Someone Had to Stay

And for one foolish, hopeful second, a wave of relief washed over me at the sight of her.

I thought, oh, thank God, that was who he called.

I thought Liam had phoned his mother because he was frightened for his daughter, that she had gotten out of bed and driven across the city in the middle of the night to be here, to check on her sick granddaughter, to sit beside me and hold my hand through a scary night the way a mother-in-law is supposed to.

I actually felt myself soften toward both of them in that instant, ready to forgive Liam’s terrible waiting-room behavior as the fumbling of a scared man who had at least, in the end, called for reinforcements.