Meant to Be (The Saving Angels 1)

“Hold please.”

Mark came up behind me and set his hands on my shoulders. I looked up to see Mark and Shawn standing by me while Sam turned the music down.

The voice came back on the line. “A Cindy Miller was just brought in an hour ago. She’s in the ICU.”

I thanked her and hung up the phone.

Before the emotions could attack me and incapacitate me, I held my breath and smothered them out before they could even start. I was not going to get sick when my mom needed me.

“My mom was in an accident, we need to get to the hospital now.”

Sam grabbed our purses and we all barreled down the stairs.

Mark reached for my hand as he drove. I was grateful for his touch, the breathing technique helped, but his touch kept my emotions from getting out of control. The drive was silent as the others sensed that I needed the time to think.

Mark pulled up in front of the emergency room. Sam and I jumped out while Mark and Shawn went to park the car.

I hurried toward the admissions desk.

“My mom was brought in a little while ago, can you tell me where I can find her?” I asked with a small quiver in my voice.

“Her name dear?” The woman asked.

“Cindy Miller.”

The women typed her name in the computer and scrolled down.

“She’s in the ICU, which is on the second floor. If you follow the signs it will lead you up there,” she said handing Sam and I a badge.

I thanked her and turned to Sam. Sam knew what I needed. “I’ll wait here for the guys. You go check on your mom. We’ll meet there.”

I walked down the hall and took the elevator up to the second floor. I felt a strange sense of déjà- vu. I was reminded of when my mom and I had made a similar journey when we arrived at the hospital after my dad’s heart attack. I felt the emotions approach, but once again I fought them back, at least I was getting stronger at doing that.

I showed my badge to the woman at the desk in the ICU. She typed my mom’s name into the computer.

“Okay dear, your mom is being checked over by her doctors right now, as soon as they know something they will come out to see you. You can wait in the ICU waiting lounge which is two doors down on the left.”

“Thanks,” I mumbled heading out the door.

The ICU lounge was empty except for one elderly woman who sat in the corner silently crying while she shredded a tissue in her wrinkled hands. She wore a flowered housedress and bright pink Crocs. Her gray hair was gathered at the nape of her neck in a tight bun. I felt instantly bad for her and wanted to offer some kind of comfort, but I felt my own sanity was hanging by a thread.

Mark, Shawn, and Sam found me five minutes later sitting on the edge of one of the cushioned seats.

“They haven’t told me anything,” I said before they could ask. “The doctor is supposed to come out when they’re done with her.”

Mark and Sam sat at my sides holding my hands. Shawn paced back and forth while we waited. If I wasn’t so anxious I would have been touched at his brotherly attitude.

The waiting room door opened and we all looked up to see a harassed looking doctor enter. “Ms. Miller?” He asked glancing at Sam and me.

“That’s me,” I said standing up. Mark and Sam followed lending their silent support.

“Your mom was brought in at approximately 7:20 pm, tonight with multiple injuries. She is in surgery right now; we had to rush her in to remove her spleen. Our best surgeon is with her now. She broke her leg and multiple ribs on the left side of her body. One of the jagged edges of the rib bone pierced her spleen, which is why we had to remove it. She also suffered a concussion and was unconscious when she was brought in. As soon as we know more we will let you know,” he said, edging out the door before I could even get a word in.

“Wait,” I said.

He paused in the doorway. “How did it happen?”

“We heard it was a hit and run. Whoever hit her rammed into the driver’s side and then fled the scene. The police will be in soon to talk to you,” he said sympathetically as he left the room.