“I love you, son.” Matt spoke clearly, enunciating carefully. “I love you both so much.”
“We love you, too, Dad,” Honor said, kissing him again. “You just concentrate on healing thoughts. Good stuff. Fast cars and ice cream and puppies and—”
A nurse came in, effectively shooing the kids away while pulling the rails up on his bed. “It’s time, Dr. Buchanan.”
“One second,” Matt said. “Felicity.”
Felicity jumped. “Yes?”
Matt waited until they were alone before speaking. His gaze pinned hers, and his voice wavered. “Amber’s dead. Jack.” His face crumpled. “And Jack…”
Her heart stopped. “Matt, I—”
“He’s alone, Felicity.” His blue eyes bore into hers. “Please…” He pressed his head back into his pillows, closing his eyes. “Take him.” It was a gruff whisper. “Love him.”
She stepped closer, hating the crush of air from her lungs. “He needs you, Matt.” She leaned over him. “You’re his father.”
His gaze burned. “I’m a doctor; I know what’s happening. This is it.” He spoke calmly, even as his eyes glistened. “I’m asking you to care for my son.”
“Matt…” Felicity stared at him through horrible, painful tears. “Fight. You hear me?”
“Please, Filly.” He grabbed her arm. “Please.”
She squeezed his hand. “I promise I will. You promise you’ll fight.”
He nodded once, relaxing against the mattress.
“We’re going now, Dr. Buchanan.” The nurse brushed past her, kicking off the brake on the hospital bed.
Felicity trailed behind, numb.
“He will be okay,” Honor said, taking her hand. “He’s so fit and healthy. He’s going to be fine.”
Felicity squeezed her hand, unable to shake the dread seeping into her bones. She wanted to believe that was true. But the look on Matt’s face… “How long will the surgery take?” she asked Graham.
“It depends. A while.” He glanced at his wristwatch. “I can call you if you want to go home?”
Honor shook her head. “We’re staying, right, Mom?”
She nodded. “Nick?”
Nick was still staring at the doors they’d wheeled Matt through. “We can stay.”
“Want to see Jack?” Graham asked.
“Jack?” Felicity frowned. “He’s here? Matt said they were leaving him home with a babysitter.” This wasn’t a place for a baby. Especially now. Her heart ached for the little boy. For Amber. And for Matt.
Graham stared at her. “Jack…he was in the car, too.”
Felicity stared at Graham, sinking further into despair. “He was?”
“Oh my God.” Honor covered her mouth, bursting into tears then. “Is Amber with him? Poor little guy’s got to be freaking out.”
Graham looked at her but didn’t say a word.
“Is he hurt?” Felicity asked.
“He’s in a coma—sustained some head trauma,” Graham said. “His right femur is broken and there’s a lot of scrapes and bruises. But children are amazingly resilient.”