Chapter 31
IN A HEARTBEAT
NATALIE
The kiss started slow, soft, and searching.
But then it deepened, heat building between us like an unraveling of everything we’d held back.
Will’s hands cradled my face, his thumbs brushing my cheeks, and I felt myself sinking into him, into this moment, into the warmth of his lips moving against mine.
My fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer, and for a brief second, I forgot everything. The world outside ceased to exist.
When we broke apart, I pressed my forehead to his, trying to catch my breath. My heart was racing for all the right reasons for once, and I felt like I was standing on the edge of something big, something terrifying, but something I desperately wanted.
My phone started buzzing on the counter, insistent and loud enough to cut through the haze. I ignored it at first, but when it buzzed again—and again—I stepped back, my stomach twisting.
“Sorry,” I muttered, my hand reaching for it. “I should check this.”
I glanced at the screen and froze. Two missed calls from Jason. Two missed calls from Meredith. My throat tightened as I swiped to see the messages.
Jason: Call me now. Emergency. It’s Bebe.
Meredith: Natalie, please pick up. Jason called me. It is about Bebe.
My stomach dropped. I felt the blood drain from my face as I dialed Jason’s number. He picked up on the first ring.
“Natalie,” he said, his voice tense, the background noise chaotic. “We’re at the hospital. It’s Bebe. She’s been complaining of stomach pain, and it’s bad. They think it might be her appendix.”
Before I could respond, I heard it—Bebe crying in the background, her voice high and trembling. “I want Mommy! Mommy, please!” The sound tore through me, raw and desperate.
I pressed a hand to my chest, my knees threatening to give out. “Oh my God,” I whispered, gripping the phone tighter. “Jason, I’m coming. Put her on the phone.”
There was a shuffle on the other end, and then her voice, broken and small, came through the line. “Mommy?”
“I’m here, baby,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady though I could feel it cracking.
“It hurts,” she whimpered, her sobs hitching. “I want you, Mommy. Please come.”
Tears burned in my eyes, spilling over before I could stop them. “I’m coming, sweetheart. I’ll be there soon. Be brave for me, okay? Just a little longer.”
The phone shuffled again as Jason came back on the line. “She’s calming down a little, but she’s scared. I just… I thought you should know. We’re at the pediatric unit at Hoag.”
“I’m on my way,” I said quickly, hanging up.
I pressed the phone to my chest and closed my eyes, trying to breathe, but the sound of her voice—small, scared, and crying—echoed in my head.
“I’ve got to go,” I said abruptly, grabbing my bag. My movements were frantic, my mind already at the hospital with Bebe. “I’m so sorry, I just—I need to get to her.”
Will was already reaching for his keys. “I’ll drive.”
I froze, my bag clutched tightly in my hands. “You don’t have to—”
“I’ve got you,” he said simply, his voice steady, already moving toward the door.
I stared at him for a moment, the weight of his words settling over me, grounding me. I didn’t want to argue, didn’t want to do this alone.
“Okay,” I said softly.
He opened the door, holding it for me as I stepped into his garage, and he held the door of the passenger side to let me in.
The drive to the hospital felt endless. I sat rigid in the passenger seat, clutching my phone so tightly my fingers ached. Every bump in the road seemed to stretch the distance farther, the silence pressing down on me like a weight.
Will glanced over at me, his hand reaching out to rest lightly on mine. The warmth of his touch was steady, grounding.
“You’ll be there soon,” he said softly, his voice calm and reassuring. “She’s going to see you and know everything’s okay.”
I nodded, though my throat was tight, and my chest felt like it was caving in. I didn’t say anything, couldn’t find the words, but his hand stayed on mine the rest of the way, an anchor against the storm inside me.
The fluorescent lights of the ER waiting room buzzed faintly, making the stark white walls feel colder and sharper.
My eyes darted over the rows of plastic chairs until I spotted Jason near the corner.
He was sitting forward, his elbows on his knees, his hands clasped tightly, the tension etched in every line of his body.
Next to him was a woman. She sat close to him, her posture straight and calm, her short dark hair framing round brown eyes that flicked to Jason with quiet concern. One of her hands rested lightly on his, brushing his knuckles in what looked like an attempt to comfort him.
Jason looked up as I approached, his gaze meeting mine. His expression shifted. Confusion flickered briefly as his eyes flicked to Will behind me, but he quickly masked it. Jason stood, his movements tight and deliberate.
“How is she?” I asked, my words coming out sharper than I intended, my chest tightening with every second I didn’t have an answer.
“They just took her back for surgery about five minutes ago,” Jason said. His voice softened slightly, but the strain was still there. “The tests confirmed it’s her appendix. The doctor said the surgery is routine, but…” His words trailed off, and he glanced toward the double doors.
I nodded quickly, trying to keep my breathing steady as I pictured Bebe on an operating table, scared and without me.
Jason gestured toward the woman beside him. “This is Brooke.”
