Chapter 40
Jordan
I’m nervous as fuck when I pull up to Victoria’s house. Her father was less than pleased when he found out we’re engaged, and she’s already warned me that he’s in a mood today. There’s nothing I can do to change his mind about Victoria and me, but I’m going to do my best to show him I’m worthy.
Maybe that’s not exactly it.
It’s more about giving Victoria the peace she needs, so that we can be together but she can still have her family. I don’t quite understand it, because my parents love me unconditionally, but since I know she wants this, it’s my job to do everything in my power to give it to her.
The one thing I know now is that even though she would hate it, she’s willing to go no-contact with her parents if they force the issue. I love that she’s picking me, but I don’t want that for her. Or for our baby.
I’m so fucking excited that she’s pregnant.
I’ve been trying to keep my feelings buried because I know she’s still scared but I can’t help but feel that this was inevitable.
There was never going to be anyone else or any other outcome.
Maybe we could have waited a year to start trying but it doesn’t matter.
Four years ago, I was scared, but I still wanted us to have that baby.
Today, she and our baby are my entire world.
Somehow, I have to convince her father of that.
I picked up a bottle of wine since her mother is cooking and my fingers feel sweaty on the slippery glass. My stomach is a little off too, which almost never happens to me. But this is important. One of the most important moments of my life.
I can’t fuck this up.
Mr. Denali opens the door and there’s already a scowl on his face.
“Palmer.” He gives me a dismissive once over.
“Mr. Denali.” I hold out my hand and he scowls but then reluctantly shakes it.
“I brought wine,” I say needlessly, and then want to kick myself. I sound like an idiot.
“Hello, Jordan.” Mrs. Denali comes around the corner and smiles. “Is that for our dinner?”
“Yes. I hope you like red.”
“Chianti is my favorite and it goes perfectly with lasagna.”
“Grampa, can we go outside?” Charlie comes into the room bouncing on his toes. “Preeze? You promised!”
Mr. Denali momentarily softens. “In a few minutes, buddy.”
“We can pray soccer!” He seems to be having trouble pronouncing Ls and it’s pretty cute.
“Rod, why don’t you and Jordan take Charlie outside? He needs to burn off some energy before dinner.” Mrs. Denali gives her husband a pointed look and he grunts.
“Fine. Come on, Charlie.”
“Yay!” Charlie races out the back door with his grandfather and I trailing behind him. They start kicking around a soccer ball and I stand off to the side watching, unwilling to interfere in their bonding time.
Mr. Denali is a different man when he’s with his grandson, which is nice but also frustrating. Hopefully, that means he’ll be equally attentive to the child Victoria is carrying.
They kick the ball around but Mr. Denali seems to be tiring out, and he comes to stand next to me in the shade, breathing a little harder than warranted for the game they’re playing.
“You know I don’t like you,” he says when Charlie chases after a runaway ball.
“I do,” I say, “but I’d like to find a way to change that.”
“If you hurt her—”
“I’m never going to hurt her,” I interrupt fiercely. “She’s the only woman I’ve ever loved. There’s nothing I won’t do for her. Including coming here today even though I know you don’t want me here. Even though I know you don’t like me.”
He doesn’t respond and when I glance up at him he seems a little pale.
“Are you…okay?” I ask after a moment.
“I’m fine,” he says. Then he shakes his head and uses his right hand to massage his left arm. “Just a little pain…”
Worry gnaws at the edge of my psyche.
“You want to sit down?” I pull a chair from the patio closer to him.
“I’m okay, just need…” His voice trails and he clutches his chest. “Fuck…”
Before I can figure out what’s happening, he starts to collapse. Somehow, I manage to catch him and break his fall.
“Mr. Denali!” I yell his name, but his eyes are closed and he’s not moving.
It’s a heart attack.
There’s no doubt in my mind.
“Charlie! Go get Grandma! Now!” I hate to yell at him but my tone of voice must get through to him because he bolts into the house.
I lower my ear to Mr. Denali’s mouth, listening for a breath but there isn’t one. Fumbling with his wrist, I look for a pulse but I don’t find one.
Jesus. Fuck.
“What’s happened?” Mrs. Denali comes running outside with Victoria behind her.
“I think he’s having a heart attack,” I yell. “Call 911!”
Most of our inner circle got certified in CPR because Chloe insisted it was important, and suddenly the training kicks in. I start doing chest compressions, hoping I remember how to do them correctly.
