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“I might just do that. Thanks.”
*****
Instinctively, Leo knew that something was horribly wrong. The meeting had been going on for several minutes and the urge to call his wife was getting worse.
When he looked up and saw his assistant hovering inside the doorway of the conference room, he shoved back his chair and without a word to the men seated around the table, rushed towards her.
“What is it?”
“Your wife.” She pursed her lips and clasped her hands. “She was involved in an accident.”
“What hospital?”
“St. Luke’s.” She called out as he rushed towards the door.
*****
“Anything yet?”
“No.” His response was terse. “You should go on home. I will call…”
“I am not leaving.” Michael told him firmly. Ingrid and her aunt are still in the waiting room.”
Shoving his hands into the pockets of his ash gray dress pants, Leo felt as if he was going to go mad if he did not hear something soon. The doctors had updated him as soon as he arrived.
Someone had cut her off at the intersection and the driver’s side had taken most of the hit. She was bleeding internally, and they were fighting to save both her and his son. He had told the man in no uncertain terms that his wife was the priority.
“You should tell them to go home.” He was practically jumping out of his skin.
“You know that is not going to happen. Why don’t I get you some coffee…?”
“Why don’t you just leave me the hell alone!”
“I understand…”
“Oh, I am absolutely certain you don’t. My entire life is inside that operating room. I specifically told her to stay the hell at home and she just had to go out, didn’t she? She just could not do as she was told.
Damn her! Damn her to hell! If she dies, Christ Jesus…,” he flopped down on the chair as if someone had pulled the cords. “If she dies, there is nothing left for me.”
Michael watched helplessly as the usually powerful and confident man crumpled, tears falling down his cheeks.
*****
“Your son survived the trauma. We had to do a C-section in order to save his life.” The man looked completely exhausted as he dragged the skull cap off his unruly white hair.
“My wife?” Leo asked tersely.
“Is still under the anesthesia but will make a full recovery.” Dr, Manning smiled slightly. “She is quite a fighter. For a minute there, we thought we lost her, but she bounced back. Most of the trauma was to her abdomen, but your son was adequately cushioned.” The operation had lasted five long and agonizing hours.
“I need to see her.”
“Of course. They are wheeling her into recovery right now.”
“Could you tell the others…”
“Of course. Go on in.”
She had a bandage on her forehead and her right arm was in a sling and she was so still that he was afraid the doctor had lied to him, and she was in fact dead.