Samantha stumbled into the clinic, fear clenching her gut and squeezing the desperately needed breath from her lungs. What would she do if anything happened to Uncle Oscar?
"Surprise!"
The yelled word caught Sam completely off guard. She stopped so suddenly that she nearly hit the floor.
She wasn't prepared for the sight of twenty people standing around in the lobby, nor for the sight of her Uncle Oscar holding a birthday cake, and her aunt standing beside him, talking animatedly with the nurse who stood beside her.
What in the world was going on? It wasn't her birthday.
"I..." She didn't know what to say. The emotional upheaval she'd just gone through while thinking her uncle was on the verge of a coma, wondering if he'd be okay, left her feeling flat. She tried for a smile, but knew without a doubt that it was a sickly smile indeed.
Just then, Holt came crashing through the door behind her. He plowed into her back. His sudden grip on her upper arms was the only thing stopping her from landing flat on her face.
"Are you okay?" Holt spoke into her ear.
"No." Her answer was as flat as her current emotions.
Uncle Oscar stepped forward, separating himself from the crowd, "Well, aren't you going to say anything?"
"What in the world's going on here?"
Martha came forward and gave Sam a big hug, squeezing her tightly, and whispering in her ear, "Oh, Sam. I'm glad you finally made it. I hope this surprise party doesn't bother you, but you've done so much since you came that we had to find a way to give a little back." Martha patted her on the back. "Oscar told me what you've been doing for him."
Sam pulled back from the embrace and looked at her aunt. She seemed much more at peace than she had been lately. "I'm glad. It's about time." She caught her uncle's gaze and pointed a finger in his direction. She didn't have to say a word. She saw the recognition in his expression. He grinned a little sheepishly and nodded his head.
Sam pointed behind her. Oscar frowned and shook his head.
Her forehead furrowed. So Holt still didn't know. And apparently, Oscar didn't plan to tell him just yet.