**Chapter 16: A Frantic Wait**

The girls waited anxiously for news, trying to stay calm as they worried about their dear friend. Rose, Blanche, and Sophia had followed Lucas and the paramedics to the hospital, their faces etched with concern. They paced back and forth in the waiting room, their eyes fixed on the clock on the wall. "Why is it taking so long?" Rose asked, her voice laced with worry. "We've been waiting for what feels like hours." "I know, I've been watching that clock for what feels like an eternity," Blanche replied, her brow furrowed in concern. "I just want to know that Dorothy is going to be okay." Sophia, who had been quietly sitting in a corner, suddenly stood up. " Picture it: Sicily, 1922. My mother, God rest her soul, had a heart condition. She had to be rushed to the hospital, and I was the one who had to translate for her because she didn't speak a word of English." The other girls turned to Sophia, hoping for some reassurance. "What happened, Sophia?" Rose asked. Sophia's eyes clouded over. "She was fine, just a minor procedure, but she had a complication. They had to rush her into surgery, and I was beside myself with worry." Blanche's eyes widened. "But Sophia, that's not helping. We need to stay positive." Sophia snorted. "Positive? You want to talk about positive? I'll tell you what's positive: Dorothy's got Lucas, and he's got a heart of gold. He's taking care of her, and she'll be fine." The girls nodded, trying to draw comfort from Sophia's words. They continued to wait, their minds racing with worst-case scenarios. What if Dorothy had a serious heart condition? What if she needed surgery? What if... The waiting room door swung open, and a doctor emerged. "Are you the family?" he asked, his eyes scanning the group. Rose stood up, her hand on her heart. "We're her friends. Dorothy Zbornak. We're...family." The doctor nodded. "I'm Dr. Lee. I've been taking care of Dorothy. She'll be okay. She's stable, and we're running some tests to determine the cause of her collapse." The girls exhaled collectively, relief washing over them. "What happened to her?" Blanche asked. Dr. Lee's expression turned serious. "We're still running some tests, but it looks like she may have a minor heart condition. We'll need to keep her under observation for a few days to make sure she's okay." Rose's eyes welled up with tears. "Thank you, Doctor. We're so grateful." Dr. Lee smiled. "You're welcome. I'll make sure to keep you updated on her condition." As the doctor walked away, the girls hugged each other, tears of relief streaming down their faces. "She's going to be okay," Sophia said, her voice filled with conviction. "Dorothy's a fighter. She'll be back to her old self in no time." The girls nodded, smiling through their tears. They knew that with Lucas by her side and their love and support, Dorothy would get through this.