Shit.
“Hold on a second,” I told my mother when I found Eli stacking pastries on the cooling trays. “I need to leave and don’t know when I’ll be back. I’m going to leave you in charge for today and call as soon as I can.”
His brow furrowed with concern as he nodded. “Sure. Is Olivia okay?”
My head slumped for a second as the air rushed out of my lungs. “I honestly don’t know.”
“Go.” He shoved my shoulder, and I raced out the door.
“Make sure she drinks,” I said as I jogged to my car and pressed the key fob. “The doctor said on the last visit she needs to stay over-hydrated, and if she’s upset, she won’t. Can you find her some water?”
“I can.” Mom’s voice came through the car speakers as I peeled out of my spot. “Did you guys have a big fight?”
The fight wasn’t big, just significant. And then she left me. Or tried to. I wasn’t leaving her side once I got to her, no matter how hard she’d try to push me away.
It was my turn to fight for her like she’d always fought for me.
“It was stupid, but we’re resolving it now—or I’m resolving it now.”
My jaw ticked as I hit every red light.
“I love her, Mom. And I never told her, so she thought I didn’t. That’s basically it.”
“Then tell her today. She needs it.” I heard my mother’s long exhale echo in my cab as I turned into the hospital parking lot. “I think Carla’s blood sugar might’ve fallen and she ended up hitting her head. I’ve seen her stumble when that happens. Or I’m praying that’s it. The doctor told us they’re checking for a stroke.”
“Fuck, Mom.”
“I know, it’s awful to think about, especially after what happened to Javier. I’m scared for Carla and Olivia right now… She needs you.”
“She has me. In every way possible. I’m parking the car, and I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
I was scared for them both too. As tough as Olivia tried to appear to be, she was terrified of being alone, and I was sure she was here thinking that was exactly what she was now. But she’d be wrong—again.
She’d never be alone as long as I was alive. And I was going to get that into her thick-and-stubborn brain once and for all.
THIRTY-FOUR
OLIVIA
“Here, honey,” Helen whispered as she crouched in front of me, holding a water bottle. “Drink for me.”
I grunted in frustration when I couldn’t grab it, my quivering hands so out of control it was like they weren’t even mine. Helen held the bottom as I took two long gulps, not realizing until the ice-cold water hit my throat how parched I was.
Running on pure adrenaline when the hospital called me and before Helen picked me up, I had the mind to race upstairs to check the board for Mom’s latest dosage of insulin and the name of her blood pressure medicine to tell the doctor. Her blood sugar had almost made her fall a couple of times now, and I’d learned to keep my mouth shut and grab her a glass of juice when it happened. In a few minutes, she was always fine.
Iwas fine, mostly, until the doctor mentioned stroke. Helen insisted she was knocked out from the blow to her head, but I was already aware that diabetics had an increased risk for heart disease and stroke. Then, exactly like what I did after my father passed away, I went into shock. My breathing was ragged and my words stunted, and no matter how many deep breaths Helen yelled at me to take, I couldn’t get it under control.
“That fall was nasty enough to need stitches on her temple, and I’m sure that’s what knocked her out. This sometimes happens when the dosage—”
“Changes. I know.” I winced, not meaning to cut Helen off, but no matter what she said, she couldn’t put me at ease. “But strokes can sneak up on you like that.”
Just like aneurysms did. A silent killer took one of my parents, and now one might’ve grabbed the other.
“They do, but we aren’t going to panic yet. Your mother would want you to take care of yourself and the baby, right? So that means trying to calm down. I know this is scary, but please try. Drink more,” she told me and lifted the bottle to my lips for another sip.
I pushed off the vinyl of the chair, surprised my legs felt almost sturdy as I straightened. “They said it would be a while, right? I’m going to run to the bathroom, or waddle, I guess.”
Her mouth curved up as she patted my stomach. “You’re not quite waddling yet, sweetheart. But yes, they said in a half hour someone would update us. Or I’ll be up there in ten-minute intervals until they do. Go for a walk.”
