The woman typed some things on the computer. “Yes, she’s in surgery. You need to go to the waiting room on that floor.”
“Wait, why is she in surgery?” Darian asked.
The woman looked at her computer. “It doesn’t say. The doctor will find you and explain.”
Darian nodded and walked off. He, Brylee, and Gage made it to the surgical waiting room. Gage had Brylee in his lap, consoling her, while Darian called everyone he knew as he paced. He called in favors from people he knew owed him, but he got nothing.
He got more frustrated as the minutes slowly crept by. What was the use of having so much money when you couldn’t even get a few questions answered?
A couple of hours passed, and he was about at his wit’s end. The thought of his little being in pain made him want to howl or beat on something. Guilt was eating at him that he hadn’t been there to take care of her when she needed him the most.
Relief rushed through him, and they stood when a doctor came through the door in scrubs. Darian tried to keep from looking at the little spots of blood on the man’s clothing. Knowing it was Larkin’s would push him over the edge.
Finally, he’d get the answers he desperately needed.
“Are you here for Larkin?”
Darian nodded. “Yes, she’s mine.”
“I can tell you we got to her in time.”
“Wait, I’m sorry, Doctor, but we don’t even know why she’s here,” Darian said.
“I’m sorry. Her appendix ruptured, but as I was saying, we got to her in time. Another doctor is finishing up. She’ll be in recovery until she wakes, and then we’ll put her in a room. Go up to the fourth floor, and I’ll have someone come and get you when she’s settled in.”
Darian shook the man’s hand. “Thank you.”
They settled in the fourth-floor waiting room, and it took another hour before the second doctor came in. The man looked exhausted, but then Darian reminded himself it was the middle of the night.
“Hello, I’m Dr. Fry. You’re Larkin’s family?”
“Yes,” they all said and nodded.
“She’s in her room, and we’re getting her comfortable.”
“Can we go to her now?” Darian asked.
“I’m sorry, but you can’t at the moment. She did ask for Brylee.”
“I’m Brylee.”
“You can go in. It might be good for her to see a friendly, familiar face when she wakes up.”
“I can’t go in?” Darian asked.
“Not at this time. I’m sorry.”
“Do you know why?”
The doctor looked at the file in his hands. “She was agitated when she came in, and Brylee was the one she asked for. I don’t want to upset her by having several people in the room. The doctor on call tomorrow morning can tell you more.”
Darian wiped a hand down his face and then nodded. “Thank you.”
A nurse came for Brylee.
Darian paced back and forth.
“Man, come here and sit down,” Gage said.