Chapter 14

THEN:

With every beatof her heart, the clock"s ticking grew louder. Sarah clicked through each slide, her voice rising and falling with her presentation"s dramatic peaks and valleys. The graph on the final slide seemed to stretch toward the ceiling as if it held the company"s future in its lines. She finished her speech with a flourish, holding her breath and waiting for her boss"s reaction. And then came the nod of approval, sending a wave of relief and pride through her body.

Sarah"s boss beamed with pride as he patted her shoulder, his strong, calloused hand a familiar weight.

"You did an exceptional job, Sarah," he said in a satisfied tone. His expression clearly indicated that the deal had been secured, and they were both relieved.

"Thank you," she managed, her eyes darting to her silent phone for the umpteenth time. There was no call from the hospital, no messages from Steven, and a cocktail of relief and anxiety churned in her stomach.

Guilt gnawed at her; she should have been there at Victoria"s bedside, not here basking in corporate success. Yet, the rest had sharpened her mind and given her the edge she needed today—a mother"s sacrifice, she reasoned, for the sake of her daughter"s future.

"Sarah?" Her boss"s voice sliced through her thoughts. "You did great."

"Thanks, I…" Her response faltered as her phone finally vibrated—just an email alert. False alarm.

"Go," he said, reading her turmoil like the spreadsheets they scrutinized daily. "Family first."

She didn"t need to be told twice. Heels clacking with urgency, she burst through the revolving doors and got into her car. Traffic was mercifully sparse, allowing her thoughts to race ahead to the hospital.

Please, let her be okay. Please, dear God, let her not be sick.

She could still see her pale face as they had brought her in the night before. How quiet she had been, barely breathing, sometimes stopping completely. It was terrifying. Luckily, Steven was there and had been there all night. Being a nurse, he knew how to take care of her properly. He was the right choice, even though it hurt her to have to leave.

The sterile smell greeted her as she navigated the familiar corridors to Victoria"s room, where she found Steven, his posture weary but his grip on their daughter"s hand unyielding. He was talking to the doctor. Sarah"s heart began to race. What was going on?

"Sarah, you"re right on time," the doctor's voice cut through the hush, his face a canvas of professional neutrality.

"Is she…?" Her heart pounded, awaiting the verdict that hovered over them like a storm cloud.

"Steven has all the details," the doctor excused himself, glancing at his watch. "I must attend to another patient."

"Thank you, Doctor," she murmured, but her eyes were already pleading with Steven for answers.

"Steven," she whispered, her voice barely carrying. "What did the doctor say?"

Her heart raced as she looked into his tear-filled eyes. His lips trembled as he spoke, each word hitting her like a ton of bricks.

"It"s not good," he said, his voice heavy with sorrow and regret. The weight of his words threatened to crush her, overshadowing any success she may have had in her professional life.

"It"s not good at all."