Brooke stood, smoothing her trousers as she stepped forward. “Hi,” she said, her voice even, offering her hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
I hesitated for a split second before shaking her hand briefly. “Hi, nice to meet you,” I said, my voice flat and distracted. I turned and gestured beside me. “And this is Will.”
Before anyone could say more, Meredith walked in through the hospital doors.
She had brought coffee with her. She handed me one and hugged me.
“It’s all going to be okay.” I felt so vulnerable and didn’t want to lose it in front of this Brooke woman, my ex-husband or even Will.
I was feeling so guilty for not being here earlier.
I just missed Bebe. I wanted to just tell her it’s okay.
Meredith could sense I was getting a bit overwhelmed.
The double doors leading to the treatment rooms swung open, and a nurse stepped into the waiting room. Her calm demeanor helped, though the clipboard in her hands made me brace myself.
“Bebe Bradford’s parents?” she asked, glancing at Jason and Brooke.
Jason and I both stepped forward.
“The surgeon asked me to let you know that everything is going well,” she said. “The surgery is underway, and Bebe is doing great so far. We’ll come back with more updates when the procedure is finished.”
“Thank you,” I uttered.
Jason nodded, exhaling deeply as he sat back down.
Meredith was suddenly at my side, gripping my arm tightly. “See? She’s in good hands, Nat,” she said, her voice steady.
I nodded, blinking quickly to hold back the tears that burned at the corners of my eyes. “I know,” I said, though my voice wavered.
Jason leaned forward again; his hands clasped tightly as he stared at the floor. Brooke shifted closer to him, her hand resting lightly on his back, and I had to look away.
I couldn’t sit. I couldn’t move. I stood frozen in place, staring at the doors the nurse had disappeared through, willing them to open again with more good news.
Will stayed close behind me, steady and quiet. He didn’t say anything, but I felt his presence like a safety net, holding me up when I felt like I might collapse.
What felt like an eternity was finally lifted when the doors to the surgical wing swung open once more, and my heart lodged itself in my throat.
A doctor stepped into the waiting room, still in scrubs, his face calm and unreadable.
I shot up from my chair so quickly I nearly tripped over the strap of my bag.
“Bradford family?”
Jason stood at the same time I did, our movements jerky, synchronized by the same shared panic. His hand dropped from Brooke’s knee as I took a hesitant step forward, my voice too stuck to speak. Jason beat me to it.
“Yes, that’s us. How’s Bebe?”
The doctor glanced between us, offering a small, practiced smile.
“The surgery went very well. Her appendix was inflamed, but we were able to remove it without any complications. It hadn’t ruptured, so her recuperation should be smooth. She’s already in recovery and will start waking up soon.”
The tight knot in my chest loosened, just enough to let air in. My hands, clenched into fists, started to shake as the adrenaline drained out of me. She was okay. She was going to be okay.
“When can we see her?” I managed to ask.
“It will take about 30 to 45 minutes for her to wake up fully in recovery,” the doctor said. “One parent can go back to see her then. Once she’s stable and moved to her room, both of you will be able to visit.”
“Only one?” I couldn’t keep the frustration from my tone, even as I knew it was irrational. I just needed to see her. Needed to hold her hand and know for myself that she was fine.
The doctor nodded, unbothered by my reaction.
“We want to minimize stimulation while she wakes up, but the nurses will let you know as soon as she’s ready for a visitor.”
Jason stepped forward; his hands shoved deep in his pockets. “Thank you, Doctor. And… she’s really, okay?”
“She’s doing great. We’ll go over her post-op care instructions soon, but for now, just be here when she wakes up. She’ll be asking for you before long.”
The doctor disappeared back through the doors, leaving the five of us in the too-bright waiting room.
As soon as the doctor disappeared, the tension in the room melted away, replaced by collective relief.
Jason let out a breath, his shoulders finally relaxing.
Brooke offered a small smile, glancing nervously between us, but I didn’t have it in me to care how she felt right now.
Meredith reached over and squeezed my hand.
“See? She’s a tough kid,” Meredith said, her voice light, trying to keep things upbeat. I nodded, swallowing hard.
My legs felt unsteady, but I stayed upright, perched on the edge of my chair. Meredith was on one side, Will on the other, like bookends keeping me from falling apart.
She was okay. I repeated it over and over in my head like a mantra: She’s okay. She’s okay.
The minutes felt endless until the nurse stepped through the doors again, clipboard in hand. Her eyes scanned the room before landing on me.
“Mrs. Bradford?”
I stood, my legs moving before my brain caught up. “Yes?”
The nurse smiled warmly. “She’s asking for you.”
My breath caught. I glanced over at Jason. His eyes met mine, and he gave me a quick nod.
“Go,” he said quietly.
I turned to Will. He was standing just a few feet away, his expression unreadable, but his eyes met mine, steady and reassuring. He gave me a single, firm nod.
That was all I needed. My feet moved before I could even think, following the nurse toward the doors. I pushed them open and stepped into the hallway, the beeping of monitors and the sterile smell of antiseptic filling my senses. All I cared about was seeing her—my baby girl.