My mom and Mrs. Fran have become as close as Erica and I are. They have seen each other through a lot. The two are inseparable.
“Someone call for an ambulance, please,” I sob.
“I already did. They’re on the way,” Bentley says from beside me.
He has taken his jacket off to place beneath my mother’s head. I shouldn’t be so grateful to have him here. However, I am.
He wraps an arm around my shoulders and tugs me into him. It feels like coming home. He smells so good, and his arm banding around me feels so strong and warm.
Memories try to flood my mind, but I push them back. I don’t have time for that right now. I need to focus on my mom.
“It’s going to be fine. I’m here,” he whispers in my ear.
A shiver runs through me. I shouldn’t want to cling to his words so easily. However, I’m on the verge of falling apart.
This is the last straw. All the pressure feels like it’s going to cave my lungs. In this moment, Bentley is like a lifeline I didn’t know I needed so much.
“Zah, baby, Dr. Richards hasn’t arrived yet, but he should be pulling in soon. He’ll be able to look after your mom,” Gilbert says.
Dr. Richards is a friend of Gilbert’s. I’m sure he does his job well, but I’m not waiting around for him or taking any chances. I’m taking my mom to the hospital to be checked out.
“I’m taking her to the hospital,” I say firmly.
“What about our guests?”
“Fu—”
“I will go inside and let everyone know what’s going on,” Erica says, cutting me off before I lose my shit.
“You can let them know tomorrow isn’t happening while you’re at it.”
“What? Zahirah, I’m sure your mom will be fine by tomorrow night. Let’s not be so hasty.”
I shove out of Bentley’s arms and stand. Grabbing Gilbert by the arm, I tug him out of earshot. He looks back at me nervously.
“That is my mom lying there. Take this as the sign it is. We need to call this off. Tell everyone my mom has fallen ill. She’s supposed to walk me down the aisle.
“I think everyone will understand if we postpone for now. In a few weeks, we’ll part amicably. Too much stress and needing to slow down or something. We’ll figure all that out,” I bite out.
“Is this because of him?”
“What? What are you talking about? What aren’t you getting? My mother just collapsed.”
I drop my voice. “This isn’t real. We should have called it off weeks ago. It has nothing to do with him.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure I’m about to lose it on you. What’s the matter with you?”
I turn to go back to my mom as the ambulance pulls up. Gilbert grabs my arm to halt me. I turn to look at him with my brows knit.
“He’s only going to hurt you again. Don’t do this,” he pleads.
I shake my head to clear it. I’ve been missing something here, but I don’t have the time to process what. I need to get to my mom.
“Whatever, Gilbert. I’ll talk to you later. I have to go,” I say and pull my arm from his hold.
He bites out a curse but allows me to walk away. My mind is moving in a million directions. I’m not able to process any of it as I follow my mom into the ambulance.
