Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
“ C an you talk?”
Ian glanced over his shoulder and stood up. “Hold on. The lounge is empty right now, so I can go in there.”
Keeping his head down, Ian weaved in and out of the other officers, stopping when he reached the door of the staff lounge. After another quick look around, he stepped into the room and shut the door behind him. Then he pulled out one of the chairs and sat down.
“What’s up?”
Liam sounded distracted and anxious when he spoke. “I’ve got an old buddy of mine who works for the FBI. I’ve been doing everything I can to build a case against Eric, and I think we just caught a break.”
Ian’s heart missed a beat. “What did you find?”
“It’s not me. It’s my—Eric. He’s on the FBI watch list.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means we have a shot, after all,” Liam replied, his voice rising toward the end. “Since he’s on their watch list, it means he must’ve done something big. Something they want to nail him for. Now, all we have to do is gather enough evidence.”
“Isn’t that the FBI’s job in this case?”
“It is, but it doesn’t mean we can’t help nudge them along,” Liam replied, his voice trailing off. “We’ll need to make sure all of our information is airtight, then we can turn it in.”
Ian leaned forward and ran a hand through his hair. “So, that’s it? That’s all we need to do?”
“It’s not as simple as you think. It’s going to take some time and patience, but if this works… Let’s just say we won’t have to worry about him again for a long, long time.”
Ian sat up straighter and exhaled. “So, it’s great news.”
“You can’t confirm what I just told you because it’s meant to be a rumor. If anyone asks, it’s just a rumor that I told you.”
“Got it. Thank you, Liam. I honestly don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”
“Don’t mention it, Uncle E. It’s not over yet, but we’re on the right path.”
After the line went dead, Ian sat on his chair, staring at his phone and barely able to believe his luck. When he heard his name being called, he rose to his feet and found Marissa wandering the halls looking for him. Together, the two of them went back to their desks to finish some paperwork. On the drive home at the end of their shift, Ian couldn’t help but feel relieved.
For the first time in months, thinking of the future didn’t leave him with knots in his stomach or a crippling sense of dread. Instead, he felt hopeful and eager to see what the future held for him and his family, especially with Eric soon to be out of the picture.
Once he stepped in through his front door, he kicked off his shoes, unwound his scarf, and hung up his coat. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a flash of movement and turned to it. Lucy came out of the backyard, a blanket draped over her shoulders and her fingers curled around her mug.
But it was the red-rimmed eyes that made Ian freeze. “What happened? Are you okay?”
Lucy opened her mouth and shook her head instead.
Ian crossed over to her in two strides and took her into his arms, the mug digging into his chest. “I’ve got you. I’m here. What do you need?”
Lucy shuddered and drew back to look at him. “The doctors were finally able to figure out what is wrong with me. I got the call a few minutes ago.”
He wasn’t sure he wanted to know anymore.
Ian did feel like being sick, and he was also desperate for a way to figure out how to turn back time.
Or figure out how to put Lucy in a bubble.
But the harder he tried to stay optimistic and steer his thoughts toward something more positive, the more his mind raced, filling in the gaps with one ominous scenario after the next.
Ian’s stomach dipped as he laced his fingers through hers. “Let’s sit down.”
Oh, God. What are you going to do now, Ian? How are you going to tell the kids?
He licked his dry lips, pulled Lucy down next to him, and adjusted the blanket around her. “What did the doctors say?”
Lucy paused to set the mug down on the coffee table. Then, she lifted tear-stained eyes to his. “I’ve been diagnosed with lupus.”
Ian’s ears were ringing. “The autoimmune disease?”
Lucy squared her shoulders and nodded. “I’m supposed to go in for a follow-up appointment. It’s actually in thirty minutes.”
Ian cleared his throat. “Did the doctor tell you anything else?”
Lucy shook her head and sagged against the couch. “No, but he doesn’t need to. I looked up lupus, and it’s awful.”
“Don’t go down the internet rabbit hole,” Ian advised before draping his arm over her shoulders. “Let’s just take it one day at a time. Why don’t you go upstairs to freshen up and change, and I’ll wait for you down here? Unless you want me to come upstairs with you.”
Lucy stood up on shaky legs. “I can have Dean take me. You just got back from your shift.”
Ian rose to his feet and pulled her in for a hug. “I’m taking you to the doctor. I’ll be right here, okay? I’m not going anywhere.”
When Lucy came back downstairs, having washed her face and changed into a pair of jeans and a sweater, Ian had no idea where to look. He’d spent the past few minutes waiting for her and pacing. In silence, he led her outside into the late afternoon air and hurried to open the car door for her. She held his hand during the drive to the doctor’s office.
Once they reached the building, Ian parked the car and took Lucy’s arm in his. She followed him, her expression withdrawn and grief-stricken. On the second floor, they pushed the door open and stepped into a spacious office with a few couches on either side, cream-colored walls, and a heater blasting in the background. Ian left Lucy on the couch and went to the receptionist, who sat behind the desk and smiled at him. After making sure the doctor knew they were there, Ian sat back down and tried not to frown at the soft music wafting through overhead speakers.
He gripped Lucy’s hand in his and rubbed his thumb along the inside of her wrist. She was leaning back against the couch with her eyes closed when they called her name.
Ian stood first and turned to face Lucy.
