A Humble Heart (Hollywood Hearts #1)(43)

A loud knock had her running to open the front door. Several fire fighters and EMT’s entered followed by two police officers. She showed them where her son was. They each held several bottles of sterilized saline. The officers made their way to the bedroom. They walked in and dragged each adult to the floor, screaming at them. Unfortunately they were too drunk to realize what was happening.

Dana left them to go to her children. She stepped into the hallway just in time to see her little boy passed out with a face mask placed over his mouth and nose. An IV was already in his uninjured arm. He lay limply in a fireman’s arms. Tears streamed down her face as she watched him rushed out of the house.

Edward walked next to the fireman. He held Cole’s limp hand in his. “Ma’am, the boy’s father is coming with us. We’re going to Mercy. Do you know where it is?”

She nodded.

“Mommy!” Elizabeth cried.

“It’s okay, baby,” Dana said as she dragged on her shoes.

“Ma’am, we’ll meet you at the hospital to take a statement,” one of the officers said.

She nodded and pulled Elizabeth into her arms and rushed outside in time to see Edward climb into the back of the ambulance. She made her way to her Jeep and buckled Elizabeth in. She waited for the ambulance to leave before driving to the hospital.

On the way to the hospital she called Deana and told her what happened. Then she called up Amy and asked her to bring a change of clothes for Edward. She explained quickly what happened before she hung up.

She walked into the hospital with Elizabeth sobbing in her arms and made her way to the triage nurse. “I’m looking for my son Cole Mathews. He was just brought in by ambulance.”

The nurse looked over her reports. “Have a seat. They’ve just started to treat him. As soon as I can I’ll bring you back there.”

“Thank you. Can you just let him know his mommy is here?” she asked.

“I think he’s still unconscious.”

She nodded automatically, placing Elizabeth down on the floor and walked her to the chairs. Dana sat down and Elizabeth immediately climbed onto her lap. She ran her fingers absently through Elizabeth’s hair as she watched the ER door and waited.

“Dana!” Amy said, running through the waiting room. She had a large group of people in tow, but Dana didn’t take her eyes from the door. She couldn’t.

“Where’s Edward?” Eleanor asked.

Dana pointed to the door. Eleanor sat down and put an arm around Dana. “It’s okay, it will be okay.”

Dana nodded as she began to cry. How could it be alright? Her baby was badly burned in the hospital. “Hey, cutie pie, what’s your name?” a man who was clearly Edward’s father asked Elizabeth.

“Elizabeth,” she sobbed.

“Well, my name’s James and I think I’ll call you Beth. Come sit with me so Mommy can wait for the doctor, okay?”

Dana released her hold on Elizabeth and watched as she climbed onto James’ waiting lap. He was an older version of Edward, she absently noted. She looked back towards the door and waited. She heard, rather than saw, Deana run into the ER screaming her name.

She looked back in time to see Deana throw her arms around her. “How’s our baby?”

“I don’t know,” Dana mumbled.

“Do we know what happened?” Deana asked.

“Cole was hungry. The mean woman didn’t feed us. I was trying to stop him when I heard Mommy come in,” Elizabeth said. All eyes focused on her.

“She didn’t feed you?” Dana asked as softly as she could, but she could see the fear in her daughter’s eyes. She shook her head no.

“Oh my god,” Deana said, sounding on the verge of tears.

“I had a background check done on the woman. I don’t understand this,” Dana said more to herself than anyone else.

“Sometimes people slip through the cracks that shouldn’t,” James said reassuringly.

“This wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t taken the day off. This is my fault,” Deana said, wiping frantically at the tears that poured down her cheeks.

“No, it’s not,” Dana said weakly. She was starting to become light headed.

A doctor stepped out of the ER. He looked very upset. Dana's stomach twisted painfully.

“Ms. Mathews?” he asked. “I’m Dr. Newton. I’m treating your son Cole.”

“Please tell me he’s alright,” Dana whispered, fighting not to pass out.

He smiled. “Thanks to the fast thinking of your husband he’s going to be more than fine.”

She didn’t bother correcting him about Edward. “Can I see him? Please.”

“Yes, I’m afraid one at a time. Your husband can stay. Cole is clinging to him and refusing to let him leave,” he explained.

Dana left Elizabeth in very capable hands and made her way into the ER. She wiped her tears away and took a deep calming breath before walking into her son’s room.

She found Edward sitting in a chair, cradling Cole in his arms. Cole was wrapped up in gauze and wore a large diaper. An IV was pumping fluids into his small body. He looked a little out of it and she figured they gave him something for the pain.

“Hey sweetie, how are you?” she asked Cole, dropping to her knees in front of him.