Home Is Where The Heart Is

chapter 3

Link sat next to Lando and watched him sleep. His mouth agape and a slight snore escaping his lips. He giggled at the prospect of how much his son resembled him. On the other side of the room, Christy was trying to get hold of their paediatrician to have him make a house call but with no luck.

Link slowly made his way to Christy and placed a hand on her shoulders, whispering " I'm sorry"

Less than an hour back, as the supposed doctor was leaving, Link was having a little tantrum. He had grabbed the EpiPen and the card and disposed of it in the trashcan all the while yelling, " I'm not gonna let some quack treat our son"

Back in the present ,Christy having known this man for over 18 years knew his intentions were good and gave him a soft peck on the cheek in acceptance of his craziness. She continued to call the doctor when all of a sudden they hear a loud gasping sound coming from behind them.

Lando had woken from his sleep and was trying to say something but he couldn't. Link and Christy rushed to his side and looked on helplessly as Lando's face slowly turned a shade of blue. That's when it occurs to Christy and she runs to the trash and turns it upside down, finding the EpiPen and throwing it to Link. He quickly makes way of the plastic wraps as he reads the instructions and with a prayer in his heart stabs Lando on the thigh with the pen. Within a few moments Lando's face returns to a bright pink and both Christy and Link are holding onto their son for dear life.

They quickly wrap Lando up in a blanket and pile up into the car. Link trying to make it to the hospital in record time. Christy quickly texts Rhett to pick Lily and Lincoln from practice all the while keeping an eye on Lando. She unfurls the business card she had in her hand and calls the number but before she had a chance to say anything into the phone they had arrived at the emergency room of shady oaks hospital.

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The loud ringing of her phone woke Caren up from her sleep. She didn't really recognize the number but answered anyway, and as much as she tried she couldn't really make out who was on the line but as she focused further she discerned the tell tale sounds of a hospital announcement system and well, Christy Neal. She jumped out of bed and threw on some clothes. She had nothing much else to go on other than to go to the closest hospital to the Neal residence. She hopped on her Vespa and zoomed towards Shady oaks, all the while trying to call Christy back.

As soon as she reached the emergency room, there they were, Link holding Christy, both of their faces a little teary eyed. Caren walked up to them slowly, " Mr and Mrs Neal? How's Lando?"

Christy slowly got up from the bench and threw her arms around Caren. She profusely thanked her and apologized for not listening to her immediately. The brunette didn't really know how to respond but softly hugged her back, telling her it's alright.

Caren went up and asked how Lando was doing and followed up on him and kept the Neals updated. An hour or so passed when a doctor came out and called for them, he informed them that Lando did indeed have epiglottitis and it was very fortunate to have figured it out ahead of time. They had started the medication and had shifted Lando to a room. The Neals slowly proceeded to go to the suite and Caren figured now would be a good time to disappear, but before she could, Christy grabbed on to her hand and brought her along to see Lando.

He lay there in a the middle of a large hospital bed looking fragile and small. His vitals were all holding steady and strong. As much as she wanted to give them their privacy, Caren found herself hanging around the Neals for longer than anticipated. The random conversation was keeping their minds at ease is what she told herself. She noticed that it was way past dinner time, so she quietly excused herself to the cafeteria and got Link and Christy a couple of sandwiches.

As she got back to the room, she saw the exhausted parents fast asleep on their respective couches. She walked up to Lando and gave him a small pat on the head. She grabbed a couple of bed sheets from the cupboard and draped them over the mom and the dad making sure they were cosy. The sandwiches would have gone to waste so she gave them to the nurses at the nursing station after giving them her  number in case of emergencies. She slowly headed back home fully aware that she was gonna be back at this hospital in a few hours to check up on the Neals.