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“St. Joseph’s. It’s the nearest one.”
I nodded. “I’ll be right behind you.”
“Can I come with you?” Lorna asked.
“Yes. Definitely.” I grabbed her hand and we followed the paramedics out the front door.
I broke several traffic rules on my way to the hospital but fortunately, there weren’t many cars on the road. But I still didn’t make it in time to see the paramedics bring my mother in, so I had to ask a nurse at the front desk.
“Yes. I saw them bring her in, but I don’t have any information yet. Please take a seat in the waiting room and I’ll let the doctors know you’re here.”
“Thank you,” I said, and sat next to Lorna.
A few hours later, Lorna got up. “Can I get you a coffee?” she asked, stretching her arms.
“No, thanks. I’m not hungry.”
“Me neither,” she said. “I just need to get up and move around. Sitting and waiting is making me anxious.”
“You don’t have to stay, Lorna. Really. I’ll keep you posted.”
“I can’t leave you here alone.”
Alone.
She was right. If something happened to my mother, I was truly alone. My face crumbled and Lorna pulled me into her arms.
“I won’t leave you, Grace. I’ll stay here all night.”
I hugged her tight, finally releasing all the pent-up fear I’d held in until now. I cried until I could hardly breathe and Lorna just squeezed me tighter.
“Thank you, Lorna.” I pulled away and wiped the tears from my face. “I really needed that. But I’ll be okay now. You have a family waiting at home for you. I’ll just curl up on one of these couches.”
“I—I can’t leave you like this,” she said, looking around the waiting room. The brightly colored furniture had some dark spots, but it didn’t look all that bad.
“I’ll just sleep, anyway. I promise I’ll text you as soon as I hear anything. Go.”
“I’m just going to tuck my kids in and then I’ll come right back here.”
“Don’t. I’ll be fine. Go.” This time I pushed her toward the exit and nodded my head when she turned to look over her shoulder. I waved my hands, shooing her away.
I kept the pasted smile on my face until Lorna exited the automatic glass doors and walked out of sight. Then my face crumbled, and I fell into one of the large armchairs and let the tears fall.
I checked my watch and realized two hours had passed and still nothing from the doctors. I walked over to the nurse’s desk.
“Excuse me, are there any updates for me?”
“And you are?”
I realized this was a new nurse. The other shift had ended about an hour ago. “My name’s Grace Sweeney. The ambulance brought my mother in earlier.”
“Let me check.” She got up and went into a private hallway. A few minutes later, she returned. “The doctor said she’ll be out shortly to speak with you.”
“Thank you,” I said, breathing a sigh of relief. I wasn’t sure if the delay was good news, that she was all right and they hadn’t wanted to wake me or something else. I couldn’t imagine the other options.
“Grace Sweeney?” a voice called from the end of the hallway.
I shot up and rushed toward the woman in blue scrubs and a white coat. “I’m doctor Nadine Johnson.”
