“The ambulance should be there any minute, ma’am.”
Gray’s eyes met hers, and she knew he’d heard the woman’s voice through her phone.
“Get dressed, Meredith… now.”
At that moment, she heard the sirens. Gray did, too. He reached for the hem of his sweatshirt and started tugging it upward.
“What are you doing? Be still,” she said.
“Put this on,” he said before she grabbed for the pullover and held it in place.
“Wait. Stop. I’ll get dressed.”
“Now.”
Meredith dropped her phone, sprinted to his closet, and dashed back with a black sweater. She pulled it over her head, and it swam around her. The sounds of the ambulance siren grew louder.
“Hang on, Gray,” she said, racing to the kitchen door.
“Wait,” he called. “Dogs… out back.”
“Right.” He might be bossing her around, but at least he was aware of his surroundings. “Come on, Vulcan, Juno.”
The dogs chased her to the back door. Meredith let them out and rushed back to the kitchen. This time she flung open the kitchen door and smacked the garage door opener. The retracting wall revealed an Acadian Ambulance rig pulling up the driveway. Meredith darted out just long enough to flag the crew down before she ran back inside, leaving the door open behind her.
“They’re here, Gray.” She panted, kneeling beside him. His eyes were closed, but he opened them and met hers.
“Mer-ed-ith,” he croaked slowly, the word coming out with obvious effort.
Meredith’s already racing heart sped up double-time. “Yes? What is it?” She clutched his hand and rubbed it between both of hers.
“Call Mom… have her call… Dr…”
Oh Jesus. Dahlia and Oscar.She hadn’t spared them a thought since she’d heard him calling for help.
“Dr. Cates. Yes. I’ll call her.”
The paramedics came through the door then, a man and a woman, wheeling a stretcher between them. Meredith watched surprise register on both of their faces when they took in Gray on the floor.
The woman pointed to him, but looked at her. “Possible stroke victim?” she asked, looking doubtful. They’d likely expected an older man.
“Yes. He has a meningioma,” Meredith said, and then she launched into everything she’d told the dispatcher as both of them got to work on Gray.
“Alright, Mr. Blakewood, my name’s Benny,” the man said, checking Gray’s vitals. “That’s my partner, Sam, and I’m gonna check a few things before we move you.”
His partner turned to Meredith. “Is he on any prescriptions?”
“Yes,” she nodded, thinking of the collection of bottles on his bedside table. She squeezed Gray’s hand. “Gray, I’ll be right back.”
“‘Kay,” he muttered, squeezing back and letting her go.
Benny’s eyes jumped between her and Gray. “You’re Gray Blakewood? The writer?”
Gray’s face was expressionless. “Yes.”
“I’m a huge fan, Mr. Blakewood. Now, can you show me your teeth?”
Meredith left him then and returned a moment later with his prescription bottles. She’d dropped two on the floor in her haste and had to chase one under the bed, cursing herself. After she gave them to Sam, she ducked back into the pantry. Meredith took three full breaths, blowing each out slowly, and called Dahlia Blakewood.