“Arianna’s scared. Not just because of the baby, but because Papa’s in the hospital and she can’t even visit him. Not to mention, I’m now your king.”
Holy shit. Ethan hadn’t even thought about the fact that Alex was now Acting King. His head had been too consumed with people he loved in a health crisis: Anda, his father, and Arianna.
Damn it.
Alex’s voice was stone cold. “I’m the head of the family for the moment. It’s my preference that you go to Arianna, and I’d appreciate a little cooperation. However, you’re the doctor, so feel free to make up your own damn mind.”
“Alex—”
“Papa’s room is down the hall. Mama and Rebecca are in there with him. If you’ll excuse me, I have a Council meeting to get to.”
“Damn it, Alex,” Ethan called as Alex walked away.
Fuck, damn, shit.
Ethan fisted his hands in his hair and took a deep, hard breath before letting go. He’d apologize and sort things out with Alex later. Right now, he had to go check on his father.
He finished making his way down the hall and nodded to the RPS agents guarding the door. He knocked gently, then entered.
As a doctor, he’d been in numerous hospital rooms. He never thought anything of them. It was as if he was somehow immune to their power to destroy hope and encourage depression, or facilitate life in one way or another.
Entering now, as the son of a patient, he felt that heady weight bear down on his shoulders. He wasn’t a prince, he wasn’t a doctor.
He was simply a son.
Gabriel wasn’t a king or a beloved ruler anymore. He was simply a man, his father. His Papa. Weak with machines and IVs attached to him.
Genevieve wasn’t a queen anymore. She was simply a woman, a wife, his Mama, who was worried for her husband and glad to see her son again.
He never felt more like a child again than he did in that moment.
Christ, he wished Anda was here.
He greeted Rebecca and his mother, then sat down on the bed and took his papa’s hand. “Tell me what happened.”
His mama nodded at the patient chart tucked into its spot at the end of the bed. “Can you check his chart first? Make sure the doctors are doing all they can?”
“I will, but I want to talk to you first. Tell me.”
His father’s voice was low and a little broken. “It was my fault.”
“It wasn’t anyone’s fault,” Ethan said automatically. It was a doctor’s response; the best thing to do to aid a patient’s recovery was to ensure they were emotionally positive. Later, he would talk about diets and stress and that kind of shit, but right now he didn’t want any guilt his father had to deter his recovery.
His papa shook his head. “No, it was. I wasn’t feeling well, knew something was wrong, but waited five minutes before saying anything.”
His mother brushed her husband’s cheek. “You’re a stubborn fool.”
His father leaned into her touch, then kissed her hand. “As you know only too well, my dear.”
They updated him on the wedding—it would go forward with a wedding breakfast afterwards, but the large reception was cancelled in favor of a family-only event so their father could attend.
They updated him on Arianna—not much change—and his father wanted him to go to her as soon as possible.
Once Rebecca left, he finally got a look at his father’s chart. NSTEMI…hmmm…that was a more mild heart attack, but he still might have some damage to his heart. They ran another blood test…by the looks of it, they might run another ECG. Dr. Wilson was one of the top cardiologists in Valleria and he trusted her with his father, but he’d still stop by and see her before he left.
A sharp sense of relief filled him. His father wasn’t out of the woods yet, but he was getting there.
Tomorrow, he’d head to Brazenbourg, but first he’d fix things with Alex.
