“It does,” he says. “It means, she's here and there, both at the same time, and that's nothing to be concerned about rightnow.”
I don't think he understands how not okay this is for her. “Regressing to that time may cause her more issues with her heart than telling her thetruth.”
Jackson seems fixated on me for the moment, gazing into my eyes with concern as if I were the sick patient. “I think she's going to be okay,” he says. “We just need to give hertime.”
“Thank you so much, Dr. Beck,” Mom says. “I can't tell you how grateful we are to know our mother is in such goodhands.”
“It's my pleasure,” he says. “My shift is just about over, though, so Dr. Lane will be covering the ICU until morning. She’ll be by to introduce herself if you’re still here, but I assure you, Amelia will be sleeping for most of the next twenty-four hours, and I advise you all to get some rest, aswell.”
“We're just going to spend a little more time with her,” Annie says. “Thank you, again.” She takes Mom’s arm and tugs her back into Grams’s room where they pull up chairs to sit beside her. For the moment, I just want to pray that wherever Grams’s mind is right now, it isn’t as terrifying as I’m imagining it tobe.
“If you’d like to reschedule for tonight, I would understand,” Jackson tellsme.
I think for a second, knowing I have nowhere else to go. It's either I go to Mike’s apartment and grab my things, or to my childhood bedroom at Mom’s. She goes to bed at eight, so I won’t be doing her much good by sitting on my bed, working for the night. I suppose I should be working, but a part of me was looking forward to tonight, despite everything that happened today. “I think I could use an escape from my life, even if it’s only for a fewhours.”
“No problem.” Jackson scratches at the back of his head as he surveys the hallway—looking everywhere but at me. I don't think he understood what Imeant.
“I meant yes, I’d like to still go out with you tonight. At least I’d know if something happened to my grandmother if I was with you, right?” I press a small smile into my lips so he knows I'm partiallyjoking.
“Exactly, I'm probably the best person to be with tonight.” His shoulders straighten, and his dimples deepen. “I just need a few minutes to change and sign off my shift. Do you want to meet me in the lobby in about tenminutes?”
“I'll be there,” I tellhim.
I pivot on my toes, feeling a slight bounce in my step as I watch him walk away. I turn back into Grams’s room, finding Mom and Annie with wide eyes and questioning looks on their faces. “Did we just hear what we think weheard?”
I hold my palms out. “Seriously, do you two have bionichearing?”
“No, you were just talking louder than you think you were,” Momsays.
“You're going on a date with him tonight?” Annie confirms while clasping her handstogether.
“You can thank me for that,” Gramsgroans.
“What do you mean?” Mom asksher.
“I'll tell you after she leaves. Oh, Emma, don't forget to find Charlie,okay?”
I pause for a moment, reminding myself to play along. “Sure thing, Grams,” I tell her as I grab mybag.
“Have fun,” Mom says. “Don’t stay out too late. I’ll be up waiting to hear everydetail.”
Nothing has changed from the time I moved out of Mom's until now, and it’s been at least five years. My life is far too exciting for her to handle, even if I’m not enjoying itmyself.
I take the elevator downstairs and drop down into one of the wooden chairs in the lobby. I only have a few minutes before Jackson meets me down here, but maybe it's enough time to read another page or two from Grams’sbook.
