Chapter Sixteen

Belle

My heart was pounding as I ran through the halls of the hospital. I had gotten lost trying to get to the ICU and ended up in emergency instead. Every part of the damn hospital looked like every other part, and all I wanted was to find my mom. I could have slept on the flight, theoretically, but the only thing I could really do was sit there and hold a glass of water in my shaking hands.

Mom.

I hadn’t taken care of my mom well enough.

I should have been here all along.

And now I might be too late…

I skidded into a nurse’s desk and set my hands on the counter. “Please, I’m looking for Angelique Fontaine. I’m her daughter. Please, which room?”

The nurse nodded and flipped through her clipboard with the speed of a turtle. I understood she was going through a regular day for her and trying to be efficient, but each second felt like a century.

“Please, there has to be some information. Something,” I said, pulling out my license in case she needed proof of who I was.

“Yes, yes, I see now. Ms. Fontaine is in room 332, just down the hall and to your left.”

“Can you tell me anything about her condition?”

“It’s best if you head down there. The doctor should be in shortly with an update for the family, miss.”

I nodded and tried to keep my head held high. If I fell over or collapsed into tears I’d never get back up, never struggle to the room.

Mom, oh, Mom…

When I got there, I found George and Carol sitting just outside the door in some chairs. He was patting her hand and trying to be sympathetic. I turned to my sister, quite aware I was still in mussed makeup but at least in jeans and a light sweater. I didn’t know if she could tell how recently I’d had sex with Drake. I wanted to take her aside and beg for forgiveness, to tell her that she was right and I’d been too selfish.

I’d say anything if I could save my mom.

Carol eyed me and then nodded. “The medication caused a brain bleed. She fainted with Dad and they rushed her here. She’s stable and they caught it in time, but she’ll have to be here for a couple of weeks of rehab and observation.”

“Thank God,” I said, clutching her hand, hoping some of what I’d done was at least behind us until Mom was better. We could fight later, but we both had to be here together for her. “Can I see her? Is she awake?”

Carol nodded and stood, but then pulled me down the hall away from George. Lowering her voice, she added, “I wanted to tell you this first, though. Drake McManus’s lawyers called when you were en route. He’s offering ninety cents on the dollar and all he wants to secure the deal is to have Dad named the newest CEO and chairman of his kids’ charity. You and I can have any post we want or nothing at all, depending on what we prefer. He’s even called ahead to Hopkins and UCLA to get the best specialists over to Mom on his dime. I... I don’t understand everything you did, and I don’t think I want to know…”

I blushed and looked down at my hands, ashamed of everything I’d done, of the fact I’d forgotten how sad my family was, how desperate and alone so far away. I just hadn’t been here, and I should have been. I knew better and look what had happened.

Rationally, Mom’s sudden reaction wasn’t my fault, but guilt wasn’t rational.

It felt like I’d done it, like I’d tempted fate by finally being happy for the first time in years.

“You don’t have to say anything. I had no idea Drake was going to be that generous or that he’d been contacting doctors. To be honest, the second I heard, I ran for the suitcases and hurried to get to the jet.”

“Well, you need to thank him once he’s back in town for sure. He really went beyond.”

“We’re not… it’s over.”

Carol’s face stiffened. “Did he dump you? What a creep!”

“No,” I said, my voice wavering. “I mean, it was a bit more mutual. I dunno… there was just fighting and I realized you were right. I need to help my family, and I can’t just do whatever I want. I’m just glad he delivered on the deal.” I held my head up higher. “But I won’t be in negotiations with him anymore.”

“I’m sorry,” Carol said, gathering me up into her arms for a hug. “I’m glad you’re back. I missed you.”

She had a funny way of showing it while I was gone.

Pulling away from her, I headed back to room 332. “We can catch up after I see Mom and Dad.”

Carol smiled. “I’d like that.”

It would make one of us.