Page 47 of The Summer We Kept Secrets (The Destin Diaries #4)

“What exactly is the surgery?” he asked, vaguely aware that the nurse and another aide had returned.

“A laparoscopic procedure, if her condition remains stable. We’ll remove the pregnancy and stop the bleeding. If possible, we’ll preserve the fallopian tube. Honestly, time is of the essence if there’s been a rupture.”

In other words, get out of our way and let us do our job , Eli thought. He was about to do just that when Meredith whimpered, her hand flailing slightly. Eli rushed to her side and caught it in his own.

“Daddy,” she whispered, “I’m scared.”

“You’re going to be fine,” he choked out. “I’m right here. I’m not leaving.”

Charlene had already started the second IV. The aide gently placed an oxygen mask over Meredith’s nose and mouth.

Dr. Sabine leaned in. “We’re going to take you upstairs now, okay? You’re in good hands.”

Everything moved in a blur after that—orders called out, Meredith being wheeled down the hallway, her hand slipping from Eli’s as the stretcher turned a corner and vanished through a swinging door.

He stood frozen for a moment, then felt Kate gently taking his hand.

“Come on,” she said quietly. “The aide told me where to wait for the OR.”

He wrapped his arms around her, suddenly aware of how much he wouldn’t want to be doing this alone. This? This was why God gave a kid two parents, and despite their differences, he couldn’t be more grateful for the rock that was Kate.

A few minutes later, they were situated in the waiting area outside the OR, where they sat with three other small groups of family members. After texting Jonah and calling Vivien and his mother, Eli sat in a beige leather chair, elbows on his knees, head bowed.

Kate paced, sat, paced, checked her phone, then sat again, leaning close to Eli.

“I take it there’s no relationship with the father,” she said softly.

“He is…was…a mistake. A liar. A distraction for a girl who works too hard. I swear I’m going to put her on paid leave this summer.”

She smiled and nodded, taking his hand with one that was surprisingly shaky. She’d scrolled the internet too much, he decided, and knew things about this procedure and situation that he didn’t want to know.

All he’d seen was something about “the leading cause of maternal death in the first trimester” and he’d shut that search engine down before he took his next breath.

“She’s strong,” Eli said finally, voice low. “And in good hands.”

Kate nodded. “Definitely. That doctor knew exactly what she was doing.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t mean Dr. Sabine.” He slid her a wry smile. “I meant God’s hands.”

Kate didn’t answer.

He sat back, rubbing his palms over his face while a long silence stretched between them, filled only by the distant sounds of movement behind swinging doors. Then Eli turned, grasping her hand.

“I want you to know something,” he said gently.

“I don’t believe because it’s easy. It’s not.

Or because it always makes sense. It doesn’t.

I believe because time and time again, the Lord has proven His existence to me and made me know—I mean I know —that He loves me, He protects me, and He has saved me.

That knowledge isn’t some nebulous feeling.

It’s concrete and tangible, and the only thing that’s held me together when the world didn’t. ”

Kate looked away. “You think that’s what’s happening now? God is holding you together?”

“God…and you.”

“Me?” A smile pulled. “I thought…well, I didn’t think I mattered much in this scenario.”

He drew back, blinking. “Kate. You’re steady and strong and smart and…I love you.”

“Oh.” The words took all the fight out of her and brought some tears to her eyes. “Eli. I love you, too.”

He put his arm around her and kissed her hair, tucking her closer. “And now I’m going to pray.”

“Out loud?”

“Not if you don’t want me to.”

She was quiet, then slowly nodded. “Yes. I want to hear you. I want to…pray with you.”

He closed his eyes and dropped his head, and felt her head bow, too.

“Father God, I don’t know your plan, but I know that you work for good. I know you love Meredith even more than I do, that you loved her from when you knit her in her mother’s womb. I ask that you heal her, protect her body for future babies. Whatever happens?—”

Kate gasped and nudged him to look toward the door. Eli turned to see Dr. Sabine coming toward them, scrub cap still on, her expression relaxed.

“It went very well,” she said as they stood to greet her.

Eli heard a grunt of relief escape his lips.

“The fallopian tube hadn’t ruptured completely,” she added. “We were able to resolve the ectopic pregnancy and stop the bleeding with minimal intervention.”

“Oh, thank God,” Kate whispered.

“She’s in recovery waking from anesthesia.

The good news is we did not have to remove the tube,” Dr. Sabine continued, her voice warm.

“She still has both fallopian tubes, and she’s entirely able to conceive and carry a child in the future, though we’ll monitor her next pregnancy closely.

Someone will come get you when she’s awake. ”

Eli closed his eyes and nodded, still reeling from the fact that there wouldn’t be a baby, but overwhelmed with gratitude that Meredith was okay.

“We caught it just in time,” Dr. Sabine added. “You got her here fast. That made the difference.”

“Thank you,” Kate added, her voice hoarse. “Thank you so much.”

Dr. Sabine nodded and walked away, leaving the door swinging slowly behind her as Eli dropped into his seat because he wasn’t sure his legs could hold him.

Kate didn’t sit down right away. She stood there, arms folded, staring at the empty hallway.

Then, she sank into the seat beside Eli and let out a breath that sounded like a sob.

“Well,” she said. “I think…I might’ve just witnessed my first answered prayer.”

Eli smiled. “It’s a powerful moment.”

She dropped back and put her glasses on, quiet and deep in thought. Then she turned to him and took his hand. “You’re a good man, Eli Lawson.”

He met her gaze. “Is there a ‘but’ at the end of that?” he asked, feeling his body tense again. “Like, ‘But I can’t love someone who prays?’”

She laughed softly. “No but. You’re a good man. And someone I love very much told me I’d be a fool to give up a man because he’s too good.”

He regarded her, affection filling his heart. “I’m not…too good. I’m not even a little good. I just live by a book that has never steered me wrong.”

She nodded slowly. “I’m starting to see that.”

He reached to her and folded her in an embrace. “All I ask is that you keep an open mind and heart.”

She kissed his cheek. “My mind is open. And my heart? Belongs to you.”

Charlene came in, walking briskly across the waiting room. “Mr. and Mrs. Lawson? You can go see Meredith now.”

They shared a look and a smile and a secret. They weren’t Mr. and Mrs. Lawson, but Eli knew that God answered prayers and performed miracles. Nothing was impossible, right?