Chapter 20

Renee’s POV

My mouth feels dry and suddenly I can’t hear anything but the ringing in my ears. Images of Debbie lying unconsciously flash in my mind. “W-what?” I managed to stammer out.

Jasper repeats himself and the shock still hits the same. I flash my eyes over to Aaron. His expression has dramatically, changed to one of concern. “I’ll be right there,“ tears begin to build in my eyes and barely a whisper. I tell Eric, “Debbie is in a coma,”

“I’ll drive,“ Eric says his draw setting hard. I think about debating him, but it would be pointless. I don’t even think I’d be able to drive straight right now.

The entire time I’m in Eric‘s car all I’m thinking about is Debbie. I disregard the familiar fresh scent of leather and pine, I don’t check to see if any of my hair ties are left here, I don’t want to know if the presets to my favorite radio stations are still saved. All I want to know is that Debbie is safe.

We arrive at the hospital in record time. I don’t stop to think about how Eric seems to be in as much of a rush as I am. As soon as the car is in park, I push the door open and hit the ground running.

I burst through the hospital doors and don’t bother at the front desk. We’re here often enough that everyone here knows who we are. It’s sad, but I know they’ll understand.

I run up to Debbie’s usual room and come to a screeching halt when I see her lying there. She’s motionless, looking more frail than I could ever imagine. It’s as if one night away from her took on a thousand-year toll.

Tubes are coming out of her mouth and she’s hooked up to a machine that hums at a steady beat to help her breathe.

It’s so much to take in, it takes me a second to realize I’m crying.

“She looks worse than she really is,” Jasper says gently now standing beside me. I turn and look up at him my eyes wide and wet.

“What happened?” I ask, fixing myself to endure whatever the result may be.

Jasper takes a deep breath in and looks between me and Eric. No doubt he’s wondering why we came together, but he doesn’t verbally express that now.

I give him a slight nod to let him know whatever medical information he’s about to tell me about Debbie can be shared in front of Eric. It’s likely Eric wouldn’t leave even if I didn’t want him here anyway.

“Margaux said Debbie had a little too much sugar and then got hyper. We think the over activity from the over activity but stress on her heart artery causing it to burst.”

I close my eyes and swallow the lump in my throat.

“Did it hurt her?” I ask needing to know if my baby was in pain.

“No,” Jasper is quick to assure me. “From what we know when this happens, is that more of a warm sensation starts in the chest and spreads through the body. Luckily, Debbie explained this to Margaux right before she collapsed,”

“Why did she collapse?” Eric asks his tone suspicious and I can’t tell if he’s questioning Margaux’s or Jasper's intentions.

Jasper keeps his professional composure and adjusts his glasses. “When the vessel popped, white blood cells went into overdrive to try and fight off any infection and to continue carrying oxygen in the blood. It simply was too much given her already weak condition,” Jasper explains.

He turns back to me and I wait for him to proceed. I wrap my arms around myself worried I might be the next one who falls over.

“As I was saying, it was lucky she told Margaux this as Margaux then related it to us. We knew immediately what the issue was and could operate right away.”

I freeze at that word. “Operate?” I repeat and look back at Debbie who continues to lay limp.

Jasper clears his throat like he’s nervous about what he’s going to say. “We had to do an emergency operation to see up her blood vessels. As her second caregiver, Margaux gave her permission. She said you would’ve done the same,”

I close my eyes and nod. I would have done the same if it meant saving Debbie’s life. The only trouble is…

“I just started working,” I try to explain. “I don’t have enough saved up for her operation,” I admit embarrassed. I was hoping to have landed a few lead positions on designs, but of course, Mia was sabotaging all my requests.

My blood boils at the thought of that now. It started off as petty but it just became wickedly evil as my daughter lies here with an artificial machine helping her breathe.

“Say no more,” Jasper waves me off. “I will happily-”

“I’ll pay,” Eric interjects.

