Dreaming of a Hero (Heroes Series Book 2)

by Lyssa Layne

  Olivia was shaking; her breaths were coming out in short sporadic gusts. “Let me think. I know we got a call at about two in the morning. I answered the phone because it was on my side of the bed. I remember being groggy, and frightened. I hate phone calls in the middle of the night, nothing good ever comes of it. It was one of the floor nurses I’d become friendly with. She called to say Desiree had gone into labor. I guess she didn’t realize the baby was going to be put up for adoption, but I didn’t elaborate. She was so excited for us. She said it would be awhile and to come in the morning to see the baby.”

  “Think back, Olivia. Do you remember her name?

  “Sure, it was—ah—oh I’m drawing a blank.”

  “It’s important Olivia. Does she still work at the home?”

  “No, she left to work in this hospital. She’s a nurse on obstetrics, at least she was the last time I talked to her.”

  “How long ago was that?”

  “I ran into her at the mall about six months ago. She showed me a picture of her new granddaughter.”

  “Okay then, slowly, run through the alphabet. Picture her in your mind as you say each letter.”

  Olivia ran through the alphabet, saying each letter out loud. “Grace, that’s it—Hanson, Henson, no Hudson. Grace Hudson.”

  “Okay, so when you went to the hospital later that morning, what time was it?”

  “That’s just it, I was so worried about how Desiree would handle labor, I got dressed and went straight to the hospital.”

  “Did Jennings drive you?”

  “No, I drove myself. I knew my husband wouldn’t go, so I quietly slipped from my room and went by myself.”

  “And by the time you arrived, were there any updates?”

  Olivia continued to shake. “Grace said that something was wrong. Then the doctor kicked everyone out of the room.”

  “This is important, do you remember if she named who was asked to leave the delivery room. This may be the key. People who are asked to leave may feel slighted, so if anyone stuck around, they may have seen or heard something, not realizing it’s important.”

  “I don’t remember, I’m sorry, I was so worried about my daughter that I didn’t think anything of it.”

  “That’s okay. I’ll go see if I can find Grace or if she’s working.”

  “Let me go,” Olivia said. “Grace is kind of protective and if I can find her I’ll see if she can come by and talk to you. I’ll emphasize how important it is to remember all she can. I’ll be back as soon I find her or can leave a message for her.”

  After Olivia left the emergency waiting room, Jason turned to Cherie. He ran his tongue along his lips carefully choosing what to say.

  “Save it. I don’t want to hear a single word from your mouth. Besides, I’m angry with you and in my present state I’m likely to deck you for the sheer pleasure of it.”

  “I was going to tell you I’m glad you’re safe.”

  “Yeah, right.”

  “I was. I was also going to tell you that I listened to you. As we speak, Mark is out running down a few leads at the home. With any luck, we’ll know for sure that Dr. Benson has been at your mom’s home and that he’s the one who made her sick.”

  “Really?” she softened.

  “Yes—really. In addition, he’s promised to knock me upside the head every time I challenge you and tell you to stay out of it.”

  “How come he gets all the fun? Maybe I’d like to smack you myself. After all, it’s my life that’s being screwed up.” She flicked his hair, smiling at his messy do.

  His mind eased to see a bit of humor on her face.

  “And mine, or did you forget?”

  “I’m not likely to forget that, but really Jason, we really need to work together here.”

  “I know, and I’m sorry for being so insensitive to your needs.”

  “Oh God, please…don’t say it like that.”

  “Then how can I say it and let you know I love you and that I’m not insulting you, or to have you think I want to control you?” He threw his hands up, imploring her to show him the way.

  “Look Jason, it’s really not rocket science. Love isn’t demanding, it means there is trust, and above all hope and faith in the person you love. It’s about hope—that two people will find a way to make things work. It’s faith—in each other to want to make it happen for both your sakes.”

