His Temptation, Her Secret

“We caught it early,” she continued. “We’re treating it with antibiotics. But, as you know, we can’t afford to take these things lightly.”

“What can I do?” Sage asked the doctor. Her voice was hoarse and her throat worked as she swallowed. She looked almost as pale as Eli.

TJ wanted to suggest Highside again, but the last thing he would do was upset Sage. He looked to the doctor. He could see it in her eyes even before she spoke. She was genuinely worried.

Dr. Stannis touched Sage’s arm. “If you can manage the cost, you might want to consider Highside.”

“We can manage the cost,” TJ immediately answered.

“Would it help?” Sage asked, her voice raspy and paper-dry.

“I’m not ringing alarm bells,” Dr. Stannis said. “But an infection at this stage indicates a challenge. Highside has the finest equipment in the country, and their on-site laboratory is state-of-the-art.” She paused. “And if things were to get worse—I’m only saying if—our intensive care unit is full.”

Sage gave a gasp, and TJ wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

“I’m not expecting that,” Dr. Stannis said. “But at Highside, you have more options.”

“Can we safely move him?” TJ asked. He’d have an air ambulance here within the hour if that was the best course of action.

“By ambulance, yes. Moving him won’t have an impact on the infection.”

“I can order a helicopter,” TJ said.

“Wait.” Sage looked up at him with near terror in her eyes.

He turned and placed his hands gently on her shoulders, keeping his voice low and even. “One step at a time. Like the doctor said, there are no alarm bells here. This is only a precaution. But it sounds like it’s a precaution worth taking.”

It took her a second, but then she nodded. “Yes. Let’s do it.”

TJ retrieved his phone. He didn’t feel the slightest bit of satisfaction in this. He’d wanted to move Eli to Whiskey Bay, but he sure didn’t want it to be under these circumstances.

He had the air ambulance on speed dial, and his next call was to Highside Hospital to alert them to Eli’s arrival. Dr. Stannis contacted the oncology department to transfer Eli’s case files.

There was room in the back of the helicopter for Sage to ride with Eli, and TJ sat up front with the pilot. They cruised smoothly over the landscape, following valleys to the coast. There were two nurses and a doctor on the helipad waiting to greet them, and Eli was quickly whisked inside and into a room.

Once he was settled, TJ gave in to temptation and put an arm around Sage’s shoulders again, standing at Eli’s bedside and gazing down.

“He woke up in the helicopter,” she said.

“That seems like a good sign.”

“He asked why it was so noisy.”

Before TJ could respond, the doctor from the helipad, a lanky, fortysomething, dark-haired man, reentered the room.

“I’m Dr. Westray.” He reached out to shake TJ’s hand.

TJ shook, cocking his head toward Sage. “This is Sage Costas, Eli’s mother.”

The doctor turned his attention to her. He had a soothingly gentle manner. “It’s good to meet you, Sage. I want to assure you Eli is getting the very best care. I’ve looked over his chart, and I just got off the phone with Dr. Stannis. We’re optimistic we can beat this infection.”

“How’s he doing?” Sage asked. She reached out to smooth her hand across Eli’s forehead.

“His temperature has come down a little bit. It’s too soon to conclude that this particular antibiotic will defeat it. But that’s a good sign. It’s the best sign we can have right now.”

Sage gave a shaky sigh.

“Would you like to sit down?” the doctor asked her.

TJ quickly moved a chair, and Sage sat.

“I want to stay,” she said.

“You can stay with him as long as you like,” Dr. Westray told her. “And we have a residence for parents connected to the hospital, so you can be close by. The nurse will request a room for you there, in case you want to get some sleep, or take a shower.”

“Not yet,” she said.

“I understand. We’ll be monitoring his temperature and his other vitals on an ongoing basis. There’s a nursing station across the hall if you have any questions.”

Sage took Eli’s hand in hers, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “Thank you,” she said to the doctor.

“You’re very welcome. I’ll be on the floor all night, and I’ll be in touch again.”

TJ shook his hand a final time. “Thank you, Doctor.”