“The surgeon asked me to let you know that everything is going well,” she said. “The surgery is underway, and Bebe is doing great so far. We’ll come back with more updates when the procedure is finished.”
“Thank you,” I uttered.
Jason nodded, exhaling deeply as he sat back down.
Meredith was suddenly at my side, gripping my arm tightly. “See? She’s in good hands, Nat,” she said, her voice steady.
I nodded, blinking quickly to hold back the tears that burned at the corners of my eyes. “I know,” I said, though my voice wavered.
Jason leaned forward again; his hands clasped tightly as he stared at the floor. Brooke shifted closer to him, her hand resting lightly on his back, and I had to look away.
I couldn’t sit. I couldn’t move. I stood frozen in place, staring at the doors the nurse had disappeared through, willing them to open again with more good news.
Will stayed close behind me, steady and quiet. He didn’t say anything, but I felt his presence like a safety net, holding me up when I felt like I might collapse.
What felt like an eternity was finally lifted when the doors to the surgical wing swung open once more, and my heart lodged itself in my throat. A doctor stepped into the waiting room, still in scrubs, his face calm and unreadable. I shot up from my chair so quickly I nearly tripped over the strap of my bag.
“Bradford family?”
Jason stood at the same time I did, our movements jerky, synchronized by the same shared panic. His hand dropped from Brooke’s knee as I took a hesitant step forward, my voice too stuck to speak. Jason beat me to it.
“Yes, that’s us. How’s Bebe?”
The doctor glanced between us, offering a small, practiced smile.
“The surgery went very well. Her appendix was inflamed, but we were able to remove it without any complications. It hadn’t ruptured, so her recuperation should be smooth. She’s already in recovery and will start waking up soon.”
The tight knot in my chest loosened, just enough to let air in. My hands, clenched into fists, started to shake as the adrenaline drained out of me. She was okay. She was going to be okay.
“When can we see her?” I managed to ask.
“It will take about 30 to 45 minutes for her to wake up fully in recovery,” the doctor said. “One parent can go back to see her then. Once she’s stable and moved to her room, both of you will be able to visit.”
“Only one?” I couldn’t keep the frustration from my tone, even as I knew it was irrational. I just needed to see her. Needed to hold her hand and know for myself that she was fine.
The doctor nodded, unbothered by my reaction.
“We want to minimize stimulation while she wakes up, but the nurses will let you know as soon as she’s ready for a visitor.”
Jason stepped forward; his hands shoved deep in his pockets. “Thank you, Doctor. And… she’s really, okay?”
“She’s doing great. We’ll go over her post-op care instructions soon, but for now, just be here when she wakes up. She’ll be asking for you before long.”
The doctor disappeared back through the doors, leaving the five of us in the too-bright waiting room.
As soon as the doctor disappeared, the tension in the room melted away, replaced by collective relief. Jason let out a breath, his shoulders finally relaxing. Brooke offered a small smile, glancing nervously between us, but I didn’t have it in me to care how she felt right now. Meredith reached over and squeezed my hand.
“See? She’s a tough kid,” Meredith said, her voice light, trying to keep things upbeat. I nodded, swallowing hard.
My legs felt unsteady, but I stayed upright, perched on the edge of my chair. Meredith was on one side, Will on the other, like bookends keeping me from falling apart.
She was okay. I repeated it over and over in my head like a mantra: She’s okay. She’s okay.
The minutes felt endless until the nurse stepped through the doors again, clipboard in hand. Her eyes scanned the room before landing on me.
“Mrs. Bradford?”
I stood, my legs moving before my brain caught up. “Yes?”
