“Frankie!” Faith screamed across the crowded waiting room and ran to her side.

“I’ve got her,” Michael assured Faith and Steve as he caught Frankie under her arms and behind her knees. He lifted her gently and held her against his chest. “It’s okay, Frankie. Everything will be okay,” he whispered in her ear.

“What?” Frankie fluttered her lids open, confusion swirling in her eyes. “What happened?”

“You fainted, Babe. You seem to be good at that,” Steve failed miserably to make light of the situation. Michael shot him a warning protective glare before gently sitting Frankie in a chair and telling Faith to get his daughter some water.

“Are you okay, Frankie? What happened while you were in with your mother?” Michael’s voice cracked a little as he questioned her.

Frankie sat up straighter in her seat and rubbed her forehead, “I was telling Mom how sorry I am for how I have been acting,” she fiddled with her thumb ring as she spoke, “And that I told you about…what I did. She squeezed my hand when I asked her if she would forgive me.”

“That’s great!” Faith squealed and handed her a styrofoam cup filled with water.

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“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” she turned to her dad and continued. “But then, the heart monitor flatlined, and doctors and nurses rushed in and told me to leave,” tears started to flow down her cheeks. “She died! I heard them shocking her!” Frankie buried her face into Michael’s chest and sobbed. “They kept yelling at each other, and I ran back here.”

“It’s okay. I promise everything will be okay. Sweetheart,” Michael rocked her in his arms as tears welled in his eyes.

“We are here for you, no matter what,” Steve rubbed her back softly. Faith wrapped her arms around the trio and cried for her best friend’s broken heart.

“Ms. Montgomery?” a nurse called from behind a surgical mask.

Frankie wiped her face on her sleeve and stood. The nurse motioned for Frankie to come closer. Michael kept a protective arm around Frankie’s shoulder as they approached the RN, who lowered her mask and said gently, “Your mom is stable. Her heartbeat is steady and strong. She is being taken into surgery. You will be notified when the doctor knows more.”

“Oh, thank you, God!” Frankie exhaled a sigh of relief. “Thank you so much for letting me know. I was so scared.”

“I saw your face when you ran out of the ICU. My heart broke for you. I had to let you know we got her back,” her smile was angelic. Frankie knew God sent her to watch over them all.

The nurse squeezed Frankie’s hand, just as her mother had done, and said, “Oh, and the baby’s heartbeat is strong too,” winked, turned, and walked away.

A wide-eyed Frankie slowly turned toward her dad as they said in unison, “Baby?”