Chapter 2 - The Doctor Looked at Me and Asked One QuestionThe emergency department doors opened before Rowan had completely stopped the car.
Medical staff rushed toward him.
“My daughter is four,” he shouted. “High fever, barely responsive, possible dehydration. My son is six and has been without proper food for several days.”
A nurse immediately took Elsie from his arms.
Rowan followed.
Micah stayed attached to his jacket.
“I'm her father.”
“We'll take care of her.”
“Please.”
The doors swung shut.
Rowan stood frozen.
His son was trembling beside him.
A nurse crouched.
“What's your name?”
“Micah.”
“Do you want some juice?”
Micah looked at Rowan first.
Rowan nodded.
“Yes.”
The nurse led him away.
Rowan watched his son disappear around the corner.
Then he leaned against the wall.
His phone buzzed.
Delaney.
For one second, anger overpowered everything.
He answered.
“Where are you?”
Her voice sounded irritated.
“Rowan? Why are you calling me?”
“Where are you?”
“I told you. I'm away for a few days.”
“Our children are in the hospital.”
Silence.
“What?”
“Elsie is seriously ill.”
“That can't be right.”
“I found them alone.”
Another pause.
“Rowan, you're overreacting.”
He stared at the hospital doors.
“Overreacting?”
“They probably ate something.”
“They haven't eaten properly in three days.”
Delaney immediately changed her tone.
“That's ridiculous.”
“Then tell me where you are.”
“I don't have to explain every minute of my life to you.”
“You do when our children are starving.”
She hung up.
Rowan stared at his phone.
Something had changed.
This wasn't negligence.
It felt deliberate.
A doctor approached.
“Mr. Mercer?”
Rowan stood immediately.
“How is she?”
“We're stabilizing her.”
His knees nearly gave out.
“But?”
“She is severely dehydrated and malnourished. Her fever is concerning.”
Rowan swallowed.
“Will she be okay?”
“We're doing everything we can.”
The doctor glanced toward Micah.
“Your son also needs evaluation.”
Rowan nodded.
Then the doctor asked:
“Has your daughter been sick before?”
“No.”
“Any chronic conditions?”
“No.”
“Any medication?”
“No.”
The doctor looked at his chart.
“Then there's something I need you to understand.”
Rowan waited.
“Children don't normally reach this condition overnight.”
The sentence struck him harder than anything else.
“How long?”
“I can't give you an exact timeframe yet.”
The doctor lowered his voice.
“But this appears to have been developing for some time.”
Rowan closed his eyes.
Three years.
He thought about Delaney's explanations.
They were sensitive.
They don't like visitors.
Micah doesn't want to see you.
They are fine.
Every excuse suddenly looked different.
A nurse approached.
“Mr. Mercer?”
“Yes?”
“Your son asked if he could see his sister.”
Rowan followed her.
Micah stood outside Elsie's room.
He looked terrified.
“Can I see her?”
“Of course.”
He walked inside.
Elsie remained unconscious.
Micah took her hand.
“I'm here.”
Rowan stood behind him.
His son leaned toward his sister.
“Dad came.”
Elsie's fingers moved slightly.
Micah gasped.
“She heard me.”
Rowan covered his mouth.
For the first time that day, hope entered the room.
Then Micah said something that made Rowan's blood run cold.
“Dad?”
“Yeah?”
“Can we go somewhere else after this?”
“Where?”
“Anywhere.”
“Why?”
Micah looked at the floor.
“Because Mom said if you found out, she'd take us away.”
Rowan crouched.
“Take you where?”
“I don't know.”
“Micah, tell me everything.”
The boy hesitated.
Then he whispered:
“She wasn't at home because she said she was helping someone.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“Did anyone come to the house?”
Micah nodded.
“Men.”
“How many?”
“Two.”
“What did they want?”
Micah's eyes filled with tears.
“They asked about you.”
Rowan went completely still.
“What did they ask?”
May you like
Micah swallowed.
“They asked if Dad still owned Mercer Logistics.”
Related Stories
