Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 77016 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77016 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
I walk to reception. “Tessa Logan was just brought in. How is she?”
“Are you a family member?”
“I’m Braden Black. My girlfriend is Tessa’s best friend. She’s the one who called 911.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Black, but I can’t give out any patient information unless you’re a family member.”
I consider waving some substantial cash around to get answers, but I don’t.
We’ll find out soon enough, and Skye needs me. I return to her and sit down.
“I have to call her parents,” she says numbly.
I nod. “You mean you haven’t?”
“No. I… I couldn’t think. I have no idea what to say to them.”
I take her phone from her. “What’s the number?”
“It’s in my contacts under Dan and Carlotta Logan.”
I find the contact and press call.
“Hello,” a male voice says.
“Hello, Mr. Logan? I apologize for calling at this late hour. My name is Braden Black, and my girlfriend is Skye Manning. I’m sorry to tell you that your daughter Tessa has been taken to Mass General ER.”
“What? Is she okay?” Panic laces his tone.
“She was drinking, and Skye found her passed out and couldn’t wake her. That’s all I know because they won’t give any information to non-family members.”
“My wife and I will be there right away. Thank you so much for calling.”
“No problem. I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news. We’ll see you soon.” I turn to Skye. “They’re on their way.”
She nods.
I take her hand, rub my thumb into her palm.
I wish I could fix this for her. For Tessa.
But I couldn’t fix my mother.
I couldn’t fix my father.
And I couldn’t fix Addie that day.
And now that I have enough money to last ten lifetimes?
I still can’t fix things like this.
Money truly isn’t everything.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Dan and Carlotta Logan arrive in twenty minutes. They go straight to reception and don’t say anything to us. Not that I blame them. Their little girl is back there, and for all they know she may have OD’d.
Garrett Ramirez is not worth this. What hold does he have over Tessa?
A nurse comes out and talks to the Logans. Eventually, they make their way over to Skye and me.
I wait for Skye to acknowledge them. She doesn’t. Just as I’m about to, Tessa’s mother speaks.
“Hello, Skye,” Mrs. Logan says. “I’m so glad you found her.”
She still doesn’t speak.
I stand. “I’m Braden Black. How is Tessa?”
“She’s going to be okay,” Mrs. Logan says. “They’re pumping her stomach.”
It was drugs. Damn. I hate to be right.
“So soon?” I ask.
“It’s a preventive measure,” Mr. Logan says. “They won’t get her toxicology lab report back for an hour or so.”
I nod. “I see.”
“You two can go home,” Mr. Logan says. “We’ll call you when we know anything more, Skye.”
“Skye?” I ask.
“I want to stay,” she finally says.
“All right.” I return to my seat. “Is there anything I can do for any of you?”
“Some coffee would be nice,” Mrs. Logan says. “Thank you, Mr. Black.”
I take Skye’s hand and pull her out of her chair. Nothing in the hospital is open, of course, so we walk to a convenience store across the street where I grab two coffees.
“You want anything?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “I should be there.”
“They needed some time to deal with what they just found out.”
“Is that why you dragged me along?”
“That, and because you needed to get away.”
She doesn’t reply.
“This isn’t your fault, Skye.”
“She asked me to have dinner with her and Garrett tonight. I said no, because you and I had plans. I knew we were going to… And I was looking forward to it. I wanted it so badly.”
“Why didn’t you call me? I would have understood.”
“I know. But I didn’t want to break our date. I wanted… Damn! How selfish am I?”
“It’s not selfish to refuse to break a previous commitment, Skye. You and I both know that. Tessa is a grown-up. She’s responsible for her own actions.”
We’ve already been through this. She’s just distraught, and for good reason.
But I’m right.
She knows I’m right.
She stays silent as we walk back to the hospital.
“Here you go.” I hand the tray with the coffees, cream, and sugar to Dan Logan.
Then I sit next to Skye and hold her hand.
I don’t ask her to talk.
I’m able to go through some emails on my phone, but mostly I worry.
I worry about Tessa.
And about Skye.
Because if anything happens to Tessa?
Skye’s heart will be broken.
…
A few hours later, a young doctor comes to the waiting room and approaches the Logans. “I’m Dr. Mary Hedstrom. I have good news. Tessa is going to be fine.”
Skye slumps against me, and a concrete block lifts from my shoulders.
Thank God.
“Could I speak to you two in private?” Dr. Hedstrom says to the Logans.
“It’s okay,” Mr. Logan replies. “Skye is Tessa’s best friend, and Mr. Black is Skye’s…gentleman friend. They’ve both been very helpful. You may speak freely.”