The Luna and her Quadruplet Pups by Jane Above Story

Chapter 31 Paisley’s Surgery

Jane

The expression on Ethan’s face terrifies me.

When he answered the phone all color drained from his cheeks, and his jaw went absolutely rigid. His eyes clenched shut as if he was in pain when the person on the other end of the line spoke, and the next thing I knew he was urgently telling me we had to go.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, leaping to my feet.

“It’s Paisley.” He answers, his voice like gravel.

The room begins to spin as dread ties my stomach into knots, “Is she okay?” | gasp, reaching for the counter to suddenly swaying body

“They’ve rushed her into emergency surgery.” Ethan explains, moving for the door. “I don’t know any details yet.”

Glancing helplessly at Linda, I find my friend already pushing my purse into my hands, “Go, I’ll take care of the pups.”

“Thank you.” I mouth, following Ethan. “I’ll take you.” | announce, “You shouldn’t drive with a head injury.”

He guides me through the door with a hand at my waist and closes it behind us, pulling the keys from my hand, “Of course you’re coming.” Ethan says, as if that was a given, “but you aren’t driving when you’re shaking that way.”

“What are you-” looking down at my hands, I realize he’s right,

I am shaking like a leaf.

I want to argue, I want to insist I’m not upset and only worried for his sake, but the truth is that I’m a second away from collapsing. Instead of spreading more lies, I simply obey, letting Ethan lead me to the car and not even arguing when he keeps a steadying hand on my thigh throughout the drive.

“How are you so calm?” | squeak when we stop at a red light.

rage and fear swirling in his eyes. “I’m not calm.” He growls, “I’m terrified.” He admits, revving the engine impatiently. “She can’t… We

ahead. “If I hadn’t hit you with that vase you never would have had to postpone.”

Ethan pulls the car

your fault, Jane.” He declares sternly. “If I hadn’t gotten drunk and kissed you, you never

clench them shut, trying to fight my sobs. He doesn’t realize it, but Ethan just struck my deepest fear right on the head. Yes Paisley was

done things

at the universe… It isn’t fair. Paisley’s never hurt

squeezing his hand and trying to take enough deep breaths to get myself under control. I can’t fall to pieces this way, it will give everything away. “I’m sorry,

The Ethan I knew had a temper like a bear, and while he never directed it towards me until everything went wrong with Eve, he certainly didn’t show me this kind of sympathy afterwards. It

happened?” I ask after a moment, “she seemed so strong

really thought we were out of

exercises in the vain hope of calming myself down. Of course, every time I try to think a comforting thought to

spent a few hours with her and half of those I spent Tying to her face. She’s never even met her brothers and sister. I never got to tell her she’s right, that I am her mother. What kind of monster does that to a dying child? By the time I reach this

to run to keep up. In the end he gives up trying to keep an arm around me and just drags me by the hand, but I’m not complaining – if his long legs can

news awaiting us upstairs. The nurse that comes to update us in the OR waiting

Ethan is there to catch me. “What

her?”

he can. We’ll know more

rubbing my back and sounding as if he’s on the verge of tears himself,

answers in a sympathetic tone, “I promise we’ll find out everything we

rumbles as she

my hair as I sob into his neck. “She’ll be okay.” He insists, sniffling. “She has

Ethan

Jane and I slowly shift positions, drying our tears and trying to keep our hopes up. I’ve taken to pacing the corridors like a man possessed, only pausing to touch base with the nurses and check on Jane. I keep telling

Paisley’s surgery would have gone ahead as scheduled. All the triumph I was feeling a few hours ago about my progress with