“Hi, 911 how can I assist you?”
“A woman has passed out at the Timber Creek Café on Main Street and I need an ambulance.”
“Gran, gran, wake up.” Emily cradled her grandma in her arms.
“I think she’s unconscious so please hurry,” said Natalie.
“Help is on its way.”
“Gran, you can’t die, I love you.” Emily planted a kiss on Marie’s forehead.
A tear slid down Natalie’s face. Poor Emily.
“Honey, let’s give her some space.” Natalie took off her jacket, rolled it up and placed it under Marie’s head, hoping she was doing the right thing.
“Gran, Dad needs you too,” said Emily.
The bell over the door rang and shortly after Shane rushed into the kitchen. “I just heard the 911 call.”
“Uncle Shane don’t let Gran die.”
“Honey, I’m going to help her.” He knelt down and took his mother’s hand in his. “She has a pulse and her breathing’s steady but shallow.”
“Does she have a heart condition or anything like that?” asked Natalie.
“Not that I know of, but she’s a stubborn woman about going for physicals.”
A siren sounded in the distance, and five minutes later after two paramedics were inside the café.
“Honey, you have to let them look at your Gran,” said Shane pulling Emily away.
She screamed and cried. “I want to go with her, I want to.”
“Emily, you go along with Natalie and she’ll take you to the hospital to see Gran. I’ll call your dad and Rory and we’ll all meet there okay?”
Natalie put her arm around Emily. “Come on sweetie, it’s going to be okay.”
****
His mother hadn’t been sick with more than a bad cold for as long as he could remember. He and Rory had rushed into the hospital to find Shane, Lacey, Natalie, and Emily already in the family waiting area.
“Any word about how Mom’s doing?” asked Flynn.
“The doctor’s with her now,” said Shane.
“Daddy, don’t let Gran die.” His daughter flung his arms around him. He felt like she was going to break every bone in his body she clung so tight to him.
“The doctor’s going to make sure that doesn’t happen.” He rubbed her back and heard her sobbing into his chest. He hoped he wasn’t wrong about that. “Let’s go sit and wait and…”
Just as he said that a doctor headed toward them.
“Is she okay?” asked Rory when he got closer.
He nodded. “She had a heart attack. She’s awake and stable, but we don’t know how serious the damage is until we run some tests.”
“Geez, a heart attack,” said Shane, running his hands through his hair.
“Sometimes it happens without any warning,” said the doctor.
“Can we go in and see her?” asked Rory.
“I’d like her to rest for the time being. I suggest you go home and then I’ll call you when she’s up to seeing visitors.”
Flynn nodded. He glanced over at Natalie. Shane had told him she’d called 911. He couldn’t imagine what would have happened if Emily had been with his mother all by herself.
He put his arm around both her and Emily as they walked out into the parking lot.
“Thanks for helping out today,” he said.
“I’m glad I was there. I just heard a crash back in the kitchen and found her on the floor,” said Natalie.
“Daddy, can I see Gran soon?”
“Sure honey, really soon.”
“Will she need to live with us?”
“I don’t know yet. We’ll have to see what the doctor says.”
“Who’s going to cook and take care of the café?” asked Emily.
“I can,” said Natalie.
“Are you sure?” asked Flynn.
“I’m positive.”
****
Natalie had probably jumped in there a little too quickly with offering to help run the café in Marie’s absence. Not only did she want to help Marie, but it was the perfect excuse to stick around Timber Creek longer. Lacey had been kind enough to offer some help while she eased into the new job. Natalie watched as she patted her belly before she set about clearing the tables from the lunchtime crowd.
“The baby’s been moving a lot these last few days,” she said carrying a pile of plates to the kitchen.
“Wait till that keeps you up all night.” It had slipped out of her mouth before she’d realized it.
“You’ve had a baby…I mean you have a child?” she asked.
“I did, but it didn’t survive.”
Another lie, another piece of the tangled web.
“I am so sorry to hear that.”