Page 110 of Love Marks
Quinn.
Are you ignoring me?
What’s wrong? If you’re upset, please just talk to me.
At least just let me know you’re okay.
Please call me in the morning.
He’s been calling and texting me all night? Couldn’t he just wait til the morning? I have too much to be dealing with right now.
He doesn’t know that, a voice reminds me. For a moment, I consider calling him and explaining what’s going on with my mom. Our issues would take a back seat and he’d be here by my side, and even though I’m angry and confused…part of me wants nothing more than to have his warm, comforting arms wrapped around me.
The sound of footsteps from behind me signals Dr. Brooks walking towards me and I slip my phone in my pocket, stumbling to my feet.
“What happened? Is she okay?”
Dr. Brooks puts a gentle hand on my shoulder. “Your mother is fine. She’s back in her room and you can go see her. The surgery was successful, and I’ll be in shortly to explain more in detail.”
I let out of sigh of relief, tears prickling at my eyes. She’s okay.
“Is she awake?”
“Not yet. It could be a couple of hours. You can sit with her if you’d like, but if you’d like to go home—”
“No, no. I want to be here when she wakes up.”
Dr. Brooks nods and I follow him back to my mom’s room. She’s asleep, hooked up again with wires. She looks…peaceful. Luckily, the doctor doesn’t linger. I pull a chair up next to her bed, taking her hand in mine. I hear the door shut behind Dr. Brooks, leaving us alone in the room.
I breathe out and the dam breaks. Sobs wrack my body as I grip my mother’s hand tightly. Everything from the past twelve hours comes crashing down over me. The folder. My mom. The surgery. The debt being paid. I try to breathe, sucking in a few ragged breaths. She’s okay. She’s going to be okay.
The door opens and Joe slips inside, carrying a duffel bag. I sniffle and rub my face on my sleeve.
“What’s happened? Is she okay? What did the doctor say?” Joe asks, moving to the other side of the bed, his eyes scanning my mom’s face, his expression one of plain adoration and concern.
“He said it was a success. He said it was good.” I sniffle again. “He’ll be in shortly to explain it all.”
Joe nods, relief coloring his face. He drops down into the other chair, scooting up and grabbing her other hand. “Will she wake up soon?”
I yawn and wipe my face again. “He said it could be a few hours.”
“You should go home, Quinn.” I shake my head and go to insist, but Joe cuts me off. “Just for a few hours. Try to sleep, take a shower. I’ll stay here.”
“But—”
He gives me an insistent look. “I know you want to be there for your mom, and the best way you can do that is taking care of yourself first. Just go for a few hours. She’ll probably still be sleeping when you get back.”
I nod. Laying down and taking a shower sounds incredible right now and I don’t know how much longer I can sit here waiting to talk to her again. I pick myself up and trudge towards the door. I turn to Joe.
“Oh. Um. Did you pay my mom’s medical bills? Hannah said you got some grant or something.”
Joe’s eyes widen. He nods. “Right. The grant.” He stares down at my mom, avoiding my eyes.
“Joe?”
He meets my eyes again. “Yeah…I…” He rubs his hand on the back of his neck, looking away again. “He asked me not to say anything. I wasn’t sure if you knew, but I kind of had a feeling you didn’t and well, I didn’t want to get in the middle.”
I shake my head. “What are you talking about?”