Page 59

“I’m on it.”

CHAPTER19

This Can’t Be

Dean

“Your mother is a fighter.She’s hanging in there. Have you been home yet?” The nurse asks as she scribbles something on her notepad after she checks Mom’s vitals.

She and the others have been extremely kind and comforting. There has only been one nurse I almost had to snatch out of her skin. I don’t play about my mom and her stink behind tried me with her big-headed ass.

“No. Not yet. I want to be here with her.”

“I’m on a double shift. I’ve got her if you want to go home and shower and eat some real food. You can’t show up for her if you’re not in top condition. Please take care of yourself for your mom if nothing else.”

I nod and think her words over. I do need a shower and change of clothes. I’ve been taking bird baths in Mom’s bathroom now that I’ve had them move her to a private room.

I guess I can run home after the doctor’s next check-in. I’ve been neglecting everything else. I know I shouldn’t be, but it is what it is. This is where I need to be.

I look down at my phone and see Ronan is calling again. I’m too hurt and confused to answer and talk to him. I’ve run multimillion-dollar companies, started something from nothing many times over, I’ve stood face to face with men others would cower to, but this … I can’t wrap my head around.

What am I supposed to do? How do I help my mom? She is all I have left.

Anika hasn’t even shown her face in the last three days I’ve been here. I should be grateful for that, but that shit doesn’t sit right with me. This is our mom—no matter what we have going on, she should be here for our mom.

Mom has done everything for us. We can never say we weren’t cared for. Yet my sister be out here acting like she’s had it so hard. She’s too spoiled for her own good.

Her hardships have come from her choices. That’s where the strain in their relationship comes from. Meanwhile, I sit here with my head spinning. I came straight to the hospital from the airport.

I’ve been demanding answers and barking orders since I arrived. Nothing else matters. My mother is sick. She needs me.

She has needed me all this time and has been hiding that fact. At least she’s been hiding that she’s sick. The doctors weren’t sure until now what the problem had been.

Lupus, she’s been diagnosed with lupus. This flare-up is serious. Her lungs are infected, and she has some tissue damage. That’s what landed her here.

They are pumping her full of steroids and have induced a coma. Her lungs are failing her right now. This is what the doctor wanted to talk to me about. She seems hopeful that once under control, Mom will be able to manage the condition now that they have a clear diagnosis.

At this point, she isn’t a lung transplant candidate. Doctor Colton said with time and proper changes and management, they will reassess Mom’s eligibility. But lung transplants are difficult to be considered for and have a ton of potential complications outside her preexisting condition.

Doctor Colton walks in just as I get ready to check my emails and texts. I’ve been getting a ton of calls from Lyric and Uncle Dayton. I have ignored them all. If I do go home, I’m sure I’m going to have to deal with them.

“She’s looking good. Her lungs have had time to rest and heal. I’m going to send her for a few scans and then we can see what’s next,” Doctor Colton says.

“Will you consider waking her?”

“I do believe so. Ms. Peoples, I, however, am concerned about you. You look exhausted. The scans will take a few hours. Have you thought about heading home?”

I sigh and nod. “You are the second one to mention this. I’ll be going home now. If anything changes, please call me immediately.”

“I will inform the nurses to do so. Please get some rest. Your mother is in good hands. We’re doing everything we can to get her healthy. I’m glad we figured things out and have a strong plan moving forward.”

Her words go a long way to make me feel better about leaving. I’ll be right back after some sleep and a hot meal. These people will know this woman has family who cares about her—she is not to be forgotten.

“I’ll see you in a little bit, Mom,” I say as I lean in to kiss her forehead before I gather my things to leave.

***

I stepinto my brownstone and feel like I might collapse under the weight of everything. It’s been three days, but I think I’m still in shock. How is this happening?