Chapter 6 - THE PROTECTOR
Ryan roared in the lobby,
demanding his "rights."
But the security guards at St. Jude’s were used to men like him.
They escorted him to a small,
private room.
A few minutes later,
Caleb walked in.
Caleb still wore his work scrubs,
stained with coffee and the exhaustion of a three-day vigil.
He looked at his older brother,
and for the first time in his life,
he didn't feel inferior.
He felt disgusted.
“Where is she,
Caleb?”
Ryan spat.
“She’s where you should have taken her three days ago,”
Caleb said quietly.
“I didn't know it was that bad!
She’s always complaining!”
Caleb walked over and stood inches from Ryan’s face.
“She was hemorrhaging,
Ryan.”
“Her blood pressure was 60 over 40 when I found her.”
“She was literally white.”
“And you knew.”
“I saw the texts she sent you while you were pulling out of the driveway.”
“I saw the Aspen video.”
Ryan took a step back,
his bravado failing.
“Look,
I’ll pay for the bills.
I’ll get the best doctors.”
“You’re a little late for that,
big brother.”
“The best doctors already saved her.”
“And they’re the ones who told the social worker about your 'high-maintenance' comment.”
“You can’t take my son from me,”
Ryan hissed.
“I’m not taking him.”
“The state is evaluating the situation.”
“And Emma?”
“Emma is awake.”
“And she’s the one who signed the papers to keep you away.”
Ryan’s face contorted.
“She can’t do that!
I’m her husband!”
“You’re a stranger who lives in her house,”
Caleb corrected.
“A husband stays.”
“A husband listens.”
“A husband doesn't celebrate his birthday while his wife is dying on the floor.”
Caleb pulled Ryan’s phone out of his pocket and tossed it onto the table.
“You left this on the rug.”
“Everyone has seen it,
Ryan.”
“The nurses.
The doctors.
The lawyers.”
“Your 'friends' in Aspen are already deleting their comments.”
“You’re a pariah.”
Ryan looked at the phone as if it were a poisonous snake.
“I was drunk.
I wasn't thinking.”
“No,”
Caleb said,
walking toward the door.
“You were thinking perfectly.”
“You were thinking only of yourself.”
“Stay away from this hospital,
Ryan.”
“If you try to go upstairs,
I won’t stop the guards.”
“In fact,
I’ll help them.”
May you like
Caleb left the room,
leaving Ryan alone with his shattered watch and his empty soul.
