Chapter Four
Miranda rushed intothe ICU waiting room. Her mother, Gwen, sat in a chair, dabbing at her eyes. When she saw Miranda, tears started flowing again. At the far end of the room, near the door to the ICU and as far away from the family as he could be in the hospital waiting room, Lucas Wainright stood, arms folded across his chest, his face an inscrutable mask. When he saw her, he strode quickly across the room, disapproval radiating from every pore.
“About time you got here.” He spoke softly, so only she could hear him.
“I came as soon as I heard. It was rush hour traffic. Nothing is ever easy in Savannah.”
His dark eyes assessed her, glanced down at her fingers then back up, accusation in them. “You finished your manicure I see. Always priorities, isn’t that right, Miranda?”
She whipped out her other hand, the one not finished. “Wrong again, Lucas. Why are you willing to believe the worst in me? You barely know me.”
“Prove me wrong.”
At that moment, her mother glanced up with tear-filled eyes. She reached out a hand towards Miranda. “Randi, honey. I’m so scared. Your father…”
Miranda shoved past Lucas and sat next to her mother. She hugged her mother’s shoulders. “Have you heard anything? Has the doctor been out here yet?”
Lucas leaned against the wall, scrolling through messages on his phone. “He came out a short time ago and had nothing to report. He’s due back any time.”
Miranda glared at Lucas. “Isn’t this just for family?”
Lucas barely glanced at her. “I wanted to be sure your mother was okay.”
“She’s fine. You can go any time. Or are you checking in on your investment?” She sneered the last word and had the pleasure of seeing him wince.
“Miranda.” Her mother chided. “Lucas has been very nice, and even made the doctor promise to update us more frequently. Sometimes they listen better to strong, rational men than a hysterical woman.”
Lucas shot her mother a gentle smile, showing more warmth and compassion than she had ever seen in him. “You had a reason to be upset. These doctors should learn better people skills.”
“I’ll tell him to take the class you took.” Miranda spat.
“Miranda,” her mother admonished.
Cole chose that moment to step into the room, clicking his phone off. “The office is all set. No one will say anything until I notify them. That should keep the news crews at bay for a little while at least. Any updates?”
“Nothing yet,” Miranda replied.
Cole glanced at Lucas, suspicion in his eyes. “You’re still here, Wainright? I think we have it under control.”
“Maybe,” Lucas drawled. “But I have a duty. So consider yourselves stuck with me for the duration.”
“You’re worried about duty while my father is lying in a hospital bed, possibly dying?” Miranda asked, shocked at his casual behavior.
“Seamus Callahan is too mean and tough to die. You and I both know it. The best thing we can do is ensure the smooth running of this business venture,” Lucas replied.
Miranda jumped up and dragged the two men to the other side of the small waiting room. “How can you both be so insensitive? Do you think this could wait until we know if my father is going to be okay?”
Cole put his arm around Miranda and awkwardly squeezed. “He’ll be okay. Lucas was right about one thing– Seamus is too tough to let something like indigestion take him down.” He shared a warning glance with Lucas.
Before anything more could be said, the door to the ICU wing opened and a doctor stepped through. “Mrs. Callahan? Your husband is resting now but he had a very serious episode. We’re going to do an angiogram and determine the extent of the damage. We’re prepping him now.”
Her mother took a deep shuddering breath. “Can I see him?”
The doctor was already shaking his head. “Not yet. He needs this procedure as soon as possible. Every minute counts right now. The procedure won’t take long. Then you can see him.”
Miranda laid a hand on her mother’s shoulder, grateful to see only minimal shaking. “We’ll be here.”
Lucas leaned against the wall and stared at her, a steady and calming influence in the hurricane of emotions swirling around her. She frowned and straightened up further, willing herself to be strong. They settled into seats for the agonizing wait, wondering how the procedure would go.