Chapter 8 - Seventy-Three Percent)
Inside the ambulance, Emma felt as if she were underwater.
Voices came from far away.
The paramedic told her to keep her eyes open.
Emma tried.
The oxygen mask pressed against her face.
A monitor beeped rapidly.
“Pressure eighty-eight over fifty-four.”
“Heart rate one-fifty-two.”
“Get an IV.”
Emma flinched as the needle entered her arm.
The paramedic leaned close.
“Emma, have you ever had a blood clot before?”
Emma shook her head.
“Any surgery?”
No.
“Recent travel?”
No.
“Smoking?”
No.
“Could you be pregnant?”
Emma shook her head more strongly.
The paramedic nodded.
“Stay with me.”
Emma wanted to ask whether she was dying.
She could not form the words.
The paramedic seemed to understand anyway.
“We’re treating you. You did the right thing calling.”
Emma almost laughed.
She had not called.
Caleb had.
She had spent a week saying she was fine.
At the hospital, a trauma team waited.
Emma was moved through doors so quickly she could not follow the ceiling lights.
Questions blurred together.
Ultrasound.
Blood.
Medication.
A doctor shouted for CT.
Someone removed her sweatshirt.
Someone placed more monitors.
Someone said, “Right ventricular strain.”
Someone else said, “Clot burden is extensive.”
The word extensive frightened her.
Then the pain became unbearable.
Emma cried out.
A nurse squeezed her hand.
“You’re okay. We’re here.”
Emma thought:
I’m not okay.
But strangely, hearing someone acknowledge the emergency felt safer than being told she was fine.
Outside the treatment room, Daniel arrived first.
Mom was seconds behind him.
Caleb came with the neighbor.
A nurse stopped all three.
“You need to wait.”
Mom grabbed the nurse’s arm.
“That’s my daughter.”
“I understand.”
“She has a genetic clotting risk.”
The nurse nodded.
“The physicians know.”
Caleb stood behind them holding Emma’s phone.
Daniel noticed the business card in his other hand.
“What’s that?”
Caleb handed it over.
Daniel read the name.
Then looked at Diane.
“Robert Vale?”
Mom closed her eyes.
“Not now.”
Daniel’s voice dropped.
“Apparently now is all we have.”
“Please.”
“How do you know him?”
Mom looked toward the treatment doors.
“He was Michael’s doctor.”
Caleb said, “Michael told me not to let him near Emma.”
Both adults turned.
Mom’s face went white.
“You contacted Michael?”
“He contacted Emma.”
“What did you tell him?”
“That she collapsed.”
Mom grabbed Emma’s phone.
Caleb pulled it back.
“No.”
“I’m her mother.”
“It’s her phone.”
“Caleb.”
Daniel stepped between them.
“Enough.”
Mom stared at him.
“I need to know what Michael said.”
“Then ask Caleb.”
Caleb showed them the message.
Do not let Diane leave Emma alone with Dr. Robert Vale.
Daniel read it twice.
“Why?”
Mom sat in a plastic chair.
For the first time since they had met, Daniel saw her look defeated.
“Robert was involved when Emma was born.”
Caleb whispered, “How?”
Mom stared at the floor.
Before she could answer, a physician entered.
“Family of Emma Mercer?”
All three stood.
“I’m Dr. Ramirez.”
Mom rushed forward.
“Is she alive?”
“Yes.”
Everyone exhaled.
But the doctor’s expression remained serious.
“She has extensive blood clots in both lungs. One appears to be obstructing a major pulmonary artery. Her heart is under significant strain.”
Mom covered her mouth.
Daniel said, “What happens?”
“We’re starting anticoagulation, but because her blood pressure is unstable, we may need a procedure to remove or dissolve the clot.”
“Will she survive?”
Dr. Ramirez chose his words carefully.
“She is very sick.”
Caleb stared at him.
“Is that yes?”
Daniel put a hand on his shoulder.
The doctor crouched slightly so he was closer to Caleb’s height.
“We are doing everything we can.”
Mom whispered, “I should have brought her sooner.”
No one contradicted her.
Dr. Ramirez continued.
“We need medical history. You mentioned Factor V Leiden.”
Mom nodded.
“Her biological father had it.”
“Was Emma ever tested?”
Mom closed her eyes.
“No.”
“Why not?”
Silence.
Daniel looked away.
Caleb stared at his mother.
Dr. Ramirez did not judge her.
That was somehow worse.
“We’ll test her now.”
He turned to leave.
Caleb spoke.
“Wait.”
Dr. Ramirez looked back.
“Do you have a doctor named Robert Vale here?”
Mom snapped, “Caleb.”
Dr. Ramirez frowned.
“Dr. Vale?”
“Yes.”
“He consulted here years ago. He retired.”
“When?”
“About six years ago.”
Caleb looked at Mom.
The genetic screening envelope had been dated six years earlier.
Dr. Ramirez noticed their reaction.
“Why?”
Mom said quickly, “Old family history.”
The doctor nodded and left.
Caleb waited until the door closed.
Then he whispered:
“He retired the same year that envelope came.”
Mom said nothing.
Caleb took out Emma’s phone.
Another message had arrived.
From Michael.
May you like
Robert Vale did not retire.
He disappeared.
