. “We’re going to grab something to eat. We’ll be back in a bit.”
“Okay,” I murmured, still trying to process Amber’s words as my siblings left the room.
For a second, I wondered if it was normal for nurses to congratulate family members after surgery. Maybe it was some sort of positive bedside manner thing.
But then Amber said, “I saw it on Instagram this morning. The engagement. So sweet how you two quietly dated all spring, and then you surprised him by getting a job in his building. A real-life fairytale.”
What? My stomach lurched as I realized what she was talking about.
But before I could figure out what to say, Amber, clearly oblivious to my growing panic, turned to Dad with a wide grin. “And look at that ring!” She pointed to my hand, and my heart sank as I realized I hadn’t thought to take it off before coming in. The massive diamond Ian had bought me for our charade sparkled obnoxiously in the fluorescent light. “It must feel good knowing your daughter’s set for life. With a billionaire, no less.”
“A billionaire?” Dad’s eyes snapped to mine, his expression a mix of shock and something else—wariness? “Engaged?”
Oh no. This was not good.
Was he going to have another heart attack?
My pulse thundered in my ears. “Dad, I?—”
But Amber, still cheerful and blissfully unaware of the emotional minefield she’d just detonated, gave a little laugh. “Anyway, I’m going to need some privacy to take care of the catheter situation. If you could just step out for a bit…”
“Right. Of course,” I managed to say, actually grateful for the excuse to leave and gather my thoughts.
I practically bolted from the room, my legs shaky as I stepped into the hallway. Leaning against the wall, I pressed a hand to my chest, willing my heart to stop racing.
What the heck was I supposed to do now? How could I possibly explain this to Dad without making his condition worse than it already was?
And how was I supposed to handle the fact that my so-called “engagement” to Ian was now officially out in the world?