Chapter 42
“Oh boy! Look at those buildings! They’re bigger than dinosaurs!” Max exclaimed.
“They sure are.” Summer tried to keep the nerves out of her voice as Benjamin steered the car out of the hotel parking lot, following his phone’s directions toward the hospital.
Max had fallen asleep before they’d reached Cleveland late last night, and Benjamin had carried him up to their room, carefully tucking him into one of the beds before he and Summer had fallen, exhausted, into the other. He had cocooned her against him in the dark, his arms a protective circle she never wanted to leave. She had tried to convince herself not to want that—not to want this to last—but she was so tired of fighting her feelings. And maybe, just maybe he would want her. Maybe he did want her.
Why else would he have driven her and Max all the way to Cleveland to see his estranged brother?
She let herself glance at him from under her lashes. His grip on the steering wheel was tight, and his left leg jounced against his seat.
“Are you nervous?” she asked quietly.
Benjamin’s eyes flicked to her, and he laughed with a light smile. “I think I should be asking you that. I’m not the one who’s about to get poked and prodded.”
But she knew him well enough to catch the apprehension underneath the words.
“The procedures will be fine,” she assured him. “I meant, are you nervous about seeing your brother?”
He shrugged. “What’s there to be nervous about? I’m everyone’s favorite brother anyway.” He shot a lopsided grin at her, and she reached suddenly across the space between them to take his hand.
His eyes came to hers, shining with surprise.
“Thank you for doing this for us.” Her heart was too full to say more, but Benjamin squeezed her hand.
“I would walk to the ends of the earth for you two. A little drive to Cleveland? That’s nothing.”
But it wasn’t nothing. Not to Summer.
They reached the hospital’s campus, and Benjamin followed a series of signs that led to a parking garage.
“Are we in a cave?” Max asked, awe in his voice.
“Something like that.” Summer laughed, but Benjamin had gone silent.
He pulled into a parking spot and shut off the car, then turned to her, gripping both of her hands. “Whatever we find out,” he whispered, “you have to promise me we’re in this together.”
Summer hesitated. She so badly wanted to agree to that. But how could she, when she knew it meant asking him to give up everything?
“Summer.” The urgency in the word made her nod.
“Good.” He leaned forward and kissed her tenderly, as if it might be their last kiss ever, then got out of the car.
Summer forced herself to take a shaky breath and do the same, dread of what they might learn today suddenly hitting her and nearly driving her back into the car.
“Come on.” Benjamin was at her side with Max in one arm. He wrapped the other around her, the solidity of his nearness giving her the strength to move her feet. They made their way into the hospital and followed the signs to the cardiology department, where a receptionist invited them to have a seat.
But they hadn’t been there for two minutes when Max announced that he needed to use the bathroom. Benjamin got up to take him, and Summer was left to herself just as a nurse popped into the waiting room and called for her and Max.
Summer stood. “My— Uh— My husband”—the word was coming easier lately—“just took him to the restroom.”
“That’s okay.” The nurse’s smile was warm. “I’ll take you back and then come out here and get them.”
Summer nodded, though she wanted to argue that she’d rather wait for them. She followed the nurse through the door and down a brightly lit hallway with doors on either side. Finally, the nurse stopped at one and rapped twice.
“Come in,” a male voice that sounded almost familiar called.
“Dr. Calvano will meet with you folks in his office first to go over the procedures and get a thorough history, and then we’ll get everything going.” The nurse pushed the door open and ushered Summer through. “I’ll go get Max and your husband and be right back.”
And then the nurse was gone, and Summer was staring at a man who looked remarkably like a cross between Benjamin and his brother Zeb.
“You must be Summer.” He came around the desk with his hand outstretched.
Summer shook it, at a complete loss for words.
“I’m Dr. Calvano,” he added. “Judah.”
“Benjamin’s brother,” she said dumbly, though he obviously knew that.
He chuckled, the sound deeper than Benjamin’s light, easy laugh. “Yes. Benjamin’s brother. And I hear you’re his wife.”
“I— Um. Well, yes.”
“Congratulations.” He gestured to a couch in the corner of the room. “Have a seat.”
Summer obeyed, searching desperately for something else to say. But before she could come up with anything, there was another knock on the door, and Max came charging in, followed more slowly by Benjamin.
“Are you my uncle Judah?” Max asked eagerly.
Judah’s mouth opened, and he looked to Benjamin, who appeared to be sizing him up.
“I guess I am,” Judah said slowly, holding out a hand to Max. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Max shook the outstretched hand enthusiastically, and Judah grinned the same grin Summer had seen on Benjamin a thousand times.
“Is that a dinosaur?” he asked Max.
“Yep. Benji gave it to me. He said I could bring it with me today. Is that true?”
Judah nodded. “It sure is.”
“Good.” Max tromped over to the couch and climbed up next to Summer, but her eyes were still on Benjamin and Judah.
“It’s good to see you, Benjamin.” Judah held out a hand.
“Yeah. You too.” Benjamin stuck his hand in his brother’s then stepped forward and pulled him into a hug. “Thanks for getting us in so quickly.”
From her vantage point, Summer had a perfect view of the shock on Judah’s face, but he raised a hand to awkwardly pat Benjamin’s back before he pulled away. He cleared his throat and gestured toward the couch where Summer and Max sat. “Have a seat.”
Judah spent the next hour asking questions about her family’s health history, but she couldn’t tell him much since she’d never known her father, and Mama hadn’t said much about her grandparents, who had died when Summer was a little girl. Then he asked questions about TJ’s health and his death, and she managed to only break down once while she answered them with Benjamin’s help.
Finally, Judah announced that a nurse would take them to the lab for their blood draw, which would be followed by an EKG, stress test, and other procedures Summer couldn’t remember.
“Before that,” Benjamin wrapped both of Summer’s hands in his. “Could we pray?”
“Of course.” Judah stepped toward the door. “I’ll give you some privacy.”
“Actually—” Benjamin stopped him. “We’d like you to join us. If you’re willing.”
Summer held her breath as she felt the tension radiating through Benjamin’s grip and saw the same tension in the set of Judah’s jaw.
But after a moment, Judah nodded curtly. “Sure.”
If possible, Benjamin’s hands tightened even more around Summer’s as they all bowed their heads.
“God, you are the Author of all life.” Benjamin’s voice wavered a little, as if he were nervous. Summer wondered if that was because of the upcoming tests or because of Judah’s presence. Benjamin had told her how much he hoped this would be the start of a renewed relationship between Judah and their family—and between Judah and God.
“We ask for your protection over Max and Summer,” he continued, his voice stronger. “We thank you for Judah and his team who will care for them, and we ask that you would bless them with wisdom and guidance. Most of all, we ask that you would help us all to trust in you and in your promises, whatever comes next. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.”
Summer whispered, “Amen” at the same time that Max practically shouted it. She opened her eyes to see Judah lifting his head, his jaw locked tight.
There was a knock at the door, and Judah opened it, looking relieved as the nurse smiled and said she was ready for them.
“You can go with them,” Judah said to Benjamin. “Or you’re welcome to hang out in the waiting room. I have back-to-back patients all morning, but I’ll be back to see you before you leave.”
“I’m going with them,” Benjamin announced, as if daring his brother to contradict him.
But Judah nodded. “I had no doubt.”