Zane & Lucky’s First Christmas (Forever Love #3.5)(33)
Author: J.S. Cooper

“Good, I’m really hopeful that he’s going to be able to find it.”

“Good.” He nodded slowly. “So tell me more about this documentary. Who else is going to be in it, asides from me and Mrs. Rosenbaum?”

“We were hoping Betty could be in it and I think Noah is going to ask Robin as well.”

“Robin would be a good choice.” He nodded and then went still and closed his eyes.

“Are you okay, Sidney?” Noah’s voice was panicked and I sat forward with worry.

“I’m okay.” He whispered and nodded. “Please go and get Betty, Noah.” Noah jumped up and ran out of the room and Sidney stared at me with fear in his eyes.

“There’s a file in my study. I need you to find it and give it to Noah.” He closed his eyes. “It’s import…” And then his body shook and he collapsed on the chair.

“Noah.” I screamed and jumped up. “Noah.”

Noah and Betty ran into the room and stared at the couch. Betty gripped the doorway as she stared at her husband lying limply in the couch. I stood there in shock as Noah rushed over to him.

“He’s not breathing.” He turned to look at me with bleak eyes. “Call 911, Lucky. He’s not breathing.” I stared at him in shock and the ground started shaking. Sidney was dead, Sidney was dead. That’s all I could think about as the room started fading around me. I tried to open my mouth to talk, but all I could think about was the fact that Sidney had died right in front of me and I hadn’t even known he was sick. I took one step and then the world faded to black as I fell to the ground, with pains in my heart and belly.

Chapter 10

Zane

The sun was shining, but there was no warmth in the hospital waiting room. I felt as frozen inside as I did on the outside. I couldn’t think of anything or anyone, but Lucky. All my nightmares were coming true and I was unable to think of anything but her and the babies. I had driven to the hospital as soon as I had gotten Noah’s phone call. His words still rung out in my ear. “Zane, you need to come to the hospital. Sidney had a stroke and Lucky fainted and fell.” I’m not sure that my expression has changed since I heard those words. I rushed to the hospital right away. I couldn’t even look at Noah as I walked into the emergency room. I was scared I was going to hit him. How could he have let this happen to her?

“Betty is in the room with Sidney, in case you were wondering.” Noah approached me with stress lines all over his face.

“They won’t let me in to see, Lucky.” I turned away from him, still feeling angry, even though I felt guilty for treating him badly. “They’re still doing tests.”

“I’m sorry, Zane. None of us could have predicted that she would collapse.” Noah’s voice sounded pained. “We thought Sidney was dead.”

“Rationally, I know it’s not your fault.” I mumbled. “But my heart can’t stop blaming you. I’m sorry.” I walked away from him and sat in a chair by the window. I stared at the ground and counted the chair legs in the room. What was I going to do if something happened to Lucky? How could I survive? I felt a tear slide out of my eye. Why did everyone I love have to leave me? What was wrong with me? I never got to meet my mom and now the love of my life was on her deathbed. I felt my thoughts becoming dark and I closed my eyes. It had been years since I’d had these dark depressing thoughts. I jumped up and paced the room. I could see Noah staring at me out of the side of my eye, but I couldn’t even look at him.

“Mr. Beaumont?” A doctor walked into the waiting room and Noah and I both rushed over to him. “Which one of you is Mr. Beaumont?”

“We’re both Mr. Beaumont.” I shouted. “How is Lucky?”

“I don’t know who Lucky is.” The man gave me a sympathetic glance. “Betty Johnson sent me in to give an update. Sidney Johnson is currently stable. He suffered from a massive stroke this afternoon and is currently paralyzed on his left side. He’s not currently awake or talking, but we think he will be able to leave the ER later today and the hospital in a couple of days.”

“A couple of days?” Noah sounded shocked. “After a massive stroke, really?”

“This isn’t the first stroke, Mr. Johnson has suffered from in the last couple of months.” The doctor shrugged. “He should be able to go in a few days. Mrs. Johnson said she will call you with more information when she can.”

“So that’s it?” Noah looked angry. “I can’t see him?”

“At this point, only family members are allowed into the room to see him.”

“How do you know I’m not family? Is it because I’m white?” Noah’s voice rose and I looked at him in shock. Something in me snapped as I saw my brother in pain, I reached over and pulled him towards him and hugged him hard and the doctor left the room.

“I’m sorry, Noah. It’s going to be okay.” My voice cracked as I held him. I felt ashamed of myself for the way I had treated him when I had arrived at the hospital. He was my brother and I had treated him like a stranger. “Please forgive me, Noah.”

‘It’s okay.” He pulled away from me and kissed my cheek. “I understand that you’re worried about Lucky.”

“Why haven’t they come and given us any information?” I asked him bleakly. “What if something happened to the babies? What if she dies?”

“I’m not trying to be a jackass, Zane.” Noah took a deep breath. “But she fainted. That’s it. Nothing else happened. I don’t know if everything is okay, but I don’t know anyone that died because they fainted.”

“Are you trying to tell me that I’m being melodramatic?” I half smiled at him and sighed. “I’ve never been this scared before.”

“I know. I’m worried as well.”

“If anything happens.” I started and he shook his head.

“Let’s be positive, bro.” He took a deep breath. “Let’s just be hopeful.”

“Okay.” I rubbed my face against my palm and tried to control my emotions. I understood why they said waiting is the hardest part. I thought I was going to lose my mind, sitting there waiting for someone to come and update me on how Lucky was doing.

“Hello, Mr. Beaumont?” Another doctor walked into the room. I walked over to her slowly and tried to keep my composure.