Page 149 of Forever Dead
Dr. Blethan approached in a dark coat over a rumpled shirt. He seemed to have aged several years since Selena last saw him.
“Jessie asked me to wait for you,” he said. “She’s gone home to change. Connor told the nurse he wanted you let in when you arrived.”
She went toward him.
“Is he okay?”
Blethan stopped in front of her. “He’s out of surgery.”
“Is he okay, Blethan?”
“Selena...”
“Is he going to live?”
Blethan’s expression softened.
“Yes, lass. He’s going to live.”
Selena covered her mouth with one hand.
A sob came anyway.
Blethan caught her elbow as the cane shifted against the floor.
“He took a knife to the abdomen,” Blethan said. “Lost a fair amount of blood before they got him here. Jessie asked me to sit with her while the surgeon explained what they’d done. They’re pleased with how the operation went.”
Selena tried to speak. Nothing came.
“He’s stable now. His surgical team will be watching him closely.” Blethan lowered his voice. “I came to see him, lass. I’m not treating him. But what they told Jessie was encouraging.”
Tears blurred the corridor.
Selena wiped them away angrily.
“I need to see him.”
“You will.”
“I need to see him now.”
“He’s only just been settled in a room.”
“I don’t care.”
“Selena.”
“I need to see him.”
Her voice cracked on the last word.
More tears came.
Selena hated crying in public. Hated losing control of anything, particularly in front of Blethan, who would probably add emotional instability to his endless list of reasons she should stay away from work.
None of that mattered.
“I need to see him,” she repeated.
