Chapter 14: Heartache
This takes place before the events of Self-Destruction.
It's about 1AM in the Nordisk apartment. Becky and Eret are sleeping peacefully until...
Ring!
Ring!
Eret and Becky bolt awake, and Eret grabs his phone on his bedside table.
"Hello? Eret, it's Dad. You need to come to the hospital. Dad, is everything okay?" Eret's voice starts shaking and, instinctively, Becky puts her arms around her husband.
"No, son. It's your mum. Dad...what's going on? She had a heart attack, Eret. Oh, my gods. Becky and I are on our way. Keep us posted. Will do."
"Eret?"
"Becky, my mum has had a heart attack."
"Oh, gods. Eret, I'm so so sorry. I'll call Tuffnut and get him to drive us."
"Okay. Thank you."
"You're welcome." Becky picks up her phone, letting Eret lean on her, and dials her brother's number.
"Hello? Tuff, it's me. I need you to take Eret and me to the hospital. Sis, are you okay? Is Eret okay? Yes. Both Eret and I are okay. Ruby had a heart attack. Oh, my gods. I'm on my way, sis. Thanks, Tuffnut."
Tuffnut, with Ruffnut in tow, soon arrived at the Nordisk apartment and takes Becky and Eret to the hospital.
They arrive and head to the emergency room, where Amalie and Eret, Sr. are waiting for them.
"Any news?" Becky asks, hugging her sister- and father-in-law.
"Nothing yet, I'm afraid. But we're trying to stay positive. All we know is that it was only a mild heart attack." Eret, Sr. says.
"Well, that's good, that it was only minor."
The group sits down in the waiting room.
The thought of losing her mother-in-law, whom she is close to, makes Becky break down in tears.
Eret wraps his arms around his wife, knowing full well how close his wife and mum are, and does what he can to comfort her.
~.~
About an hour passes before Lily Thorston comes out of the OR and approaches the group.
"Mom? How is she?" Tuffnut asks, his hand on his adoptive sister's. Becky and Eret look up.
"Please tell us she's going to be okay." Becky says.
"She'll be okay. She's going to be just fine."
"Oh, thank goodness." Eret says before breaking down in tears, terrified of losing his mum.
Becky wraps her arms around her husband's broad shoulders.
"She's going to be okay, Eret. She's going to be okay. I've got you, baby. I've got you." Becky looks up at her adoptive mom.
"Mom, when can we see her?"
"In a few minutes. She'll need to stay for a few days for observation."
The few minutes pass by slowly, and Eret gets up with his sister and dad to go see his mum. He looks back at his wife, who hasn't gotten up and followed him.
"I'll stay out here if you want me to." She says.
Eret walks back to her, taking her hands and standing her up.
"No, you're my wife. I want you there."
Becky nods, following her husband, sister- and father-in-law into Ruby's room.
Eret approaches his mum's bed, Becky lingering in the doorway.
"I'm here, Mum. Both Becky and I are here. How are you feeling?"
"Better, now that my son and daughter-in-law are here. Speaking of, where is she?"
"I'm here, Ruby." Becky slowly approaches the bed.
"I'm still me, love. There's no need to be afraid."
"I know...I'm sorry. I was just...I was just so terrified that we were going to lose you."
"I'm not going anywhere."
"I know." Becky's voice wavers.
"Come here, sweetheart." Becky walks over to her mother-in-law and gently hugs her. Ruby wraps her arms around her daughter-in-law, and Becky begins to sob. Eret rubs her back to give her some comfort.
"Shhhh. Oh, my darling. It's okay. It's okay."
Minutes pass.
"Hey, you. Don't worry about me. I'm going to be fine. Your mum wouldn't lie to you, and I sure wouldn't lie to you. Okay?" Ruby tells her daughter-in-law, gently lifting her chin up.
"Okay."
A few days later, Ruby is released from the hospital, with instructions to take it easy.