Everything in her seemed focused on one task—transforming her entire world into a living, white-hot ball of agony. When Kieran lifted her up, she slumped against his chest. With so much background noise, voices mostly unfamiliar, she focused on Lindsay’s.
“Where’s Kent, sweetheart? We need to let him know to meet us at the hospital.”
“He’s...he’s...” She fixated on Kieran’s green gaze as he held her close. Her brain wouldn’t cooperate. Where had Kent gone last weekend? Wasn’t he due back…tomorrow? Something triggered her memory. Something about... “Atlanta. Depo...deposition.” Her lungs slowly squeezed, cutting off her air supply. “Asthma. G-g-g-got your inhaler?”
“No honey, I don’t,” Kieran replied as she slumped against him, needing to hear his heartbeat. He added, “It’s gonna be fine. Hang on to me.”
“In-in-inhaler. We sh-sh-sh-shared one, remember?”
Her mother would forget to refill her prescription with predictable regularity. Since they used Medicaid, she claimed the feds would change the rules on her. Cara had to use Kieran’s inhaler when they’d both needed one as kids. And that near-forgotten sensation had returned with a vengeance, her lungs once more like tiny, useless empty balloons in her chest, unable to take in or hold air.
“Count to twenty,” he reminded her of their childhood trick. “Focus on the numbers.”
She nodded and counted, holding onto him and shutting out all the other noise.
“Where is that fucking...sorry,” he said from a long way away. “You okay? Cara? Honey?”
She nodded but believed she must be dying. And the next time the pain grabbed hold with claws that dug deep into her belly, she let the darkness take her.
Chapter Fourteen
Kieran jerked awake, his body half on an uncomfortable small couch and half on the floor, befuddled by his surroundings. Rubbery, medicinal odors filled his nose, making him sneeze. He focused on the nondescript beige walls, the muffled noises, all of it way too familiar to him by that time in his life. His mother sat thumbing through an old magazine, humming to herself. Her ever-present innate calmness settled his nerves.
“Mornin’, sleeping beauty.” She peered at him over the top of her reading glasses.
“Morning,” he said, licking his teeth. “Did he show yet?”
“He’s due in any minute.” She checked her watch. “According to his mother anyway.” Lindsay nodded across the room at a prim woman with her purse on her lap, her lips pressed into a thin line. When Kieran gaped at her she met his gaze a split second then averted hers as though she’d seen something nasty.
“Okay, well, I’m gonna go then.” His heart pounded. That bizarre scene in Cara’s tiny office still had him reeling.
His mother touched his arm. “Don’t go yet.”
“Mama, she doesn’t need me here. Her fiancé is on his way.”
“Don’t be obstinate.”
“I’m not. We helped her out. Now we can leave her with her family and the medical experts here.” He waved around the cramped waiting room.
At that moment a nurse came through a set of double doors. “Is Mister Lowery here yet?”
“No,” Lindsay said, getting to her feet and tucking her glasses into her purse. “Hey there, Laura.” She walked over and put her arm around the nurse. “How is your daddy gettin’ on these days?”
“He’s fine, Missus Love. Thanks for asking. He’s in that memory-care home, over nearer to town. But it’s for the best.”
“Well, I’ll be sure and give your mama a call tomorrow. I should get over and visit him with her.”
The nurse nodded at Kieran’s mother then glanced at him. “Y’all want to go in and see her? She’s groggy but asking for you.”
Missus Lowery rose and straightened her perfectly straight slim skirt. “I am the girl’s....ah...future mother-in-law. I’ll stay with her until my son arrives. He’s about thirty minutes out. Took a flight from Atlanta, left his car down there.”
“I...um, can I see her for a minute? Until her…until Kent gets here?” Kieran heard the begging tone in his voice and cleared his throat.
“Sure thing, hon,” the nurse said. “Let’s all go.” She glanced over at Kent’s mother who hovered, simultaneously awkward and above it all. “She’s stable now.”
“Is the....” Kent’s mother interjected.
“The doctor will be around to speak with y’all once Mr. Lowery arrives.” The nurse shook her head slowly, telling him all he needed to know.