Jasper and I turn our heads towards him. “I insist,” he says his tone leaving no room for argument.

I hesitate, but Eric is the father of Debbie so maybe he should pay for some of the medical costs.

“Thank you, Eric” I say and manage a smile. “I promise to pay you back though,” I tell him just so he can’t hold this over my head.

“That won’t be necessary,” Eric says and before I can argue further his phone pings.

“This is work,” he says shoving his phone back in his pocket. “I have to go,” he nods goodbye and leaves.

Once Eric is gone, Jasper steps in close. His eyes are full of concern, but I don’t think it’s for Debbie.

“Renee,” he says still keeping his voice low. “Debbie will wake up shortly from her surgery and when she does, her illness will be much better. Meaning her dormant wolf is likely to get stronger just as she does. Eric will likely pick up on her scent,”

I bring my hand to my temples and massage. This means Eric will know Debbie is his daughter. Still, this surgery means Debbie’s illness can be curable. I can’t pass that up for her.

Then again, Eric discovering who Debbie really is means he’ll know who I really am. The one who rejected and lied to him. There’s no doubt Eric will take Debbie away from me once he leads the truth.

That can’t happen. I won’t let it.

“Will you pretend to be my boyfriend?” I blurt out the words faster than I can think.

Jasper shakes his head like he’s trying to get the words to fall from his mouth. “Why?” he asked curiously.

“I need to make Eric lose interest in me and Debbie,” I say as I plot out my plan in real time. “If you see that I am unavailable, it might be the only thing that fully pushes him away.”

Eric couldn’t handle another form of rejection. If I’m already taken and refused to leave Jasper and be with him, that would destroy Eric. He’s smarter than that to subject himself to that.

“Sure,” Jasper says, a smile playing on his lips. “I can do that.“

The next day after work, I set the plan that Jasper and I came up with into motion. We only have one shot at making this right.

At precisely two after five pm, I make for the elevator which will allow me to arrive right as Eric does.

I press the elevator button and when the doors open, I almost don’t get on. Eric still isn’t here yet. I’m about to let it go and wait for the next one when Eric turns the corner. I pretend to not notice him and paint on my worried look, which isn’t all that difficult.

The elevator doors are closing when Eric’s hand slips in between the metal doors preventing them from closing.

“The polite thing is to hold the door for people, especially your boss.” He tells me and I refrain from saying anything other than sticking to the script. “And don’t tell me you didn’t see me, I saw you look at me,”

Damn he knows me. Normally I would lie and say I didn’t see him, but today's excuse is different.

“I’m just out of it,” I tell him. “I’m on my way to see Debbie,” I pull out my phone and hold it far away enough so Eric can see me look up a taxi.

“I’ll drive you,” he says gruffly.

“Oh no, really you don’t have”

“I said I was driving you,” Eric snaps. I put my phone in my pocket and lean back on the elevator like I’m defeated. The first part of the plan is in place.

Five minutes away from the hospital, text Jasper to let Him know Eric and I are close. I see Eric eyeing me suspiciously about who I’m texting, but I don’t clarify anything. The more suspicious he is the better.

Just as the tires roll to a stop, Jasper comes out of the hospital doors. I can see Eric stiffen.

I get out of the car and run to Jasper.

“How is she?” I ask, cueing him for his line.

“She’s going to be fine.. I’ll bring some wine over for dinner tonight to celebrate,”

My back is to Eric but somehow I can already tell what his facial expression is just based on his tone.

“Wine? Isn’t that odd for a doctor to be bringing his patient wine?” Eric asks not withholding any judgment. I have to conceal my smile before I turn around. Part two of the plan is in effect.

Jasper steps around me and locks eyes with Eric. He intertwined his fingers with mine and butterflies erupt in my stomach at what’s coming next.

“I’m also Renee’s boyfriend,” Jasper says with such confidence that I’m even convinced he means it.

Phase three of the plan is complete.