“She says that his condition is bad enough that they won’t allow general visitors at any hour. Family only.”
They. Are. Kidding. Me!
So she’s saying I have to fly Caroline’s ass out here to get an update on his condition? Because they won’t even tell me how he’s doing or what happened! They think I’m going to walk away as if I don’t care that much? That I’ll waste my life away in some hotel, waiting for word that he’s well enough to “generally” visit? Wait for him to be discharged? Wait for him to call me? I have to get my future mother-in-law out here for that bullshit? His father? Should I bring Valerie in here and pass her off as his wife? What the fuck do I do?
Junri guides me over to a rest area and sits me down on an uncomfortable chair. “I’m sorry, Kathryn,” she says. “Japan is very strict about patient privacy.”
So is America, but that hasn’t stopped me before!
“It’s difficult to work around it. I’m afraid you have to be married to him if you’re not related by blood.” You know, if Ian were her, he’d make a stupid incest joke. I’d reprimand him for it, he’d laugh at how sensitive I am, and we’d get on with our lives. Yet he’s not here, is he? He’s rotting away from food poisoning behind these doors over here, and there’s no way I can see him? Pretty sure that goes against the Geneva Convention. “Maybe we can come back tomorrow and his condition will be good enough that you can visit him during general hours. Until then, I suggest you call someone in his family to make arrangements. They should have an English liaison on the line. This hospital services many foreigners.”
They’re servicing my partner right now.
Eventually, the nurse shoos us away to the main waiting room, with the reminder that we’re not going to see him tonight, anyway. Also, there’s no one of enough importance on duty for us to speak with. We might as well leave, don’t we know?
I can’t leave. I’m not leaving until I see Ian.
Chapter 9
KATHRYN
I’m practically passed out in the waiting room, alone.
Junri has left to find us some food and drinks. I couldn’t bring myself to go with her, in case a nurse comes out saying, “Sorry, our mistake. You can see the most important person in your universe. By the way, I’m an idiot and you should punch me for lying to you earlier.”
Oh, and the dumbest thing? I finally got a call from this hospital stating that Ian wanted me to know that he’s here and not to worry. First of all, what do you mean I’m not supposed to worry? Second, does this mean he’s conscious? If he’s conscious, then he can see me!
I want… no, I need… to be in there. I don’t care if he’s awake or not. I want to be by his bedside, kissing his face and holding his hand until he’s all better. That’s my job, isn’t it? To cover him in affection during his worst times? Food poisoning! How the fuck did he get food poisoning at one of the classiest joints in Tokyo? What kind of seedy place did the Isoyas take him to, anyway?
No, no, I shouldn’t put this on their shoulders. Kunihiro fucked up, and I’m sure someone will make sure he’s punished for it, but I can’t blame the family. This was a freak thing. I don’t expect apologies from them, especially since Junri has been so helpful, taking the time away from her personal life to make sure I’m okay and that we found Ian. God, I’m such a loser who doesn’t deserve this much help. I wish I knew Japanese. I wish everyone here knew English. At least let them understand my ranting and raving that comes from a crazy amount of privilege I’ve been carrying my whole life!
I put my phone down after listening to the message. I finally have a response from Eva.
“Hey girl, sorry, I was at a party and am only now home. Are you okay?”
No. No, I am not okay. I’m so not okay that I immediately hit the call button and hope she’s not in the middle of a date with her girlfriend, because I am not above interrupting a lesbian fuckfest right now.
“What’s happened?” Eva sounds tired as hell when she answers her phone. “Also, you do realize that it’s like five in the morning here, right?”
I attempt to bring her up to speed regarding my search for the love of my life. I say attempt because I keep crying. God. I’m such a mess right now! Pull it together, Kathryn, what good is this going to do you?
But I want to cry. I need to cry. I’ve been worried sick all day, and now that I finally have someone I trust on the phone, I have to let the tears come out. So much stress and anger burning inside my tired body. For about five minutes today I seriously worried that I wouldn’t see my boyfriend again. The thought that two nights ago would be our last night together makes me want to explode in more tears.