“What! Where is he?”
Chris could tell from her breathing that she was about to start panicking. He froze.
“Chris, where is my baby?” she screamed.
After a deep breath Chris found his voice. “Eric is taking him to the emergency room. He was having difficulty—”
“Eric! What is Eric doing with him?”
“Corra, calm down. He showed up as I was—”
“Don’t tell me to calm down. Where are they? I don’t want him alone with my baby. He doesn’t have custody or any right to take my son.”
Chris’s chest tightened. He bit his lower lip and cursed himself for not knowing how to handle this situation.
“Chris, find my baby. I’m leaving here right now.”
He tried to say something else, but she hung up on him. He ran to his car, jumped in and took off for the emergency room at Ephraim McDowell. He prayed Jamie would be okay.
Twenty minutes later, Chris paced around the waiting room, furious to have learned that Eric dropped Jamie off and left. Seconds later, Corra and Rollin burst into the room.
Corra rushed up to Chris. “Where’s my son?” she asked.
“They’ve taken him back for observation, and the nurse needs to see you.” He pointed Corra toward the nurse station. Chris didn’t want to waste another minute apologizing again, she needed to see Jamie.
Rollin hung back. “What happened?” he asked.
Chris took a deep breath. “Jamie passed out on second base. The coaching staff ran to his aid. He was having trouble breathing. Does he have asthma?”
Rollin shook his head. “No. At least he hasn’t shown any signs of it before.”
“Well, he looked to be in the middle of an asthma attack.” Chris explained everything that happened at the ballpark. After he told Rollin about Eric taking off with Jamie he realized himself he never should have permitted that.
“Man, I know Eric’s his father, but Corra doesn’t trust him.” Rollin looked around. “Where is he? Back there with Jamie?”
Chris shook his head. “The bastard took off.”
Rollin’s head snapped around. “What?”
“When I walked in the nurse informed me Jamie was here, but that the man who brought him in left. Said he’d be right back, but he hasn’t shown up.” Chris looked down at his watch. “And I’ve been here for almost thirty minutes now.”
Rollin patted Chris on the shoulder. “Thanks, man.”
Chris walked over and took a seat. “For what? Corra’s mad as hell that I let Eric take Jamie. I should have known better.”
“Don’t beat yourself up. Let me go check on my nephew. I’ll be back.”
Chris couldn’t help thinking he’d just screwed his relationship with Corra. After today, she probably never wanted to see him again.
Thirty minutes later, Rollin emerged from the emergency room and rejoined Chris in the waiting area. Chris was determined to wait until Jamie was safe before he left the hospital.
“He’s going to be okay,” Rollin assured Chris. “The doctor says he’s developed a case of asthma. He’s going to contact Jamie’s physician and suggest some treatment. He’s breathing normal now.”
Chris exhaled a sigh of relief. “Man, you don’t know how good it feels to hear that. I was praying for the little guy.” After a beat he asked, “How’s Corra?”
“Nervous, scared, you name it. She’d noticed him having a little breathing problem before, but never anything that amounted to an asthma attack. She had no idea he had a touch of asthma. Right now, she’s hovering and afraid to let him go.”
“Man, I could kick Eric’s ass. Why didn’t he just let me bring Jamie over here? How the hell does a man take his son to the emergency room and just disappear? And why didn’t I insist on taking him myself? After the shit he’s done to me I never should have allowed him.”
“What shit?” Rollin asked.
Chris shook his head, not really wanting to discuss it, but he knew Rollin would understand. He took a deep breath. “A couple of weeks ago Eric and I had some words. I’m sure seeing me with Corra pissed him off. Then a few days later somebody broke into the house I’m refurbishing and trashed the place. I can’t prove he did it, but I’m pretty sure he did.”
“You think he’d do something like that?” Rollin asked.
Chris tilted his head toward Rollin and gave him a skeptical look.
“Man, he’s too old for that kind of stuff. I’m assuming you called the police?”
“My dad did. Greg was there when I got to the house. He’s looking into it, but with no evidence or proof of any sort, it just looks like some kids did it.”