Slowly, she got up, and she shrank in on herself as they walked through a door to their right, where an exam table was set up, and a kind-looking doctor with wisps of silver hair sat behind a rectangular-shaped mahogany desk.
The doctor wore a white coat and stood to shake their hands when the door clicked shut behind him. Ian tried not to let his eyes dart around the office, and he hoped the doctor didn’t notice the tremor in his hand when he held it. His ears were ringing, and a hard knot had settled in the center of Ian’s stomach.
How was Lucy remaining so calm and collected with her head held high and her shoulders squared?
How was it all Ian could think about was taking Lucy back out to the car and driving away?
He wanted to keep driving and never stop, as if he could outrun any of it.
Ian was going to be sick all over the doctor’s expensive-looking carpet. The only thing keeping him together was Lucy slipping her hand in his and squeezing. As soon as she did, shame and guilt rose up within him.
He had to be strong for her.
He needed to be.
Ian was doing his best not to break down, but it felt like it was all happening to someone else.
Please, let her be okay. Please, I’ll do anything.
“Please sit down, Mr. and Mrs. Railings. I’m sorry you’re not coming in under better circumstances.”
Ian waited for Lucy to sit down before perching on the seat opposite her. He leaned forward and cleared his throat. “Thank you for seeing us on such short notice.”
Dr. Monroe sat up straighter and pushed his glasses up higher. “Of course. It’s never easy when you have to give a patient bad news, so I knew you’d want to come in right away. As I’m sure you know by now, lupus is a disease that happens when the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues and organs.”
Ian’s throat closed up. “What causes a disease like this?”
Dr. Monroe cleared his throat. “Sunlight, stress, smoking, certain medicines, and viruses. But there’s nothing you could’ve done to prevent this diagnosis because, in a lot of cases, it has to do with genes and the estrogen hormone.”
Lucy swallowed and straightened her spine. “Is lupus treatable?”
Dr. Monroe glanced over at her and frowned. “Unfortunately, there’s no cure for lupus at the moment, but there’s been a lot of headway when it comes to managing the symptoms.”
“Managing the symptoms?” Ian echoed the words, and they sounded strange to his own ears. “I don’t understand.”
Dr. Monroe reached underneath his desk and pulled out two bottles of water. “You both need to take a minute; I understand.”
Lucy guzzled the water in one gulp, but Ian stared at the doctor, his stomach continuing to twist and fold on itself. “What are we going to do if there’s no cure?”
Dr. Monroe placed both hands on either side of the desk. “That’s why I’m here, Mr. Railings. Your wife has a mild form of lupus, so it hasn’t progressed yet, which is good news. This means that in order to manage her symptoms, including the pain, we’ll need to follow a few simple steps.”
Lucy set her empty bottle down and lifted her gaze to the doctor’s. “What do I need to do?”
“You’ll need to limit sun exposure as much as you can and start exercising more,” Dr. Monroe said after a brief pause. “You’ll also need to make a few changes to your diet to ensure you have the healthiest eating habits possible.”
Lucy nodded, and some of the color returned to her face. “Okay, I can do that.”
“Is there any kind of medication she’ll be taking?”
Dr. Monroe turned his gaze to Ian, and his expression was open and sympathetic. “Yes, I’ll be prescribing something right now. It’s a little strong, so neither of you should be surprised if Mrs. Railings starts to feel a little nauseous after. I’d recommend you take it after a big meal.”
Lucy leaned back against the chair and gripped the armrest on either side of her. “Does it have any other side effects?”
“There are a few in the pamphlet. If you have any concerns, you give me a call.” Dr. Monroe reached into his drawer and pulled out a notepad. He jotted down a few things in neat, cursive handwriting and ripped the paper off. Then he held it out, and Ian shot up to take it.
He ignored the tremor racing through him. “Is there anything else we can do?”
“You’ll need to follow up with me every two months,” Dr. Monroe added before linking his fingers together. “If anything happens, you call my office right away. Other than that, you live your life normally. Lupus is not an uncommon diagnosis, so I don’t want you to worry too much.”
Ian didn’t hear anything else the doctor said.
It felt like he was underwater, and everything was garbled.
Until Lucy rose to her feet and shook the doctor’s hand.
Ian tucked the prescription into his back pocket and offered the doctor a quick handshake and a nod. Then he was leading Lucy outside, his body on autopilot the entire time. As soon as they got home, he called out to Dean and pulled him aside. After making sure Lucy was lying down, Ian snatched his wallet and keys off the counter and stepped outside.
When Stu and Sophia found him, Ian was on the pier, his legs dangling over the edge and the tears streaming steadily down his face. Wordlessly, his father and sister pulled him in for a hug and held him tight. Ian bowed his head and let the tears fall freely.
“I don’t know what I’m supposed to do next,” Ian murmured gruffly. “I don’t know how I’m supposed to help her.”
Sophia’s eyes were red when she drew back. “We’ll figure it out together, E. Whatever Lucy needs, we’ll all be there.”
Stu took a step back and clapped Ian on the back. “You’re not alone in this, Son. Neither are Lucy and the kids. We’re all going to be here, no matter what.”
Ian glanced between the two of them, and the swell of emotion in his chest tightened. “I don’t know what I would do without you all.”