The Billionaire Playboy’s Secret Family
Chapter 36

"I need a doctor!" Regina shouted as she rushed to the reception desk. "Please!"

The receptionist looked up startled by her frenzied arrival. It was rather quiet on the weekends and staffing minimal. Collecting herself the receptionist asked, "Name?" "Torrez...I'm sorry but you'll have to go somewhere else."

"What? What are you talking about? This is an emergency. She can't breathe."

"Ma'am, your six months behind in payments..."

"I know. I'll get the money but please... my baby!" Regina was on the verge of panic. She hadn't been able to make a payment with Mary withholding her bonus. "Please!" "Ma'am, I'm sorry," the receptionist glanced over as Savannah and the boys caught up. "But that's hospital policy."

"Right this way."

Regina turned to see a doctor approaching.

"Doctor Worthington?" the receptionist asked as Bernice reached the distraught mother.

"What's her name?"

"G-Gaby," Regina stuttered as the doctor listened to the little one's heart.

"I need a crash cart. Let's go! Acute respiratory distress!" Bernice announced looking at a nurse standing in the doorway.

Without hesitation the nurse disappeared into the double doors and rushed out with a rolling bed. Another emerged with a monitor and both hurried toward them.

"Let me take her," Bernice urged. When Regina hesitated she added, "It's all right. I'll take care of her."

Regina relinquished her hold allowing the doctor to take Gabriella and lay her on the bed. A breathing mask was quickly placed over her face as they rushed her through the door leaving Regina shaking. With her arms empty she hugged herself repeating her simple prayer over and over again.

"Doctor," the receptionist trailed after them, "Doctor Worthington, hospital policy..."

"I am aware," Bernice paused, "if I were you I'd look at the account's special notation."

Without another word Bernice hurried to catch up to the little one struggling to breathe. It was lucky she had chosen to take a weekend shift and dreaded to think what might have happened if she hadn't.

Confused the receptionist returned to her desk. On screen she noticed the red flag denoting special instructions as the doctor warned. Clicking on it she nearly fell out of her chair.

***

Regina anxiously sat in the waiting room with Savannah leaning close and holding her hand. Carlos and Tony quietly played at a Lego table though it was more to keep themselves busy while they waited. Scenarios kept running through Regina's head.

She should have intervened sooner...or accidently left the card at home...She shouldn't have let Gaby run around so much, made her come inside to rest. But the little one seemed to be handling the day all right and knowing how much Gaby hated being different Regina had let her indulge. With Savannah helping to monitor her there didn't seem to be any danger.

"Miss Torrez?"

Regina jerked out of her private musings to see the doctor had returned. How long had it been? An hour? Two? Shakily she stood fearing the worst from the doctor's grim expression.

"Miss Torrez, Gabriella is stable for now," Bernice said. "Her breathing is better and her heart rate has finally slowed."

Regina let out an uneasy sigh. Her baby was all right. Aloud she said, "Thank you."

"Has she had episodes like this before?"

"... Not this severe. She's always had a hard time breathing. Her pediatrician thinks it's asthma. She has an inhaler."

Bernice frowned. She supposed asthma was a reasonable diagnosis for prolonged breathing issues but it didn't account for some of the other symptoms, especially with the heart.

"Is she...how is she?" Regina hesitated to ask.

"I had to use a pretty strong medication to relax her and ease her pain so she will probably be out for a while yet. I'd like to keep her overnight for observation." "Can I see her?"

"Of course," Bernice nodded glancing at the kids. "If you'd like I can take the kids to the breakroom. I'd rather not have too many in the room right now."

"Yes, um," Regina dug into her bag to find several crumpled up dollars. "Savannah, here use this if there is a snack machine." Savannah nodded as the boys crept closer.

"Natalie," Bernice looked over her shoulder at a nurse standing nearby. "Could you bring Miss Torrez to see her daughter?"

"Of course," Natalie smiled warmly gesturing for Regina to follow.

Regina gave her oldest a final hug before following the nurse. Bernice couldn't help but sense she was a little more at ease now. Though the nurse maintained a professional attitude she gave Regina a gentle hug making Bernice wonder if they were somehow familiar with one another.

Natalia Lopez had worked at the hospital for several years though she specialized as a trauma nurse in the emergency clinic. Very rarely did she work the other floors. Still it was possible she might have met Regina. Or perhaps it was the familiarity of sharing the same ethnic heritage though Bernice was hesitant to dwell on that thought. In any case Regina was comfortable with her chosen guide.

"Right this way," Bernice offered the kids a warm smile. "The breakroom has snack and soda machines."

"Is our sister going to be all right?" Savannah asked turning to the doctor.

She had learned long ago adults often hid the truth behind fake smiles. When she was little she often tried to get her grandfather's attention only to be ignored. Her mother would often make the excuse that he was just too tired at the moment and not to worry. But it never changed and her mother would always give her the same small smile even though later she would hear her mother crying in her sleep.

"Yes," Bernice said. "She's going to be fine. As I told your mother her condition is stable and once we run a few tests we should be able to treat her to prevent any future episodes."

Savannah studied her. The doctor's face was calm. There was no false, comforting smile or unshed tears. Whatever her doubts Savannah knew at least the doctor was not trying to deceive her.

"What do you need to know?" Savannah asked.

"Has she had episodes like this before?"

"Not this bad," Savannah answered as the doctor escorted them toward the elevator.

Bernice nodded. Perhaps the kids could give her some insight while they waited for their mother. Kids often pretended in front of their parents because they didn't want them to worry so there was a good chance her siblings knew more about Gabriella's condition than the adults.

***

"Here we are," Natalie said ushering Regina into the room Gabriella had been given.

Regina shook as tears blurred her vision. Her baby looked so small lying in the large bed. An IV was in her little arm and a large machine carefully monitored her heart and respiration as a mask delivered oxygen to ease her discomfort.

"She's okay, Reggie. I promise," Natalie squeezed her shoulder and slowly led her forward. "Just like the doctor said...she is stable now. She's going to be okay."

Shaking Regina sat on the edge of the bed carefully picking up Gabriella's hand not wanting to disturb the tubes and machines that her baby relied on. Without a word Natalie pulled up a chair to sit and watch over them.

"So what happened?"

"We were at the house. It was dad's birthday."

"Oh, was that today?"

Regina nodded, "Your mother was there."

Natalie rolled her eyes. Of course she was. Since recovering some twenty years ago her mother had a new lease on life and never wasted a moment or missed a family gathering. After spending all that time looking after her mother Natalie decided what she wanted to do with her own life.

Working as a maid while juggling classes and staying up late to study wasn't easy but she finally completed her courses and achieved her goal. She was now a nurse. Instead of changing bed linens at some overpriced hotel for entitled guests she was saving lives just like the ones who had saved her mother.

"She said I should move to Texas."

"She what?" Natalie sat up.

"Uncle Sebastian needs a bookkeeper and secretary."

"Well yeah, but Texas? That's quite a move with four kids."

Regina frowned, "But it also means insurance. And the drier air might be better."

"Maybe," Natalie allowed. "So your father..."

"Same as always."

"Yeah. But then what is? You just have to look at my baby to see that."