Page 46 of The Summer We Kept Secrets (The Destin Diaries #4)

T he air inside the hospital was clean and antiseptic, but Eli’s chest was too tight to take very deep breaths.

The whole place was cold, bright, and unfeeling, with a low-grade hum of fear despite the group of nurses laughing over coffee in the center station that looked out over the individual rooms surrounding the ER.

In theirs, Meredith lay on a bed with rails, pale against white sheets, one hand pressed to her belly like she could somehow hold her little embryo in place with the sheer strength of Meredith Lawson determination.

The room had two chairs, and Eli had pulled one a little closer to the bed, keeping a hand on Meredith’s shoulder as he tried—and failed—to find the right words. Every once in a while, she moaned, winced, and bit her lip, clearly in pain.

Kate stood nearby, arms crossed tightly, her eyes flicking between the monitor and Meredith’s face like she could understand what every beep and number meant. Maybe she could—he knew better than to underestimate her intelligence.

She’d been amazing, though, when Jonah came downstairs, took Eli aside, and quietly delivered the news. As if she sensed a crisis, Kate joined them, her expression flickering with surprise when she learned Meredith was pregnant.

To her credit, she didn’t even look sideways at Eli for not telling her this news. Instead, she instantly suggested Jonah stay with Gary and Sally, maybe take them downstairs for a tour of the nursery and a peek at the beach.

Down there, he could tell them a little of what was going on—whatever he was comfortable saying—while Kate and Eli took Meredith to the hospital.

The plan made sense and unfolded without a hitch—except Maggie was not happy and wanted to come, but they talked her out of that, insisting that she help Jonah with the guests.

Eli drove to the hospital while Kate sat in the back with Meredith, comforting her through the pain. With tears and whimpers, Meredith shared enough of her situation for Kate to fully understand why Eli might have been a little distant the last day or so.

They’d talk all about it later. Now, he had to drive, focus, and pray. Probably not in that order. Prayer first, right? But the words weren’t there.

Jesus, please help Meredith was the best he could do under the circumstances.

Frustration grew as they sat in the small room for what felt like years but might have been less than half an hour.

Other than a nurse named Dena who’d set up the monitors, offered comfort, and told them an ultrasound tech was on the way, they’d been alone.

Finally, they heard the sound of wheels and footsteps, and a woman appeared at the door with a portable apparatus he assumed was the ultrasound machine.

“Hello,” she said brightly, sliding her hands under the hand sanitizer attached to the wall. “You must be Meredith. I’m Charlene, your ultrasound tech. How are you doing, hon?”

Meredith managed a pathetic smile. “Been better.”

“I know, I know.”

Eli stood and pulled his chair back, even though Charlene set up on the other side of the bed. “Should we stay?” he asked.

“Absolutely.” She glanced at the two of them and added a kind smile. “Are you Meredith’s parents?”

“I’m her father,” Eli said, not sure what to say about Kate.

“And you’re worried sick,” Charlene added, making the awkward moment easy. “Well, let’s just see what’s going on here. I’m going to do a quick abdominal ultrasound,” she said, wheeling the machine closer.

“Not transvaginal?” Kate said, holding her phone where he suspected she was madly searching the internet to be armed with information.

“That’s ordered by a doctor after we do this first level,” Charlene explained as she tapped a keyboard and adjusted a monitor.

Meredith reached her hand out and Eli instantly went to her, taking her trembling fingers in his. “I’m sorry, Dad,” she whispered.

“No, sweetheart.” His voice cracked. “Don’t apologize. You don’t have to be sorry for anything.”

“I’m going to slide this top up, honey.” The nurse applied the gel to Meredith’s stomach, making her flinch. Eli tightened his grip as though he could somehow transfer her discomfort to himself.

Was there a parent in the world who wouldn’t trade places with a sick kid?

Kate joined him, placing her hand on his back, adding her own touch of love and sympathy.

The screen flickered to life with hazy grays and blacks, and Charlene moved the sensor slowly, methodically.

Please, God. Please let the baby be alive and okay.

He didn’t realize how much he wanted that until the words formed in his head.

“Let’s see what we’ve got here,” Charlene murmured, concentrating on the screen.

Eli squinted at the shadows, but it was a blur of greys and shifting light.

Charlene moved the wand again, slower this time, scanning from one side to the other. Her brow furrowed.

“Charlene?” Kate asked. “What are you seeing?”

“Well…for about six to eight weeks… Am I right about that?”

Meredith nodded, a little fear darkening her green eyes.

“I’d expect to see something in the uterus,” the woman said. “A gestational sac, at least.” She paused, adjusted the depth on the screen. “I’m not seeing that.”