  It appeared as if Jason was mulling her words over, so she added, “My dad taught me to be self-sufficient, to trust my gut instincts. To give a person the benefit of the doubt until they prove me wrong. My gut tells me you’re the man for me. And while you’ve put your foot in your mouth more than any man I’ve ever met, I still have hope. I believe that once you get over whatever it is that turning you into a pompous ass at every turn, you’ll see I’ve already decided you’re the man I want in my life forever.” She needed to see him listen, comprehend, and then act on it. Her very survival depended on him trusting her and her being able to trust him. Only then did they have a chance.

  “I guess that’s why they call it blind faith…you have to believe regardless of how it looks,” Jason murmured.

  “Now you’re catching on. I think you may work out okay.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Jason leaned his head against the wall, trying to remain calm, but going nuts waiting for word from the doctors when Mark joined him.

  Cherie went to the cafeteria getting them some coffee.

  Jason knew she’d be back any minute, but he wanted to talk to Mark before Cherie returned. Mark had called in a favor and had surveillance on Mrs. Benson’s room. No one went in or out without checking with the guard. “Are the test results back yet? We need to find out if someone at the home requisitioned meds or if it was brought in from the outside? And I need to take Benson’s picture and show it around the home to see if he’s been seen at the facility.”

  Jason wanted the answers to those very same questions. “Stay here and keep Cherie company. I’ll be back in a minute, and we can head over to the home.” He then went in search of Olivia and the doctors.

  When Jason found them, he placed a hand on Olivia’s shoulder. “I need to speak to you both, outside. I don’t want Des to hear anything I have to say.” He knew the odds were against him, but if she could hear, he wasn’t taking any chances.

  Once in the hallway, he told the doctor of his conversation with Mark. Dr. Andrews spoke first, “She was injected with Levofloxacin but she’s young and healthy, and we got to her in time.”

  The ER doctor said, “Based on the information you’ve given us, we’re putting her in a room with a guard. No one goes in or out without signing in at the nurse’s station first.”

  “You just make sure she gets the best of everything.” He squeezed Olivia’s shoulder then asked Dr. Andrews. “By that same token, who do I need to see here and at the home to show a picture of Dr. Benson to your staff, all shifts? We need to find out if he’s responsible for the injection or if someone else is involved.”

  Dr. Andrews picked up the phone at the nurse’s station and called the reception desk at the home with orders for everyone to give their full cooperation to Jason and Mark, no exceptions. After that call, he called up the doctor’s ID on the system and printed a copy, informing the nurses to be on the lookout for him, and to call security if he was seen.

  “By the way Dr. Andrews, we also need your help on another private matter. I’m starting to think that all this, hell—I don’t even know what to call it, but I think the answers go back to the night Desiree gave birth to Cherie. How can we back-track Desiree’s medical history to that day? Who was on staff? Who was present for the delivery? Anything at all. I believe that’s where the answers can be found?”

  Dr. Andrews called the records office of the home and told them to give full disclosure to the men when they arrived. Then he hung up, and added, “I was on staff at that time, and from what I remember, she went into labor in the wee hours of the mor
ning. I’ve read and re-read the file, looking for anything that makes sense. What I remember about that night is something that wasn’t in her record, just gossip in the halls. Something—about how one of the nurses found Desiree whimpering then discovered her bleeding. The doctor was called, and when he and his wife showed up, they kicked everyone out of the delivery room. I can’t for the life of me remember the nurse’s name, and frankly, I never gave it a second thought, but you bringing it up now, reminded me. Why don’t you talk to the head nurse? Maybe she heard the same gossip, and maybe she’ll remember who was on staff back then.”

  Jason escorted Olivia back to Desiree’s bedside. Jason took Desiree’s hand and whispered, “Des, it’s time. You need to come back to us. Your mom needs you and so do a lot of other people. Please don’t let us down.” Then he kissed her cheek the way he used to as a kid and walked out of the room. He waited until he was well away from Olivia before he wiped his eyes. There was no sense in letting Olivia see how scared he was.

