Diana squeezed the cardboard cup with the dreg of bitter hospital coffee. She perched against the glass window, looking down on her family in the waiting room. Rodney and Becky were dozing, with her head in his lap. Brad sat with his arms crossed and his eyes closed. His chin rested against his chest as he softly snored.
Neil slid beside her, pressed his shoulder against hers and nudged. “You’ve held up really well, Diana. Why don’t you get some sleep?”
She shook her head, feeling bone-weary and tired, with a heavy caffeine buzz from all the coffee she’d downed. She felt all shaky, but it was from the caffeine, which wasn’t smart, considering the complicated circumstances.
She was sweaty and sticky too, and she realized she probably smelled. She was almost tempted to take a whiff of her underarm, but that would be too odd around Neil.
He must have sensed what she was thinking. “I’m sure we could all use a chance to clean up.” He glanced at his thin gold watch. The white shirt he wore under the jean jacket, now tossed over one of the chairs, was rolled up to just below his elbows.
“How long has it been since the last update?”
“Two hours.” Neil sighed, pressed his hands into her stiffened shoulders, and rubbed.
“What did that nurse say again?” Diana was struggling not to read more into the few words she had said.
“She said the surgery was going well, that Doctor Hardy expects a few more hours yet. I know it’s not much to go on, Diana.” Neil kept rubbing her shoulders. “You’re doing fine. It shouldn’t be much longer, and if I know my brother, he’s going to pull though this. He’s strong and he’s determined.…”
The floor squeaked as Doctor Hardy hurried into the waiting area. Diana stepped forward, watching the older doctor in sweat-stained scrubs with the blue cap on his hair. He yanked it off, and Diana didn’t miss how tired he looked, too.
“Mom, Dad, Brad,” Neil called, and the chairs squeaked.
“Doctor Hardy, how is my husband?”
“Well, the surgery took longer than I expected. There was some unexpected bleeding--”
“What do you mean? Is my husband okay?” Diana couldn’t keep the emotion from rising in her voice.
“Diana, let Doctor Hardy finish.” Neil slid his arm around her shoulder. Brad stood beside her on her other side. Maybe they thought she was going keel over.
“Doctor Hardy, we need you in here now.” Doctor Gordon hurried in, wearing the same blue scrubs, but her eyes were filled with worry.
“What’s wrong? Is it Jed?” It was Rodney who asked, and it was the first time Diana heard his voice shake.
“I’ll be back.” Doctor Hardy didn’t wait but turned and ran just as the overhead speaker announced a code blue.
Becky covered her mouth and seemed to slump in Rodney’s arms as a cry erupted from her. Diana didn’t know what to do as she pulled away from Neil and sat in one of the chairs. Brad covered his mouth as if to cough, but she could tell he was fighting his emotions, and Neil watched her with misery in his sad brown eyes.
“What happened?” Andy strode in, dressed as he always was in a dark shirt and blue jeans. Diana barely registered Laura behind him, wearing a light sweater.
Neil roughly cleared his throat, shaking his head as he turned away. His shoulders shook, and Brad rested a hand on Neil’s shoulder.
It was Brad who said, “Something happened. Doctor Hardy just raced out of here. We don’t know if it was Jed--”
“I think my husband just died,” Diana said, and then she glanced at Laura. “I’m going to get my son.”
Diana, for the first time during this emotional roller coaster, felt a wave of calm she couldn’t explain.
Becky was sobbing softly, and Rodney stared at her with red eyes glossed over with tears. Neil was running his hands through his hair roughly.
“Diana, wait. We don’t know anything yet.” Brad was right there, but his voice was thick with emotion.
“I can take you, Diana. I’ll drive you back to the estate.” Andy held out his hand to Diana, but it was the look in Brad and Neil’s eyes that had her staying where she was, not taking his hand. When she glanced at Laura standing behind Andy, she could see her stunned look as if the girl had been slapped. Diana said nothing, but she studied everybody and watched as Laura turned and left.