Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 100750 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100750 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
When she woke, it was dark out. She combed through her purse, looking for her phone. Melanie should be in town, and Sydney should’ve been back by now. Reid stood, stretched, and glanced at Grayson, and while he hadn’t moved a muscle, she secretly hoped he’d be awake. She was about to head to the door when Sydney burst into the room, startling Reid. The two women looked at each other, eyes wide and hearts beating fast.
“There’s a heart, and it’s a match.”
SEVEN
REID
“What?” Reid was certain she hadn’t heard Sydney correctly.
“We have a heart, and it’s a match,” Sydney repeated. “We got the call right when we pulled into the parking lot.” Gilbert leaned around and waved at Reid, bringing a tiny bit of humor to a very delicate situation.
“He’s going to be okay?” Reid asked as she burst into tears. She stood and went to Sydney, hugging her tightly. “He’s going to be okay,” she said again, but this time it was more for Grayson’s mom than anything else, even though Reid needed the reassurance as well.
As happy as they were that Grayson would get a second chance at life, someone had died. A family, somewhere out there, was going through the unthinkable. They had lost someone they loved and would move forward with their lives without them, while Sydney, Gilbert, and Reid would have endless days with the one they loved.
Reid expected the surgery to be first thing in the morning and was shocked when the staff came in moments later and started prepping Grayson for surgery. They moved like well-trained robots, and within seconds, they were pushing Grayson’s hospital bed out of the room before Reid could blink.
“What just happened?”
“They’re taking him to surgery,” Gilbert told her. “The heart is in transport.”
“Just like that?” Reid shook her head. “The doctors drop everything?”
Sydney nodded. “Time is of the essence.”
Reid blinked and cleared the fuzziness away. She’d been napping when Sydney startled her with the most amazing yet heartbreaking news. Thoughts of the latter wouldn’t do any of them any good, so she pushed them out of her mind. Unsure of what to do, she gathered her things, folded the throw blanket she’d taken from Grayson’s bed, and went to put it back, only to see it was gone. She sat in the chair and sighed. “Wow.”
“I know, it’s a lot to wrap my mind around as well,” Sydney said. “Come on, let’s go to the atrium. The restaurant there is twenty-four hours. We can at least drink some coffee and eat something while we wait. It’s going to be a while.”
Reid nodded and stood. She followed Sydney out, with Gilbert trailing behind them. “I just don’t understand how doctors are alert at this hour to do surgery.”
“They’ll be fine,” Gilbert said as they stepped into the elevator. “They wouldn’t risk anyone’s life.”
She hoped he was right.
Upon entering the restaurant, they placed an order for food and coffee and found a booth near the window, which Reid was thankful for. Her body welcomed the cushioned bench with a sigh. Finally feeling more relaxed, she pulled out her phone and texted Pearce to give him an update. She expected him to return to the hospital, knowing he’d want to be there, and then she sent one to her dad. Lastly, she sent one to Melanie, letting her know what was going on.
Their food came: pasta for her, and an assortment of cookies and pastries for Sydney and Gilbert.
“You’re so calm,” Reid said to them both. “How can you eat, knowing your son is . . .” Reid couldn’t finish her question.
“Idle hands means idle minds,” Gilbert told her. “If I’m not doing something, I’m going to sit here and think about what they’re doing in the operating room. I’d rather not right now.”
Sydney nodded and rested her head on her husband’s arm. “I like to think we’re having dinner and dessert with a friend.” She smiled at Reid, who appreciated Sydney’s optimism.
They ate, made idle chitchat, and watched the clock. Time was on their side. The doctors had given Sydney a three-to-five-hour window for surgery—Gilbert guessed it would take four. But everything on the internet told Reid they might end up waiting up to eight hours. That was how long it took for the complicated surgeries—the ones that needed more time—and her gut told her Grayson would need all the time the doctors could muster.
By the time Pearce and Luther arrived an hour after she’d texted, the three of them had been picking at their food for a couple of hours. Melanie had opted to go to Reid’s apartment and wait. Reid tried to keep from looking at the clock every ten minutes. Instead, she looked every eleven, fifteen, or twenty minutes.
Luther brought over more coffee and pulled a chair up to the end of the table. Pearce sat next to Reid.