Chapter 34

DAKOTA

THE NEXT week, I returned to work for good. Spending time with Sam, away from the pressures of our daily routine and the sins of our past, had renewed my lust for life. Although my heart still weighed heavy at times, I forced myself to look ahead at the future. The ache of loss might never go away, but over time, it would lessen and become tolerable.

He took one last trip to Tokyo, to complete his business with Takashima and appoint a representative to handle Takashima’s business exclusively.

I hated spending the nights alone, but it was different this time. Sam was coming home for good in another few days, and I slept better knowing our future was improving.

The day before Sam’s return, the ringing of my phone woke me from a deep sleep. I had no idea what time it was. My pulse accelerated, hoping it was Sam. An empty glass of water tumbled to the floor as I groped the surface of the nightstand. A glance at the clock showed 3:44 AM. “Hello?”

“Hello. Yes. Is this Mrs. Seaforth?” A calm, businesslike male voice cut through my sleep-induced fog.

“Um, yes. This is Mrs. Seaforth.” I sat bolt upright in bed. My heart pounded against my ribs. I clutched the phone tighter until my fingers ached. “Who is this?”

“Mrs. Seaforth, this is Dr. Alvarez of Laurel Falls Hospital. Mr. Seaforth has just been admitted to the emergency room. We’re going to need you here right away.”

“What?” My mind struggled to wrap around this announcement. Sam should be in the air, on his way home right now.

“I can fill you in on the details when you get here. We’re taking him into surgery. I’ve got to go.” 

“I’m on my way.” I ended the call and with shaking fingers, dialed Rockwell. He answered on the first ring, and I filled him in.

“Tell Chandler. I’ll meet you at the hospital.” Rockwell’s calm but assertive voice brought me back to reality. A dozen unpleasant thoughts raced through my head. Even though Sam and I had been having problems, we were on the road to recovery. The thought of losing him formed a rock in the pit of my stomach. Suddenly, our problems seemed trivial and stupid.

Thirty minutes later, we arrived at the hospital. The doctor met me at the door to the emergency room. With a hand on my elbow, he guided me into a small office.

“Mrs. Seaforth, your father-in-law has had a stroke.” He paused for breath. I held up a hand.

“Wait a minute. Maxwell?” I studied his face, looking for some kind of clue. This had to be a joke. “Not Sam?”

“Yes. Maxwell Seaforth. I should’ve been clearer on the phone. I believe your father-in-law has had an ischemic stroke, which is probably due to a blocked blood vessel. We’ll know more in a little while. I want to assure you that we have our very best specialists working on him right now.”

“Not Sam. Oh, thank God.” With a hand on my chest, I sank into the nearest chair, afraid my knees might give out. The doctor raised an eyebrow at my inappropriate response. “I mean, we’re not close. Maxwell and my husband have been estranged for many years. You really should call his wife.”

“We called Mrs. Seaforth, but she refused to come. We tried your husband, and his daughter, Vanessa. It seems both are out of the country. You were the only person to respond.” 

Of course they hadn’t called Venetia. She wouldn’t come anyway. She’d severed ties with Maxwell at his request the previous year. Vanessa was in France, tidying up her personal affairs before moving to Laurel Falls permanently. Even if she wanted to come, she couldn’t. Sam was probably still in the air. Maxwell, however, had a ton of minions at his disposal. I found it curious that not one of them was present.

“Surely one of his employees could be of assistance?” I spoke my thoughts aloud.

“We really need a member of the family present to sign for him.” The doctor’s tone was patient but firm.

“My husband’s out of the country. I’m sorry. I don’t think I can help.” I turned and made my way toward the door. Rockwell waited in the hallway, his tanned face unusually pale.

“Is he okay? What’s happened?”

“Sam’s fine. It’s Maxwell. He’s had a stroke.”

Rockwell’s expression stiffened. “Oh. I’d like to say I feel sorry for the bastard, but I don’t.”

“I know.” Weariness washed over me, through my bones, and made me feel older than my years.

Rockwell wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “Come on. Let’s get you home.”

We were about to board the elevator when I balked. Despite of all the grief Maxwell had given me and Sam over the years, I couldn’t wipe away the image of him alone in the hospital. He had no one. Even his paid cronies had abandoned him. Through his own meanness, he’d alienated his children and, apparently, his wife. I couldn’t, in good conscience, walk away until I knew he’d be okay.

“Wait.” I retreated from the elevator. “Call me crazy, but I can’t leave until I know he’s pulled through.”

Rockwell removed his cap and scratched the top of his head. A wry smile twisted his mouth before he squeezed my arm. “You’re not crazy. You’re just a good person. And that’s why Sam loves you.”