Chapter 6 - The Call He Refused
Travis had received a phone call at 1:31 p.m.
It came from St. Matthew Medical Center.
Dr. Collins's office.
One of the nurses had tried calling me first.
When I didn't answer, she called my emergency contact.
Travis.
He answered.
The call lasted one minute and forty-eight seconds.
Detective Ortiz had already spoken with the nurse.
“She told him you needed to be evaluated immediately.”
My chest tightened.
“What did he say?”
“He said you were resting.”
I stared at her.
“She told him twin pregnancies can deteriorate quickly.”
“What did Travis say?”
Detective Ortiz hesitated.
“He told her he would handle it.”
I turned my face away.
For some reason, that hurt more than Deborah's cruelty.
Travis had not been confused.
He had not underestimated what was happening.
A medical professional had warned him.
He still kept driving.
“Where was he when the hospital called?”
I asked.
Detective Ortiz checked her notes.
“Approximately nine minutes from your home.”
“He could have turned around.”
“Yes.”
“Did he?”
“No.”
My eyes filled.
Lauren sat silently in the corner.
Her face had gone white.
“Mom told him not to.”
She whispered.
Detective Ortiz looked at her.
“What?”
Lauren swallowed.
“I was in the car.”
“Travis said the hospital called.”
“Mom said if he turned around, Natalie would learn she could ruin every family plan by pretending something was wrong.”
I looked at Lauren.
“And you said nothing?”
She started crying again.
“No.”
The answer was almost worse because she didn't defend herself.
Detective Ortiz stepped closer.
“Lauren, I’m going to need a formal statement.”
Lauren nodded.
Then my door opened.
A NICU doctor entered.
Everything else became meaningless.
I knew immediately why he was there.
“Mrs. Brooks?”
“Yes.”
“I’m Dr. Chen.”
“I’m caring for your son.”
My heartbeat became unbearable.
He pulled the chair closer.
“Your son is stable.”
I breathed again.
“But we found evidence that he experienced a significant lack of oxygen before delivery.”
I closed my eyes.
“Will he have brain damage?”
“We don't know.”
The words nearly broke me.
“We need imaging.”
“We’ll know more afterward.”
“What about my daughter?”
“She's doing much better.”
“Can I see them?”
“We can take you soon.”
I started crying.
Not loudly.
I simply couldn't stop the tears.
Dr. Chen waited.
Then he said something I would remember forever.
“You got here barely in time.”
Barely.
Because Travis had chosen a handbag sale over his children.
That night, I was wheeled into the NICU.
My daughter lay beneath warm lights.
My son was surrounded by monitors and wires.
I slid my finger through the opening of his incubator.
His tiny hand wrapped around it.
And right there, beside his bed, I made him a promise.
“Your father will never get the chance to choose someone else over you again.”
Behind me, someone inhaled sharply.
I turned.
Travis was standing outside the NICU glass.
May you like
And he had heard every word.
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