“Oh, my God.” Mrs. Denali drops down beside me but I hear Victoria on the phone with emergency services.
“…don’t know, he collapsed…we’re doing CPR…yes, hurry!”
“Grampa?” Charlie comes outside looking bewildered.
“Take him inside,” I hiss to Victoria, who quickly ushers him back into the house.
“What happened?” Mrs. Denali whispers.
“He was playing with Charlie and then just went down. I couldn’t find a pulse and he stopped breathing…” I’m breathing hard as I continue compressions. I hear Chloe’s voice in my head reminding me that keeping the blood circulating is important.
Luckily, I hear sirens in the distance.
Help is coming.
I just hope it’s not too late.
* * *
Everything is a blur once the paramedics arrive. Mrs. Denali is crying, Victoria is white as a ghost, and Ivy is trying valiantly to keep Charlie upstairs, away from the chaos.
I hear words like cardiac arrest and AED but my focus now is on Victoria. She’s pale and scared, and all I can do is keep my arm around her as they lift her father onto a gurney and put him in the ambulance.
“I’m going with him!” Mrs. Denali cries, jumping into the ambulance.
“Let’s follow,” I tell Victoria, who nods.
“Let me get my purse and my mom’s—she left without it.”
Ten minutes later we’re at the hospital, waiting.
Mrs. Denali looks like she’s going to fall over at any moment and I go get some coffee for her. Victoria looks a little green around the gills too, and I pull her close.
“You need to eat something.”
“I can’t,” she whispers.
“You have to. You’re going to puke if you don’t.”
She doesn’t respond, merely rests her head against my chest.
“Let me go find you something to eat. The cafeteria may still be open.”
“Okay. Bring something for Mom too. Just in case.”
“All right.”
As I go, I pull out my phone and text Chloe.
JORDAN: I’m at General West. Victoria’s dad had a heart attack. We don’t know anything yet. Are you at work today?
CHLOE: I am. Give me his name and I’ll see if I can get you any info.
I tell her the basics and then put my phone back in my pocket.
It takes me about ten minutes to buy burgers, fries, and bottles of water, and by the time I get back to the waiting area, Chloe is approaching us.
“Hey. Have you heard anything?”
She nods. “He had a heart attack and went into cardiac arrest. Whoever did CPR literally saved his life.”
“Jordan.” Mrs. Denali grips my forearm but doesn’t say anything else as Chloe continues.
“They’re running tests now but my guess is that they’re going to take him into surgery to put in a few stents, depending on what they find. He’s very lucky that Jordan was there to do CPR.”
She goes into a little more detail about heart attacks and cardiac arrest, but I’ve tuned her out at this point.
I’m feeling a little lightheaded, if I’m honest. The seriousness of the situation is just hitting me now, and though I reacted the way I needed to in the moment, the aftermath is a bit overwhelming.
If I hadn’t started CPR, he would have died.
This could have gone wrong in so many ways.
“Babe?” Victoria is watching me intently.
“I’m okay,” I respond automatically. “Just trying to catch my breath.”
“I know.”
“I have to get back,” Chloe says, “but text me if you need me. I’ll be here until late.”
“Thank you, Chloe.” Victoria squeezes her hand.
Then we all sink down into chairs.
“Eat,” I nudge Victoria.
She takes a bite of the burger.
Mrs. Denali looks at her like she can’t decide if she wants it or not.
“Not eating isn’t going to help him, Mom,” Victoria says gently. “And you’ll need your strength to stay with him.”
She nods and then looks at me, her expression one of surprise. “You saved his life,” she whispers. “I don’t know how I’ll ever thank you.”
“No thanks are necessary,” I say gruffly.
“They absolutely are.” Tears fill her eyes. “We’ve been unfair to you, Jordan, and I’m so very sorry.”
I shake my head. “It’s fine. Really.”
“It’s not, but maybe we can talk about this…later. Once I know Rod is going to be okay.”
“Whatever you need,” I say gently. “I’m here for all of you.”
“Thank you, Jordan. I mean it.” Mrs. Denali reaches for my hand, squeezing it tightly. “I’m…glad you’re here. With Victoria and with me.”
“Like I said, whatever you need. I’m here for you.”
Tears puddle in the older woman’s eyes as she nods.
Then Victoria leans against my side, whispering in my ear, “I love you, Jordan Palmer.”
That’s really good to hear.