Dane(71)

"How serious is it?" I asked while holding Eden's stare.

"We've stabilized her, but we can't do anything else without authorization and insurance information. We need you to come here in order to discuss the incident and treatment options in person before we can do anything else." 

"Is this life or death?" I knew my words sounded cold, callous, but I couldn't help it. Gabi had strung me along for years with a lie. It'd been one attention-grabbing situation after another, and I couldn't help but think it'd all been fabricated. Everything. I didn't want to go running to her like I had done for more than ten years of my life, but at the same time, I struggled with completely turning my back on her.

"Well, sir … it was touch and go there for a bit, and right now we do have her stabilized, but this is an urgent matter."

"I'm only asking because Gabi and I are no longer together. Her next of kin would be her mother. Not me. Have you tried to get ahold of her?"

There was a pause of hesitation before she said, "We actually don't have that information on file. Should we look into finding someone else to contact?"

Taking a seat on the edge of the bed, I sighed and dropped my head into my hand. "No. I'll be there."

When I disconnected the call, Eden sat next to me and put her arm around my shoulder, offering the kind of comfort I needed. "What's going on? Who was on the phone?"

"That was the hospital. Gabi's there."

She gasped, but didn't waste any time questioning it. "What happened to her?"

"I don't know. They said they couldn't discuss it over the phone and I have to go down there to authorize treatment. I'm assuming she took pills or something, but I have no idea."

"Do you need me to go with you?"

I turned my head to the side to look at her. I knew this was something I had to take care of on my own, but the simple fact she'd offered to support me, to be there for me, was more than I could bear. No one had done that for me since Gabi when my grandmother died, and I didn't realize how badly I'd needed the offer until now. "No, but I appreciate you asking. More than you know, Eden. It really means a lot that you'd be there for me."

She tried to smile, but it fell flat. "I'm always here for you, Dane."

I cleared the emotion from my throat and stood. "I'm going to try to get ahold of her mom first, but if I can't reach her, I'll have to go to the hospital. I don't know how long I'll be, but I'll be back." I leaned over and pressed my lips to her forehead. "Nothing's going to take this weekend away from us."



The only number I had for Gabi's mom was disconnected. There was no telling how old the number was, considering it'd been years since I had any reason to contact her. In a last-ditch attempt to reach her, I called Janette and asked if she could locate her for me, or at least find a working number.

Within five minutes, she returned my call with an address.

It was on the way to the hospital, so I left Eden's apartment and swung by the address Janette had provided, hoping Gabi's mom would be home. As much as I wanted to help Gabi, I refused to let her drag me back down to the depths of despair I'd only just begun to climb out of.

She needed help.

But it didn't have to come from me.

My heart raced, pounding against my sternum as I pulled into the driveway. I had no idea what I was about to walk into, but I knew I couldn't back down. This was Gabi's mother. At some point, she'd have to start acting like one. They had problems and Marie had a lot to do with Gabi's depression, but at some point, I had to wash my hands of them both. If that meant pushing her in Gabi's direction now, then that was what I had to do.



       
         
       
        

The front door opened slowly after only knocking once. The woman in front of me looked nothing like I remembered. Marie was always put together, never a hair out of place. This version paled in comparison. She wore her hair in an unruly bun, slightly greasy as if she hadn't washed it in a few days. Glasses sat low on the bridge of her nose, yet they did nothing to hide the dark bags beneath her eyes. It made me wonder if this was what Gabi would look like in twenty years.

"Dane … " Her eyes widened in surprise, but worry shone bright. "What's going on? Is everything okay? Where's Gabriella?"

"That's actually why I'm here. She's in the hospital, and I think you should be the one to go take care of it." I winced as I finished my sentence, realizing how cruel and emotionless I sounded.

"The hospital? Why? What happened to her?" Marie quickly stepped outside, frantic over the news. At least she was concerned for her daughter, despite the years of distance and avoidance.