  He was immediately thrust into his past, back when his mother died, and all he had was Desiree.

  When Jason got back to the waiting room, Cherie was waiting. She’d brought him a cup of coffee. He took the cup, grateful to have something to do with his hands, because he couldn’t get his mind off Des and how much she meant to him.

  “Jason, you stay here with Cherie in case she needs anything, I’ll handle things at the home.”

  Mark leaned closer and said, “Cherie and Olivia need you here buddy.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Positive.”

  “Thanks.” He couldn’t speak. His emotions were strangling him at the moment. All these years he’s believed he had his feelings under control, but he didn’t. Not even close. He felt as if he was about to lose his mother all over again. The only mother he had after his mom had died.

  Desiree had to pull through. She just had to.

  ##

  Cherie saw a flash of something between the men. Something big. What was the hidden meaning in Mark’s words to Jason?

  No sooner did her thoughts register than Olivia came rushing out of her mother’s room announcing that Desiree had taken a turn for the worse. She’d gone into convulsions—something about her kidneys not functioning properly. When she heard the doctors begin to discuss dialysis, she came out to find Cherie.

  “We have to go back in there, I’m not sure I comprehend everything they’re talking about. I want you in there with me. The doctors said if the damage doesn’t stop and she gets much worse, we may lose her.” Olivia was shaking so much, barely able to stand, trembling head to toe.

  Cherie put her arm around her grandmother.

  Olivia began to waver in her arms.

  Jason went to her other side.

  Together they walked her back in Desiree’s room.

  “Okay guys,” Cherie said, “You’re overwhelming my grandmother. Start over at the beginning and tell us what’s going on.”

  “The medicine was in her kidneys too long, before we got to her. We’ve flushed her system and done all we can. Now we wait and see if her body responds. If it does, we’re good.”

  “And if it doesn’t—” Cherie hated asking but she had to know what she was dealing with; all of it.

  “We’ll have to put her on dialysis.”

  “What does that mean, long term.”

  “Let’s not speculate or jump ahead of ourselves. I’m hoping that since she is young and in good physical health that she’ll bounce back.”

  “Has the toxicology results come back? Was she given one or more drugs?” Jason turned to the doctor. “Aren’t there drugs that slow the system, so that her body can’t work properly to filter the drugs proper out of her body?”

  The doctor called the lab, demanding the results STAT.

  Cherie wanted more and better answers but in front of Olivia, she didn’t dare voice her questions. She’d find a way to corner the doctor away from Olivia so she could discover what he wasn’t telling them.

  How had her life become such a nightmare?

  “Doctor, I know they say that a person who is unconscious or in a coma can hear. Psychologically speaking, would it be a detriment for me to talk to Desiree as my mother, not just like someone I barely met. I need her to come back to us. I need to say some things to her. I don’t know what she can understand, but will it hurt her in any way if I try? Be honest—please—I’d never do anything to harm her, but I want to speak to her from my heart.”

  The ER doctor and Dr. Andrews traded expressions. The ER doctor shrugged.

  Cherie didn’t like what she read in their faces.

  “I don’t see how it could hurt, go ahead, but make sure a nurse is in the room.”

  Olivia sucked in an exaggerated gasp.

  The response, simple in words, scared the hell out of Cherie. It made her feel as if they didn’t believe Desiree had much of a chance and that they were letting her have her way because of it. She prayed that wasn’t the case.

  Olivia closed her eyes and when she opened them her bottom rim was filled with unshed tears.

  Oh God, this had to work. For all their sakes. “Come on, Grandmother. We need to talk.” Cherie took Olivia’s arm and escorted her back to Desiree’s room.

  Once Olivia was seated on one side of Desiree’s bed and holding her hand, Cherie moved to the other side and took her mother’s other hand then leaned over her.

  Cherie was all ready to open up, but Olivia jumped in.

