Having grown up in New Brunswick, he knew the way to the hospital. The fact that he parked his car in the emergency lane was the only betrayal of his state of mind.
She trailed behind him through the emergency door, figuring that no one was going to tow a truck with two dogs wearing collars emblazoned with the word POLICE.
Scott flashed his badge at the desk. “John Lucca. Heart attack.”
The receptionist nodded. “Let me check.”
Scott watched her make a call with laser-focused attention, while Cole scanned the waiting room. She didn’t see his mother there. Enough time had passed since her call that perhaps Scott’s father had been admitted. Best-case scenario.
“He’s still in Emergency Intensive Care. If you’d like to wait over there.” She pointed to an area filled with families and friends, and those patients not lucky enough to yet be seen.
“What I want is to see my father. Now.” Scott’s voice hadn’t risen but the menace in it sent the tension in the emergency room skyrocketing. Even the hospital guard’s head twitched in their direction.
Cole didn’t touch him but she slid in beside Scott and addressed the receptionist. “Can you locate Mrs. Lucca for us? We’re worried about his mom, too.”
“Sure.” The receptionist didn’t glance at Scott again. This time she got a more positive response. “She’ll be right out. You can wait—”
Scott wasn’t in the mood to be told what he could do. He walked over to the doors that opened to the emergency room ward and stood there, his stance braced for anything.
Cole hung back, not certain now that she was here what if any part she had to play. She just couldn’t allow him to drive for hours back, alone, especially if the news wasn’t going to be good.
The doors opened with a whoosh. Cathy Lucca was already in motion. She looked much as Cole remembered her, dark hair cut into a sophisticated bob and well dressed for the evening out she’d shared with her husband earlier.
“Scott, you’re here. Thank God.” She plowed into her son at full force, wrapping her arms about him and hugging him tight.
Cole saw the spasm of anguish on Scott’s face as he briefly shut his eyes and hugged his mom back. He was a head taller than she was, making her seem almost frail by comparison.
Finally his mother released him to reach up to touch her son’s face. “Your father will be so glad to know you’re here.”
“He’s alive?” The wonder in Scott’s voice surprised Cole.
“Yes, he’s awake and complaining.” Cathy smiled and patted her son’s cheek. “You’re exactly alike, you know.”
Scott shrugged. “So, he’s going to be okay?”
A cloud appeared in Cathy’s attractive face. “We’re waiting for tests. They said something about—Nicole?” She had turned to lead Scott away from the doorway when she noticed Cole. “Oh, my goodness. That is you.”
Cathy left Scott’s side to rush over to hug her. The hug was so huge and long Cole reeled a bit. “Whatever are you doing here?”
The question might have been directed at Cole but Scott’s mother turned almost immediately to him. “I’m so glad you brought her with you.” She smiled at Cole. “We can talk later. Come with me.”
They followed Mrs. Lucca back through the emergency room doors to a private waiting room just inside. “I’m expecting the doctor any minute. They had to do some tests and said someone would be in shortly to talk with me about what comes next.”
“So, Dad’s going to be okay?” Scott asked in doubt.
“Oh, Scott, I hope so. He was fine earlier. No hint of a problem. We had gone out to dinner. I had a coupon for two-for-one pricing if we ordered before six. So then we decided to take in a movie. We went to see that—”
“Mom.” Scott raked a hand through his hair in irritation.
Cole saw his mother’s face crumple and didn’t know who she felt sorrier for, her or his son. Cathy’s lip began to quiver. “I’m so sorry, Scott. I don’t know why I’m rambling on about a stupid movie. It was just so awful. So awful. We walked in and … and…”
“Mom, Mom, it’s okay.” Scott reached for her and again she collapsed against him. This time he directed her to a chair and made her sit as his hands continued to support her.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t know what to do. We walked into the—the destruction of everything. Your father’s face turned this awful shade and then his legs buckled. I called 911 and told them to send the police, the ambulance, everyone.”
“You did exactly right.” Cole located a box of tissues and plucked one for her. “Your fast thinking is the reason John’s getting the attention he needs right now.”
Scott made eye contact with her over his mother’s bowed head. There was a hollowness there she had seen only once before. She reached out and laid her hand over one of his cradling his mother’s and squeezed briefly.