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.

“I’m not calm.” He growls, “I’m terrified.” He admits, revving the engine impatiently. “She can’t… We were so close… It was just

sorry.” Tears well in my eyes, as the light turns and we surge ahead. “If I hadn’t hit you with that vase

utter shock, Ethan pulls the car over,

his oversized hands, glaring at me so ferociously my wolf whimpers out loud. I’m about to apologize again, when he cuts me off. “This isn’t your fault, Jane.” He declares sternly. “If

the corners of my eyes as I 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 born with this condition, but maybe if

more careful in my pregnancy or done things differently, she would have been as healthy as

reaction. “I’m angry at the universe… It isn’t fair. Paisley’s never hurt anyone, she doesn’t deserve

and trying to take enough deep breaths to get myself under control. I can’t

what to think of his behavior. 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

think happened?” I ask after

“I really thought we were out of the

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

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

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 get us there faster I’d let him carry me like

to update us in the OR waiting room looks as if

it’s a blessing Ethan is there to catch me. “What does that mean for the surgery?” He asks,

her?”

can.

understand how this happened.” Ethan continues, rubbing my back and sounding as if he’s on the verge of tears himself, “She was doing so well.”

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

you.” He rumbles as

thing I know he’s cradling me in his lap, rocking me and kissing my hair as I sob into

Ethan

the corridors like a man possessed, only pausing to touch base with the nurses and check on Jane. I keep telling myself that

an idiot and gone to the bar the other night, Paisley’s surgery would have gone ahead as scheduled. All the triumph I was feeling a few hours ago about my progress