  “Honey, it’s mom. I know you don’t understand what’s happening. And I’m sorry. So sorry I didn’t stop your father from taking the actions he did. I’m sorry you and Jeff didn’t get your happily ever after. I’m sorry you felt the need to hide wherever you are now. I’m sorry you never got to meet your daughter. She’s the loveliest young woman.”

  Cherie was humbled by her grandmother’s sentiments. It must be hurting her to have to admit aloud how she failed her own daughter. That’s no how Cherie saw it, but it didn’t matter, not anymore. All that mattered was to try anything. She reached across the bed and touched the top of Olivia’s hand holding her mother’s.

  Three generations of women united by blood. Would they ever have more than this?

  “I know you slipped away from us because you were afraid of your father. There is nothing to fear from him anymore. He’s gone. Do you hear me Destiny, your father is dead. He can’t hurt you any further. It’s time for you to come back to us. We’ll help you any way we can, but you need to come back to us first.”

  At the mention of her name, Destiny’s brow furrowed.

  Cherie felt tears filling her eyes. Her grandmother’s pleading attempts touched her deeply. What rocked her socks was that when she looked over at her mother, there were tears running out the corner of her eyes and down the sides of her temples.

  “I think she hears you. Look.” Cherie pointed.

  Olivia looked up, saw her daughter’s tears and held her breath then let out a sob.

  “My turn.”

  Cherie leaned forward, rubbing her thumb across the top of her mother’s hands, weighing the words she wanted to say.

  “Destiny, your mother introduced us a couple weeks ago. She introduced me as a friend. I’m more than that. I’m your daughter. Did you hear me? You are my mother. Many years ago, you and my father, Jeff, shared a love and lost it. I’m all you have left. I hope I’m enough to bring you back. I want the chance to get to know you. I want you to tell me everything you remember about my father and the precious moments you spent together. That’s my dream. But it all depends on you. You have to come back to us. You have to hear us now and understand that your father is gone.” Cherie refused to call Lawrence grandfather. “He can’t hurt you any longer. In fact, it’s because of him that I’m here. He had someone track me down.” The only positive thing Lawrence did. It was the one saving grace in the man’sr life. If it hadn’t been for that one act, she’d never have known what happened. She’d forgive him
for that one effort. Then she voiced her thoughts, “I think Lawrence wanted me found to help bring you back to him before he died. But he’s gone now. Do you hear me? Lawrence is dead.” She hadn’t meant to shout it, but she was so afraid. “You have nothing to fear from him. Destiny, Desiree—Mom, do you hear me? Please—fight like hell to come back to grandmother and I. We need you.” By the time she finished her fervent plea, she lost it, flat out crying, sobbing; Cherie was unable to rein in her emotions.

  Desiree’s tears fell in earnest. As if she heard every word even if she couldn’t respond.

  Cherie sniffed, believing the free-falling tears meant something positive. “Mom, — I ” she chuckled as hysteria overwhelmed her. “—man that sounds funny to say to someone I hardly know, but I believe you are my mother. I know we could be friends if only you’ll wake up and come back to us.”

  By the time Cherie lost her momentum she was spent, her emotions drained her. She kissed her mother’s hand and placed it on the bed. “I’m going to the chapel. I need to be alone for a bit.”

  Cherie left her mother’s room and made her way down the narrow hall to the closet-sized chapel in the hospital. There wasn’t much to it. A small square box shaped room, panels of stained glass on each side diffused the lights. A simple wooden cross at the head of the room affixed to the wall. Non-denominational. A dozen chairs faced the cross, three rows of four each. She chose one in the front row.

  Cherie sat down, hard. To say her world had come to a crashing halt was beyond a statement that fit the circumstances. She had a family. Now it was gone. She found another family and now she might very well lose her mother before she ever got to know her. Whoever was in charge of her future sure had one sick sense of humor. She prayed her heart out, not just to God but to her folks as well, they would understand her, and even approve of her decision to move forward.