Chapter 23: Is she alright?

MAVERICK'S P.O.V

Later that day, Oscar called to let me know he had done his job, which was taking down the articles about Natalie and I. I was grateful, and very happy that he did. I didn't plan to let the media know about my marriage to Natalie. I didn't even want anyone knowing, at least not anytime soon. I was going to make sure of that.


It was the weekend, so obviously Levi didn't have work to do, he stayed at my place. He mostly ran away from home during weekends since I've known him. I don't know why he did that. But especially now that his father wanted him to marry the Senator's daughter. I truly don't know what was wrong with allowing us to marry who we wanted. They all end up growing impatient. 


"Yo man let's go drinking tonight" 


"I'm not going anywhere with you, Levi" 


"C'mon man, it's the weekend. Let's just go out for drinks later, okay?" Levi pleaded.


"No, I said I am not going anywhere with you," I said. I meant it. I wasn't in the mood for drinks or any outing. I just wanted to be home, and rest my head till the weekend was over. That was the only plan I had for the whole weekend. 


"Alright, I'm not going to try to convince you, you stay home, I'll go drinking later" 

"Okay," I responded. I was working on cutting whisky off my life, Levi knew I was healing from an addiction, yet he keeps asking me to go for drinks. I don't blame him, he probably didn't know how it felt to be addicted.


Then my phone began to ring in my hand. It was an unknown caller. It had better not be the lady that called earlier. I picked up, placing the phone close to my ear. 

"Hello," I said.

"Hey, is this Maverick Santiago?" The masculine voice asked. I didn't expect it to be a male. Now I wasn't sure who it was.

"Yes, and who is this?" I asked.

"I'm calling from Green Villa hospital, your mum is here, she asked me to call you, she can't talk now, but you can come over now"


 I panicked, did he say, my mom? What happened to her?

"What happened? Is she okay? Can I talk to her please?" I asked so many questions all at once. I hope she is fine. I was scared.


"She'll be fine, she's resting now" she'll be fine? Shit! I should have stayed home more. I hate myself. 

"Okay, I'm on my way, thanks," I said with a shaky voice. 

"What's wrong?" Levi asked

"My mom is in the hospital, I don't know what happened but I'm going over there now" 

"I'm coming with you," Levi offered. I stood up from the sofa and ran to my room to put some clothes on and came back to the living room to grab my car keys.

"Don't worry, I'll drive," Levi said, holding my hand from touching the keys. We both stepped out of the house.

*************

"Is she alright? What happened?" I asked the doctor in charge.

"The ambulance brought her here, they said she collapsed at the store,"


"So, what is wrong with her? Is she going to be okay?" I asked

"Well, we are not sure what to think but we have ran some tests on her, I just think that whatever it is, it might be getting worse" his face dropped.

"What is wrong, doctor? What do you suspect?" 


"From the scan we did, I see her arteries are blocked, but from the test, I would be able to confirm what exactly is happening. But if what I think is correct, she'll need surgery and that means we'll move her to the headquarters" 

I felt the urge to cry, I didn't want anything to happen to my mother. I just couldn't lose her, not yet.

"Do whatever you have to do, please doctor. I don't want anything to happen to my mother" I pleaded with doctor Williams. 

"She'll be fine," Levi assured me, rubbing my shoulder. I pray she gets well. I can't afford to lose my mother.

"As soon as the results are out, I'll give you a call," Doctor Williams said. 


"No problem, thanks. Can I see her now?" I asked.

"Sure you can"

Levi and I followed the nurse that was instructed to lead us to my mother's room.

"Hey baby," she said as I walked into the room. She looked just fine. She didn't look like she was sick.

"Hey mom," I said. before sitting by her side on the hospital bed.

"What did the doctor say?" I couldn't tell her what the doctor said and I didn't tell her at all. I didn't want her freaking out. That would be worse.

"Hey Mrs. Vi" Levi said. Since I knew him he called my mother, that. I don't know why he always did.

"Mav, what's wrong? Your face announces bad news. Is something wrong with me?" She asked. She looked troubled.

"We'll wait for the doctor," I said to her. Waiting was pretty short. But while we waited, I texted my father. I didn't let my mother know what I was doing. She probably wouldn't care. But I told him how I got the call and that mom was in the hospital. I didn't get the chance to read the text he sent back immediately because just then the doctor walked in.

"Mr. Maverick, can I talk to you for a second?" He requested once he walked in.

"Yeah, sure," I said and followed him behind. It better be good news. 

When we got to his office, he handed me an envelope which I think was the test result.

"What's wrong with my mother?" I asked. I didn't understand the test result even after reading it. I wanted to hear it from him what exactly was wrong with my mother.

"She'll need surgery, as soon as possible" he began "soon she'll have more fever than this, and if the surgery isn't done quickly, there might be more complications" 

"What? Surgery? For real?" Oh, God!  "So, how does this work?"

"Take her home, prepare her mind, I'll send  a message across to the doctor in charge, like I said we'll have to send her over to our headquarters in California but….." He paused


"But what?" 

"This surgery is 50/50," Doctor Williams said.


For a moment I thought of so many things about my mom, I thought of what life would be without her. I just can't lose her, not yet. I can't.

"You are a doctor right?" I didn't expect him to answer that question, it was a very sarcastic one really. "You have to fix my mother, I can't afford to lose her please " I was almost yelling at him.

"Please calm down, we'll do our best Mr…….." 

"You better do," I said without letting him finish and left his office. 


*******


I watched my mother's face move from laughter to sadness. Even though she kept trying her best to hide the sadness while she laughed at Levi's lame jokes. She didn't speak much when I told her that she'll need surgery, she was being strong. I'd read my father's message. He might not be able to make it to see her but he said he'll send someone over on his behalf. I knew that man wouldn't come. He acted busy every time.

"Since I'll go for surgery soon and who knows I may not survive it, I want you to do me a favor,  Mav, I'll be happy even if I die, if you do that " my mom said looking at me.

I didn't respond, I didn't have anything else to say but to do as she pleased. Mom asked me to get to the Tores family and to send a message to my father. I was beginning to feel tense, but I had to be calm about it.