Rob’s eyes widened, then softened with concern. “Her heartbeat is irregular. We need to keep watch on her. I’m moving her to ICU now.” He gave orders to the two doctors standing next to him, handing the chart to the closest one. Taking Drew’s arm, he led them away, back toward Rachel. “They came in with her, so I’m presuming one or both are relatives?”
“It’s my sister and her boyfriend.” Shelly stood there as well, but he couldn’t be bothered to introduce her right now.
As Rob explained to them about the problem with her heart, Jordan and Keith showed up, concern etched on their faces. Keith came straight to him and hugged him hard. “I tried to call you, man, but you didn’t pick up.”
“It doesn’t matter. Let’s go. They’re transferring her to ICU. It’s on the fifth floor.” Like the Pied Piper, he led the line of family and friends to the elevators. They crowded in together, and he was surprised to see Shelly still there.
“I thought you had to go back to work, Shel.”
Her big brown eyes stared back at him, incredulous. “Drew, I called and said I couldn’t come in because of your grandmother. Did you expect me to leave you?”
Mercifully, the doors opened so he didn’t have to answer as Rachel took his hand. They approached the ICU and saw their grandmother’s suddenly frail-looking body in the bed, surrounded by tubes and beeping machines.
“Oh, Drew.” Rachel buried her head in his shoulder. “Please tell me she’ll be all right.”
He didn’t answer as Rob opened the door and beckoned him inside. Mike took Rachel from his arms and held her close. The door closed behind him.
“How is she really? Tell me the truth.” Drew stood by her bedside, watching the faint rise and fall of her chest. “I feel so fucking helpless.”
“We’re monitoring her carefully. Her heartbeat seems to have stabilized for now.” Rob’s lips quirked in a faint smile. “She’s tough and a fighter. That’s in her favor.”
“So she’ll be all right?” As a doctor he knew it wasn’t a question he should ask, but now he was merely a family member of a patient, grasping for answers.
“Let’s say I’m cautiously optimistic.” Rob patted his shoulder as he walked by him. “Only one visitor at a time, even for a doctor’s family.”
Drew barely heard him as he stood next to his grandmother. “Nana. It’s me, Drew. You’re going to be fine.”
But she didn’t waken. He kissed her on her cheek, and he smelled her familiar scent of rose water. For some reason that comforted him. “Rachel’s outside with Mike. Jordy and Keith too. All your boys. You didn’t have to go to this extreme to get us all together, Nana.” The tightness of his throat made it almost impossible to speak. Or breathe.
“I’ll let Rachey come in to say hi to you.” He kissed her again and left the room. Rachel ran over to him.
“How is she? Did she wake up yet?” The rest of his friends crowded around him.
“No, but she’s stabilized. You can go in, Rachel.” The stress of the night caught up with him, and he leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. How could this have happened? His grandmother’s blood pressure was normal. He knew because he checked it regularly.
“Drew.”
His eyes remained closed. Why now, of all times, was he hearing Ash’s voice? It had been months since he’d spoken more than a dozen words to him.
“Drew.” The voice became more insistent. He opened his eyes and saw Ash standing behind everyone.
“Ash.”
Without a second thought he rushed into his arms and held on for dear life. Without shame the tears flowed, wetting the fine linen of the shirt beneath his cheek. Ash’s strong, broad arms held him tight; his quiet voice murmured soft words in his ear.
“It’ll be okay, baby. Don’t worry. She’s a strong lady.” Ash’s fingers slipped through Drew’s hair. All Drew needed was Ash holding him tight against the hard planes of his chest. A deep sigh shuddered through Drew as his body and Ash’s settled and fit together, like the last two long-lost puzzle pieces, finally found.
The heated vanilla scent of Ash’s skin, once so wonderfully familiar to Drew and almost forgotten, assailed his senses, returning him to that long-ago night of dreamy desire. There was no one else he needed at this time.
“Drew?” From somewhere in the background of his mind, a voice pricked his conscience. “What’s going on?”
Ash’s hands dropped from his body. Almost immediately he missed the all-encompassing warmth and security. His lips moved against Ash’s shoulder. “No. Make them go away.”
“Drew.” The voice grew more insistent.
“I think you should talk to her.”
“Don’t leave, though.” He clutched at Ash’s shirt, wrinkling the fabric beneath his desperate fingers. “Promise you won’t leave me?”
