**Chapter 17: Diagnosis**

The doctor's words hung in the air as he delivered the diagnosis: Dorothy had a minor heart condition that needed attention, but she was going to be okay. The girls exhaled collectively, relief washing over them like a warm wave. Lucas, who had been pacing anxiously beside them, let out a deep breath and closed his eyes, his face etched with gratitude. Rose was the first to speak up, her voice trembling with emotion. "Thank you, Doctor. We're so grateful." She reached out and took Lucas's hand, squeezing it gently. The doctor smiled and nodded. "You're welcome. We'll need to keep her under observation for a few days to make sure she's okay, but it looks like she's in good hands." He glanced at Lucas, who was still holding Dorothy's hand. Blanche stepped forward, her eyes shining with tears. "What exactly does this mean for her? Will she need surgery or...?" Dr. Lee held up a hand, his expression reassuring. "We're not looking at surgery just yet. We're going to run some more tests, and we'll likely need to put her on some medication to manage her condition. But like I said, it's minor, and we're confident that she'll make a full recovery." Sophia, who had been quietly observing the conversation, suddenly piped up. "Minor? What's minor about it? She's got a heart condition, for crying out loud!" The doctor chuckled. "I understand your concern, Sophia. But trust me, we're taking this very seriously. We'll do everything we can to make sure Dorothy gets the best care possible." As the doctor continued to explain the details of Dorothy's condition, the girls listened intently, their faces etched with worry and concern. Lucas, however, seemed to be absorbing every word, his eyes never leaving the doctor's face. Finally, the doctor finished speaking, and the girls began to process the news. Rose and Blanche started to discuss the details of Dorothy's care, while Sophia muttered under her breath, her eyes scanning the hospital room as if searching for something. Lucas, still holding Dorothy's hand, turned to the girls and smiled weakly. "She's going to be okay. We're going to get through this." The girls nodded, smiling back at him. They knew that Lucas would take care of Dorothy, and that together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead. As they waited for the doctor to finish up his paperwork, the girls chatted quietly among themselves, their voices filled with relief and gratitude. Sophia, still looking concerned, suddenly turned to Lucas and said, "You take care of her, you hear me? You're not going to let anything happen to her." Lucas smiled, his eyes filling with emotion. "I promise, Sophia. I'll take care of her." The doctor, finishing up his paperwork, looked up and smiled. "I think we're all done here. You can go visit Dorothy now. She's stable, and I'm sure she'd love to see you."