Page 74 of He Has Charm (Boston Brawlers Hockey)
“Did you call his family or should I?” she asks.
“I called his sister.” I feel like I’m confessing a sin. She nods and pats me on the back.
“Let’s go. I’ll drive.” I don’t argue with her. She can probably get me in to see Maddox if anyone can.
* * *
I don’t get to see Maddox, but I do get free range to pace around the emergency waiting room of the Mass General as much as I want. I figure it’s been five miles worth in the past couple of hours. Delaney sits scrolling and tapping on her phone and drinking her fourth cup of coffee. It’s a miracle she’s not buzzing from the caffeine loud enough to hear.
When Katy, accompanied by an older woman who looks just like her, another young woman and two young men, all who I assume are mother, sister, and husbands, I feel relief and then my gut clenches. What am I going to say if they ask about me and Maddox and how the hell I know about his heart condition?
Katy rushes toward me, her eyes puffy from crying, her mouth grim.
“Harper, thank you so much for calling us. Mom, this is Harper St. John.” She gives me a funny look and then goes on. “She’s Mad’s agent with the Jett agency.” She introduces me around to her her husband, Teddy, sister Laurel, and her brother-in-law, Bob. Thoroughly in the business role, I take in the polite nods and Katy lets go of my hands, withdrawing from me to sit with her family on the other side of the room. They whisper amongst themselves and I’ve never felt more desperately outside of where I want to be, a long way off and damn sad.
“You could have introduced me,” Delaney huffs, coming up beside me. But she puts an arm around my shoulder. “As the ballbuster from the front office.” I look at her, meet her perfectly straight face, and I laugh, shaking my head.
But before my quiet laugh turns to tears, I put an arm around her and we go back to where she was sitting and I was pacing.
“Who knew,” I whisper, “that the ball-buster has a sense of humor?”And a soft heart. But I keep that to myself, not daring enough to push my luck.
Delaney grunts and taps her phone and then holds it so I can see it.
“May as well watch the replay of the game while we’re waiting.” The tiny screen manages to convey the ferocity of the Brawlers who, according to the announcer, are playing for their fallen Knight and playing to win. They show an interview with Coach and O’Rourke between periods. They are both concerned for his health and have no idea what’s going on, or, if they were told, they’re not sharing. I know how they feel as I look over at the family and their quiet discussion.
Clearly they have a much better understanding of what’s happening, knowing all the details of the condition and potential treatment options. I have only the vaguest idea. Right now I barely remember half the things Maddox told me, which was only the barest overview.
When the doctor comes out, I hold myself back from running to him as he goes to the family and speaks with them softly. A few minutes later, as I’m pacing closer to the group, Delaney takes my arm and yanks me in the opposite direction without a reprimand or warning.
“The Brawlers won,” she says, no celebration in her voice. I continue pacing, keeping my distance while I watch the doctor still talking to the closely knotted Knight family.
When the doctor nods, shakes hands with Mrs. Knight, and retreats back through the double doors where he came from, I stop pacing and look to the family again. Katy turns to me, makes a small smile, and comes over to me. Delaney stands at my side and I’m coming to think of the older woman as a friend more than a business acquaintance. A friend I could use right now as I face Katy and whatever she’s going to tell me about Maddox. I hold my breath.
“I figure you’d like to know what the doctor told us, so…” She clears her throat and I fist my hands because I have this crazy urge to shake her and yell at her to tell me everything right now. But I wait patiently because she looks shaken and this can’t be easy for her. Delaney shifts her weight from one foot to the other next to me and I pray her patience holds out or I’ll have to pinch her hard to keep her from saying anything and I’m not sure how she’d take that.
“They did a cardioversion,” she says and I have no idea what it is, and she must see that in my expression, so she explains. “It’s a procedure where they use a defribulator…” Dizziness hits me and Delaney squeezes my arm. “And they send electric shocks to his heart to reset the rhythm. It worked.” She gives a small smile. “He had to have it done because he was in a-fib and that’s dangerous for anyone, but particularly for him.” Her voice cracks and I automatically reach out and touch her arm.
“I know how hard this is, Katy. I…”feel the same heartache. She brightens her smile and goes on. “They’re going to install a pacemaker later and they say he’s going to be good to go tomorrow.” I smile. ”We’re all staying over—at a hotel—and we’ll be back in the morning.”
“You don’t need to stay at a hotel. I’m sure I can find room for everyone at the townhouse.”
She shakes her head. “No. Thank you though. We’ll give you your space.” She heaves a sigh and darts a wary glance at Delaney. “We’re going to go get something to eat now.” I nod.
“I don’t suppose there’s any chance of seeing him—”
She shakes her head. “No. Only immediate family members. Sorry.”
My gut flips and my chest tightens like I’m being strangled by an anaconda, wrenching and painful. I drag in a ragged breath to talk.
“Thank you for letting me—us—know.” I clutch Delaney’s hand.
* * *
After Delaney drops me off at the townhouse and leaves with great reluctance, I wander around in the silence for a while before I gather back my determination and realize Maddox needs me more than ever right now.
Stopping in the kitchen, I pick up my phone and get to work.
After several calls and putting together a multipage, multimedia proposal, I finally get some sleep.
