All I Have to Give by Meridith Gibbens

Author:Meridith Gibbens
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Meridith Gibbens

Chapter 13

The Anticipation

As Callie and Ben were throwing away the remnants of their lunch and packing up Callie’s computer to head back to her home, a nurse entered the room.

“Miss LeVray?” She stopped when she came up beside Callie.

Hearing her somber tone, Callie ceased packing her bag.

“I’m going to note your dad’s vitals. Then I need a quick word with you.”

“I’ll step out,” Ben offered, but Callie caught him by the arm, and her eyes begged him to stay. He got the message, turning back and resuming the clean-up. If this was bad news, which she feared it might be, she needed him there. She couldn’t face it alone.

A few minutes later, the nurse stepped away from Ronald LeVray’s bedside and came to face Callie and Ben, who were standing side by side in front of the loveseat. Ben had tried to get Callie to sit, but her nerves wouldn’t allow her.

“Miss LeVray,” the nurse began, compassion filling her voice, “Dr. Karl called this afternoon to check on your dad. He asked me to take one more reading and if, well if the readings came out the way they just did, he wanted to ask you and your family…” She paused, and Callie guessed she was probably looking at Ben as the staff still hadn’t figured out how he fit in with her and Lee. “He wants you all to meet with him tomorrow morning, if possible. Say, around ten o’clock?”

Callie’s knees begin to shake, and Ben surprised her by placing his hand supportively on her back.

“Yes, we can do that,” Callie replied, fear and dread spilling out with every word.

The nurse tried to lighten her tone as she continued. “Don’t worry yet. Dr. Karl is going to keep you in the loop on everything, so you know what to expect and what your options are. Don’t worry,” she repeated, which only made Callie worry even more. “I’ll let him know to expect you all around ten then.” After patting Callie on the arm, she exited quickly, likely happy to escape the sad faces that resulted from her news.

Callie sat, and Ben slowly lowered himself beside her. He sat so carefully that Callie thought he might be afraid of her in some way. She covered her face with her hands, and Ben placed an arm gently around her shoulders. She closed her eyes, and before she could think better of it, leaned into him, her head resting against his chest. Instantly, a soothing warmth began spreading throughout her body, like she was lowering herself into a bath. As she allowed herself to relax against him, she felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity, like she’d been in his arms many times before.

Her heart overflowed with the range of emotions pouring through it: fear for her dad, fear for Lee, and a pull toward Ben that was irresistible. The emotions came in a torrent, like a downpour of rain that threatened to wash her away. She breathed in and out as she felt Ben’s heart pounding against her cheek, reacting to her just as she was reacting to him.

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