I look over to Mackenzie who’s looking around like she’s still confused. Reaching out, I squeeze her hand gently, causing her to turn my way and our eyesmeet.
“What happened?” she asks, breaking my heart wideopen.
“You had a seizure. Everything’s okay though. Mia’s notinjured.”
Her hand covers her mouth in shock. “I was holdingher?”
I brush hair away from her face. “You were, but don’t worry. They’re going to check her out to be sure, but the paramedic didn’t have any reason to think we should bealarmed.”
Tears slip from her eyes, and I wipe them away with my thumb. “Don't cry. I’mhere.”
“But what if you weren’t?” she says, holding onto mywrist.
I close my eyes, not able to fathom the thought of not being there for the two of them. “I was though. So let’s not talk aboutthat.”
I lean in to kiss her, hoping that will calm hernerves.
After they examine Mia, determining she is uninjured, I hold her in my arms while they take Mackenzie for tests. I’m out in the hall getting water when Alanappears.
“Is she all right?” he asks, getting right to thepoint.
“I don’t know yet. They’re doingtests.”
He looks at Mia in my arms, and the pain he knows I feel is written on his face. Amy and he had a daughter a few months before us so I know he can truly put himself in myshoes.
“How have her headachesbeen?”
“She said they’re happening more often, but she was able to controlthem.”
“Any othersymptoms?”
“Not that I know of. What does this allmean?”
His eyes meet mine and he doesn't have to say anything. I’ve known Alan for years, and I’ve seen that look many times before when he talked about Amy and how much he still hurt for her. Seeing it now does mein.
This is the beginning of theend.
* * *
They gaveMackenzie medication that made her sleepy so I’m sitting next to her bed, playing withMia.
Her parents knock on the door. “Can we comein?”
“Look, Grandma and Grandpa are here,” I say toMia.
Jean covers her mouth as tears well up in her eyes. Of course they’ve seen her tons of times, but I think with all the emotions of today seeing her smiling face pushed her over theedge.
I hand Mia to Jean before shaking Michael’s hand. “Thank you for coming sofast.”
“Oh stop, you know we’ll be here at the drop of a hat. How is she?” Jean asks, gazing at herdaughter.
“She’s good for right now. The tests told us what we already know. The tumor is growing.” I rub myeyes.
She pats my back, giving me support that means the world tome.
We play with Mia, trying to enjoy the brightness she brings to our otherwise darkfuture.
“Connor, please don’t take this the wrong way, but we’ve been thinking,” Jean says, reaching for Michael’s hand. “We’re prepared for this, and we want to help. I-I mean,” she stutters. “What if you hadn’t been hometoday?”