“What does that mean?” Meredith asked weakly. “Is it too early?”

“Sometimes dating is off,” Charlene said carefully. “But…I’m also seeing quite a bit of free fluid in the pelvis.”

“Fluid?” Eli asked.

Charlene nodded, eyes still on the screen. “It could be blood. It’s pooling in the cul-de-sac behind the uterus.” She angled the wand again. “And possibly tracking higher. The doctor needs to see this.”

“Wait,” Kate said, leaning in. “Are you saying this could be…internal bleeding?”

Charlene looked at her, taking her eyes off the screen. “Yes. It’s possible. Meredith’s blood pressure is trending low and her heart rate’s up. We’re on it, I promise.”

Meredith turned toward Eli. “I feel dizzy. And I have to pee.”

Charlene gently pulled the probe away and set it down. “I’m going to help you do that because we want you flat.” She turned and grabbed something plastic, then lifted a microphone hanging around her neck. “And I’m paging the on-call OB, then I’ll help Meredith relieve herself.”

Eli backed up. “We’ll be right outside,” he murmured, placing a trembling hand on Meredith’s shoulder. “We’re here. Just breathe, sweetheart.”

Stepping outside the room into the hushed heaviness of the ER, Eli managed a shaky breath.

Vaguely aware of an intercom page and an orderly rolling an empty gurney, Eli stepped to a window that looked out on a courtyard, his eyes burning.

“We need to pray,” he said.

“We need to prepare for surgery,” Kate volleyed back.

“Surgery?” he gasped, blinking at her. “What are you?—”

“She has every sign of an ectopic pregnancy.”

He stared at her, digging into anything he knew about obstetrics—next to nothing—for what she meant. “Is that a tubal pregnancy?”

“Exactly. The pregnancy implanted somewhere other than a uterus, usually a fallopian tube”—she lifted her phone as if referencing it—“and that tube may have ruptured and she’s bleeding internally. This is life-threatening.”

He felt blood drain.

“Enough Dr. Google,” he said, holding up a hand. “I need to pray. For this baby, for my daughter, for her very life.”

“I know you do,” she said, trying to lower a strained and tense voice. “But we need to be responsible here and not get wrapped up in hospital waiting. She needs immediate attention.”

“She’s getting it. She also needs immediate prayer. And right now, it’s all I have.”

She crossed her arms and sighed, looking around as if she’d find a nurse to help her make her point.

He narrowed his eyes at her, suddenly feeling kicked in the guts.

“You’ve shut that door so tight, Kate, I don’t even know if you can hear me anymore.

If I lost this grandchild and my daughter in the same breath—and you, the woman I love, still won’t even look at the possibility that God is real, that He could actually work a miracle—” His voice broke. “Then what are we even doing?”

Silence fell between them like a dropped stone. Kate blinked fast, once, but didn’t speak.

Eli turned away, placing both hands on the windowsill. He bowed his head, not caring if she stayed or walked away or rolled her eyes.

Footsteps echoed, pulling his attention as a tall, dark-haired woman in scrubs moved briskly toward them, white coat flapping. Eli straightened.

“Are you the doctor?”

She smiled. “Yes, I’m Dr. Sabine. I’m the attending OB and I’ll be taking care of Meredith, who I assume is…”

“My daughter. The nurse is helping her go to the bathroom,” Eli said. “She didn’t see anything on the abdominal ultrasound.”

Dr. Sabine took a step to the door. “Why don’t you wait out here while we do the transvaginal ultrasound. The minute we can, we’ll let you in.” She added a smile. “Breathe, Mr. Lawson. And, if you’re that kind of man, pray. It always helps.”

As she opened the door, he looked at Kate, who wore a wry, sad smile.

“Doctor’s orders,” he whispered.

She just sighed, a glint of emotion in her eyes.

He believed in miracles.

She didn’t.

Who would be right this time?

When the door opened again, Charlene walked out, looking very serious. “Dr. Sabine can talk to you now,” she said.

Eli took Kate’s hand and walked into the room, his gaze going straight to Meredith, pale and small.

Dr. Sabine snapped off her gloves and let out a sigh. “Meredith has a suspected ectopic pregnancy. It’s likely ruptured.”

Eli’s stomach bottomed out. “What exactly does that mean?”

“Unfortunately, this pregnancy is not viable. The embryo implanted in her fallopian tube, not the uterus, posing a potential risk to her life,” the doctor continued, calm and clinical.

“It’s rare, but serious. There’s free fluid in the abdomen—we believe that’s blood.

Her vitals confirm internal bleeding. We need to operate immediately. ”

Eli felt himself swaying. Kate steadied him with one hand, even though her own face had drained of color.