I half expect Braden to pull out a couple hundred dollar bills, but that’s not his style. He follows the rules, even though he knows I’d give my left arm to know what’s going on with Tessa.
He returns to me and sits down.
“I have to call her parents,” I say numbly.
He nods. “You mean you haven’t?”
“No. I… I couldn’t think. I have no idea what to say to them.”
He takes my phone from me. “What’s the number?”
“It’s in my contacts under Dan and Carlotta Logan.”
Braden is in control, as usual. He finds the contact and presses call. “Hello, Mr. Logan? I apologize for calling at this late hour. My name is Braden Black, and my girlfriend is Skye Manning. I’m sorry to tell you that your daughter Tessa has been taken to Mass General ER.”
Pause.
“She was drinking, and Skye found her passed out and couldn’t wake her. That’s all I know because they won’t give any information to non-family members.”
Pause.
“No problem. I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news. We’ll see you soon.” He turns to me. “They’re on their way.”
I nod. At least we’ll get some answers soon.
I just hope they’re the right ones.
Chapter Forty-Two
Dan and Carlotta arrive in twenty minutes. They go straight to reception and don’t say anything to us. Not that I blame them. Their little girl is back there, and for all they know she may have OD’d.
Damn!
Garrett Ramirez is so not worth this.
What hold does he have over her?
Shit. I should call Betsy. But not until I have some news on Tessa.
A nurse comes out and talks to Dan and Carlotta. Eventually, they make their way over to Braden and me.
I can’t bring myself to speak.
“Hello, Skye,” Carlotta says. “I’m so glad you found her.”
I still can’t speak.
Braden stands. “I’m Braden Black. How is Tessa?”
“She’s going to be okay,” Carlotta says. “They’re pumping her stomach.”
Then it was drugs. Damn.
“So soon?” Braden asks.
“It’s a preventive measure,” Dan says. “They won’t get her toxicology lab report back for an hour or so.”
Braden nods. “I see.”
“You two can go home,” Dan says. “We’ll call you when we know anything more, Skye.”
“Skye?” Braden asks.
“I want to stay,” I finally say.
“All right.” Braden returns to his seat. “Is there anything I can do for any of you?”
“Some coffee would be nice,” Carlotta says. “Thank you, Mr. Black.”
Braden takes my hand and pulls me out of my chair. I guess I’m going with him. Nothing in the hospital is open, of course, so we walk to a nearby convenience store. Braden grabs two coffees. “You want anything?” he asks.
I shake my head. “I should be there.”
“They needed some time to deal with what they just found out.”
“Is that why you dragged me along?”
“That, and because you needed to get away.”
I don’t reply.
“This isn’t your fault, Skye.”
“She asked me to have dinner with her and Garrett tonight. I said no, because you and I had plans. I knew we were going to… And I was looking forward to it. I wanted it so badly.”
“Why didn’t you call me? I would have understood.”
“I know. But I didn’t want to break our date. I wanted… Damn! How selfish am I?”
“It’s not selfish to refuse to break a previous commitment, Skye. You and I both know that. Tessa is a grown-up. She’s responsible for her own actions.”
He’s right. Of course, I know he’s right. But after Tessa and I just made up, I should have been there for her. I should have put her first.
Instead I put Braden first. I put myself first.
I’m not sure I’ll ever forgive myself.
…
A few hours later, a young doctor comes to the waiting room and approaches the Logans. “I’m Dr. Mary Hedstrom. I have good news. Tessa is going to be fine.”
The anvil slides from my shoulders. My guilt doesn’t subside, but at least Tessa is okay. That’s the main thing.
“Could I speak to you two in private?” Dr. Hedstrom says.
“It’s okay,” Dan replies. “Skye is Tessa’s best friend, and Mr. Black is Skye’s…gentleman friend. They’ve both been very helpful. You may speak freely.”
“All right. Tessa had an allergic reaction based on an interaction of two different substances that she ingested.”
Drugs. She did drugs again. What was she thinking?
“What substances?” Dan asks.
“Alcohol and ketamine.”
Braden lifts his eyebrows. “Ketamine?”
“What’s ketamine?” Carlotta asks.
Good. I want to know as well, but I don’t have the energy to ask.
“Technically it’s an anesthetic,” Dr. Hedstrom says, “but it’s also used sometimes to treat pain or depression.”
Finally, I find my voice. “Tessa’s not depressed.”
“Skye’s right,” Carlotta says. “Tessa has never been prone to anxiety or depression.”
Though she did take the breakup with Garrett hard, which is so unlike her. And tonight…she got so upset because he wouldn’t spend the night. Again, unlike her.
Dr. Hedstrom clears her throat. “Ketamine in a smaller dose can make a person docile. It can also cause dizziness and diminished reflexes. Sometimes eye movements can seem uncoordinated.”
“Her eyes were weird,” I say. “Before she passed out, I mean.”
“I’m not surprised. Mr. and Mrs. Logan, I checked Tessa’s name in our database. I don’t show her ever being prescribed ketamine. That doesn’t mean she wasn’t. If her provider isn’t a part of our network, we wouldn’t have the records. But most providers in Boston are part of this network.”