“Madi, what’s wrong?” Mom asked.
Matt was by my side faster than my blurry eyes could focus.
Breathe, Sheppard, you’ve handled situations like this before.
But it was never family.
“Emily’s in surgery. During a contraction, she started hemorrhaging, which caused her to lose consciousness.”
Damn, I sounded detached.
I registered the support of Matt’s warm hand on my back as a million questions came at me.
“Enough!” Matt barked. “Give her some space.”
In that moment, I loved Matt. When I was too overwhelmed to hear their questions, let alone answer them, my knight in shining armor made it all stop.
“We don’t know anything.” I took a steadying breath. “Listen, Jamie’s coming out soon. He needs our support but no questions or advice. Okay?”
Everyone mumbled their agreement, and we settled in to wait.
Jamie looked like a ghost of his former self when he finally emerged. Mom and Anne rushed to hug him. Dad and Chris followed after.
True to their words, no one pestered him with questions.
Jamie alternated between pacing and sitting between our parents.
I handed him a bottle of water and a granola bar.
“I’m not hungry.”
“I get it, but Emily needs you. You need to keep your strength up.”
He ate the bar in three bites and chugged the water. “Is there any coffee left?”
“No, but Jack’s bringing some,” Dad answered.
“He doesn’t need to come back.”
“No, but he wants to.”
“But Meg and Natalie.” His voice hitched when he said his niece’s name.
“AJ and Blake are staying with them. AJ’ll drive them all over later,” Dad answered.
I texted Jack and told him the same thing I’d told everyone else.
Thanks. Dad warned me. Can I bring anything besides coffee?
We’re good.
It was almost four. In two hours, when the cafeteria opened, we could send someone to get breakfast.
Jamie had just poured his second cup of coffee when the doctor entered the waiting room. “Mr. Sheppard?”
The room turned eerily silent as all heads turned towards the doctor.
The first thing I noticed was his relaxed posture.They’re okay.
