“We need to get to Lorelei’s apartment fast.”
“I’ll do my best, Jack, but it’s rush hour.”
“I don’t give a damn whether it’s rush hour or not, get to Lorelei’s as fast as you can.”
Despite the traffic, Tony got me to Lorelei’s in a decent amount of time. Shit. I forgot about the security door. I pushed the button to Lorelei’s apartment. The door buzzed and I pulled it open, flying up the steps to Lorelei’s apartment.
“Hope, it’s Mr. Sutton.” I knocked.
She unlocked the door and let me in.
“Can you show me where your mom’s bedroom is?”
I followed her down the hallway, and when I reached Lorelei’s room, I ran to her side and placed my hand on her forehead.
“Oh my God, you’re burning up.”
Lorelei slowly opened her eyes. “Jack?” she whispered.
“Shh. You’re going to be okay. I’m taking you the hospital. Hope, go get dressed. We’re going to take your mom to the hospital so the doctors can check her out.”
“Is she going to be okay?”
“Yes. She’s going to be fine. Go get dressed and hurry up.”
I placed my arms underneath her and picked her up from the bed. She laid her head against my chest.
“Hope, are you ready?”
“Yes.” She came running into the living room.
As I was on my way out the door, I noticed Lorelei’s keys sitting on the table. I grabbed them, and as soon as we stepped out of the apartment, I had Hope lock the door. By the time I got down to the limo, Tony was standing there with the passenger door opened.
“Hope, I need you to sit up front with Mr. Tony. Okay?”
“Okay.”
Tony helped me place Lorelei in the back seat and I climbed in next to her as she laid her head in my lap.
“I told you to go to the doctor. Now look at you.”
She moaned. “Hope.”
“She’s with us. She’s up front with Tony.” I stroked her hair.
Tony pulled up to the doors of the emergency room. I climbed out and went inside, telling them I needed help. Two nurses brought out a stretcher as I picked up Lorelei and laid her down.#p#分页标题#e#
“What’s going on with her?” one of the nurses asked.
“She’s been coughing really bad the past couple of days and not feeling well. She’s burning up.”
“Are you her husband?”
“No. I’m her boss. This is her daughter.”
They wheeled her inside and down the hall. One of the nurses told me and Hope to have a seat in the waiting room and that they’d be out shortly. Hope wrapped her small hand around mine and when I looked at her, all I could see were eyes filled with fear. I led her over to the chairs in the waiting room.
“She’s going to be just fine, Hope. I don’t want you to worry. The doctors will take good care of her and get her better.”
“I want my grandma and grandpa.”
“I can call them. Do you by chance have their number?”
“No, you can’t. They’re on a cruise.”
“Oh. Okay. Is there anyone else I can call?”
“My Auntie Stella is out of town visiting her boyfriend’s father who’s really sick.”
“Okay. What about your other grandparents?”
“I don’t have any other grandparents.”
I pulled my ringing phone from my pocket. It was Coco.
“Hello,” I answered.
“Jack, where the hell are you?”
“At the hospital. I had to bring Lorelei in. She’s very sick.”
“Oh no. What’s wrong?”
“I’m not sure yet. I’ll call you when I know more.”
“Okay.” Click.
I put my phone in my pocket and looked over at Hope.
“Are you hungry or thirsty?” I asked.
“Kind of. I didn’t eat breakfast.”
I looked around and saw a vending machine. “Let’s go see what they have in the machine.”
We stood in front of it and Hope looked through the glass.
“There’s Pop Tarts.”
“I only like strawberry. Those are blueberry.”
“How about a granola bar?”
“Ew. Those are gross.”
“Okay. How about those little muffins? They look good,” I lied.
“Sure. I like chocolate chip muffins.” She smiled.
I reached inside my pocket and pulled out my wallet, taking out two one-dollar bills and putting them in the machine.
“Press the buttons for the muffins,” I told her.
She did and reached inside and grabbed them.
“How about a drink? There’s orange juice over here in this machine.”
“I want apple.”
“They don’t have apple. How about some cranberry juice?”