“No problem. Now I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but visitation hours for the ICU are over.”
“We can’t stay the night?” Spice asked with furrowed eyebrows. “We can’t just leave him.”
“Unfortunately, staying the night in the ICU is prohibited. I’ll be his nurse tonight and I’ll make sure he’s well taken care of. Matter fact-” She paused, pulling a notepad from her pocket. “I’m going to give you my cell number and you can call and check on him as often as you need to.”
“Ok.” Spice took the piece of paper. “That could work…Lo, is that ok?”
“Yea.” Logic nodded. “Thank you.”
“No worries. I’ll give you a few more minutes to say your goodbyes and then I’ll have someone take you back to the waiting room.”
“Aight…Thanks.”
“You're welcome.” The nurse smiled warmly, exiting the room.
???
Back in the waiting room, Tyler sat next to Ms. G, tapping on her phone. She was updating Shane and Aria on everything that happened. They offered to come up to the hospital, but Tyler told them things were still tense, and she’d call them when she made it back to Logic’s house. Al, Pearl, and Duce left after Logic went to visit Sage, promising they’d call and check in later.
“You ok, sweetheart?” Ms. G asked, shifting in her seat.
“Yea.” Tyler smiled. “What about you? I know this was a lot.”
“It was, but baby, I’m not a stranger to unfortunate events. I’ve seen it all and I know Sage is going to pull through this. Hopefully, the scars he walks away with are enough to make him value the life he has.”
“I’m sure it will. From what I can see he’s a good kid.”
“He is, they all are.” Ms. G smiled. “Logic seems to be sweet on you. Are the feelings mutual?”
“They are,” Tyler promised. “I like him…a lot.”
“That’s good. My baby deserves good things. Um, so you’re a singer, huh?”
“I was.”
“Not anymore?”
“Not at the moment. Some things happened and I’m taking time to get my mind right.”
“Nothing wrong with that,” Ms. G agreed. “You grew up around here?”
“Yea. Not too far from where Logic lives actually. My mom and I had an apartment a few blocks away on Chene before she,” Tyler paused. “Before she got sick.”
“Oh, I didn’t mean to pry. I’m sorry for your loss.” Ms. G grabbed Tyler’s hand, and Tyler didn’t bother correcting her.
“Uh, thanks.”
Peering down at her phone, Ms. G sighed and stood up. “My son is here to pick me up. Tell Logic I’ll come by in the morning, and if he needs anything, give me a call.”
“Ok, I will,” Tyler assured her, standing to her feet.
“Ma.” The deep voice prompted Ms. G and Tyler to turn around. “You ready?”
As if she were looking into a mirror, Tyler locked eyes with the male version of herself. They shared the same complexion, moles, and unsure expressions. Ms. G looked at the shock in her son's eyes and shook her head. She knew from the moment she laid eyes on Tyler that she was her granddaughter, and her son’s penetrative stares confirmed it. Their genes were strong, and her son's features radiated from the beauty.
“Ty?” The man questioned, stepping forward, causing her to step back.
He looked familiar, his voice sounded the same, but it couldn’t be. Tyler’s mind wouldn’t allow her to believe that the man standing in front of her was the man who abandoned her.
