“Who delayed my son’s treatment?”
Giovanni did not raise his voice.
He did not have to.
The emergency department became so quiet that I could hear rain striking the windows and the muffled beeping of the monitors surrounding Luca’s bed.
Marla Henderson took one step backward.
“No one delayed anything,” she said.
“I was only following hospital procedure.”
Giovanni’s eyes stayed on her.
Three men in dark suits stood several feet behind him, but he lifted one hand without looking back.
They immediately stopped where they were.
Dr.
Sullivan moved between Giovanni and the admissions desk.
“Your son is receiving treatment,” he said firmly.
“Nothing happening out here has stopped the medical team.
We began antibiotics as a precaution, and we’re preparing further tests.”
Giovanni looked through the glass at Luca.
The anger in his face changed into something I had never seen during our marriage.
Fear.
“Can I see him?”
“In a moment.
First, I need you to remain calm.
This is an emergency department, and your arrival has already disrupted the floor.”
Giovanni glanced toward his men.
“Wait downstairs.”
One of them hesitated.
“All of you,” Giovanni said.
They left without argument.
The gesture surprised everyone, including me.
Giovanni was still the man people feared, but for once he had entered a room and deliberately made himself smaller.
Marla found enough courage to speak again.
“As I said, I was simply trying to determine the child’s legal guardianship.
Ms.
Grant refused to provide necessary information.”
“She was standing outside a treatment room while her baby was being examined,” Dr.
Sullivan replied.
“That was not the time to threaten her.”
“I did not threaten anyone.”
The teenage visitor who had helped me pick up my cards stood from his chair.
“Yes, you did.”
Marla turned toward him.
“Excuse me?”
“You said social services might get involved because she wouldn’t tell you the father’s name.
Everybody heard you.”
A nurse near the desk nodded.
“I heard it too.”
Marla’s face tightened.
“Neither of you understands the administrative requirements involved.”
“Then explain them to hospital counsel,” a new voice said.
The emergency department administrator was approaching with two security officers.
The helicopter landing had triggered a security response, but Dr.
Sullivan quickly explained that Giovanni had complied with every instruction since entering the floor.
The administrator looked at Marla.
“Step away from the desk.”
“I was protecting the hospital.”
“Step away, Ms.
Henderson.
