“‘Situation?’”

That single word had made Nick jump up like a spring.

“Did something happen to her?” he asked, startled.

“Well, I… uh... I think she wants to go to the bathroom,” Layla replied, and Nick almost fainted from relief.

“You really need to work on your news-breaking, mother,” he said, annoyed. “That's not a situation. Just call the nurse.”

Layla pointed to the two nurses on duty. They probably didn't weigh a hundred pounds between them.

“Valeria is groggy from the sedatives. She looks like she just got drunk on straight whiskey,” Layla replied. “Do you think either of them can carry her to the bathroom?”

Nick made a sympathetic gesture and followed his mother into Valeria's room.

She was laughing. Her IV had already been removed, but the sedatives were still wearing off.

“Of coooourse not!” she said as soon as she saw Nick come through the door, put his jacket aside, and rolled up his shirt sleeves before approaching her.

“There's no one else, and I'm just going to