Trouble(94)

She clears her throat, turning to me. “Jordan, after examining your step-sister, a few things I discovered brought up a concern.”

“What concern?” My heart leaps out of my chest and starts to sprint down the hall.

“I’m not at liberty to discuss in length, not before speaking to Mia.”

“You asked us for a reason? What is that? You think Mia has a problem with food, so let’s talk about it—” I’m being a dick, I know, but something about this is bothering the fuck out of me. “—what kind of problem? Allergies? A food intolerance? An eating disord—” The words are out of my mouth before I even realize what I’m saying.

And then I realize.

And my eyes close under the wrecking ball of that realization. The way I found her in that motel room stilling my mind into a freeze frame of events. The excessive amount of empty food wrappers. The way there was chocolate smeared on her face as if she’d been gorging on it.

And she’d been throwing up.

She’d been throwing up.

Excessive eating. Throwing up.

Think Jordan. Think…

Bulimia.

Fuck, no.

I open my eyes. “You think Mia is bulimic.”

Dr. Packard pushes her hands in her pockets, releasing a slow breath. “There are many signs pointing to that possibility, yes, but like I said, I can’t be sure of anything until I’ve spoken to Mia.”

And my heart leaves the building.

“So talk to her – now.” I gesture down the hall. “I’ll come with you.”

She shakes her head. “That’s not possible at the moment as Mia is sedated, and I—”

“Sedated?” I frown. “Why?”

“Jordan, when Mia came around, she became quite upset. And through the stress of the situation, some other issues arose.” She stops talking as someone passes by.

“What other issues?” I press, wrapping my arms around my chest, trying to hold it together because I’m two seconds away from sprinting down this hall and searching every fucking room until I find her.

Dr. Packard draws her hands together in front of her. “Mia became extremely upset during examination, and due to the stress she was already under, and the dehydration combined, she suffered a seizure.”

“A seizure. Jesus fuckin’ Christ.” I close my eyes on a painful breath, my hands covering my face.

I feel my dad’s hand go to my back for support.

“Once we had the seizure under control, I felt it best to sedate Mia. Allow her body time to rest, and give us time to get her rehydrated intravenously as Mia was continually rejecting our efforts to help her while awake.”

Rejecting their help? She didn’t want to get better?

Her phone goes off in her pocket. “Excuse me.” She pulls out the phone, looking at. “I’m sorry, but I have to go.” She begins backing away.

“When Mia’s awake—”

“I’ll come and tell you right away.” Then she’s gone.

I slump down in the nearest chair. Head in my hands.

Dad sits next to me. “She’ll be okay, son. We’ll help her. Whatever she needs.”

I lift my head a little, and look at him. “But what if she doesn’t want my help?”

He gives me a sad smile. “We’ll figure it out. Don’t worry.”



***



Dad and I spend the night here in the hospital waiting room. We hear nothing more, no matter how many times I check with the receptionist, the answer is always the same – no change yet – Mia is still sleeping.

So I spend most of my time running everything over and over in my mind. Trying to figure out how I missed it. Were there any signs?

But I come up dry.

In the end, I’m still no clearer on it all, so I give into sleep, stretching out across three seats, letting Dad have the bench. I close my eyes, and I’m out.

When I open them again, daylight is pouring in through the large windows, and a glance at the clock tells me it’s seven-thirty.

Dad is already awake, watching the news on the TV up on the wall, drinking more of that shit vending-machine coffee.

“How long you been awake?” I ask, sitting. I stretch my back out, and every bone in my body cracks.

“Not long.”

“Any news?”

“No. I got you a coffee. Might be a bit cold now.” He hands it to me.

“It’ll do. Thanks.” I take two large gulps of the luke warm coffee and put it on the table.

“I spoke to Paula, she’s on her way to the hotel now, she’ll see to Dozer.”

Thankfully the Perry’s left the other day, so there’s only Dozer that needs taking care of.

I get up to stretch my legs. “Thanks.”