Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 78576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
“He was on his way to Grand Junction. Was he going to see you?”
My God, this is all my fault.
A tear runs down my cheek.
“I… I thought he had stood me up. Is he…?”
“He’s in rough shape. Thank God someone was coming the other way and called 9-1-1. He’s at St. Mary’s. Uncle Bryce and Aunt Marj are on their way there, along with Henry and the girls. You should go.”
I say nothing, my thoughts tumbling.
“Maddie?”
“Yeah, I’m here. I’m… I’m on my way.”
I rush back to the table. “I’m so sorry. There’s been an emergency. I have to get to the hospital.”
“Which one?”
“St. Mary’s.”
“I’ll come with you.”
“Please, don’t bother. It’s…”
“It’s what?”
“It’s a man. A man I care about.” I bury my face in my hands. The tears are coming. “I shouldn’t have led you on like this. I thought he stood me up this evening, so… It was immature of me to allow you to take me to dinner. I’m so sorry, Logan.”
He rises. “Don’t be sorry. I enjoyed our time together. It would have been nice if it were more, but right now, we need to get you to the hospital.” He pulls out his phone. “I’ll contact my driver.”
“Really, you don’t have to.”
“Please, let me do this for you. Consider it my good deed for the day.”
I fall against him, giving him a quick hug. “It is definitely a good deed. Thank you so much, Logan. And whoever left you? Big loss on her part.”
I slam the door to Logan’s town car harder than I mean to.
“Sorry!” I yell back at him.
He waves me away amiably.
I run quickly to the ER, stopping at the volunteer at the front desk.
“David Simpson?” I say breathlessly.
He looks up from his computer screen. “You family?”
“Isn’t his family here yet?”
He taps on his keyboard. “I’m not showing any visitors so far. But I can only give information out to family.”
“I’m his…girlfriend,” I say.
He shakes his head. “I’m afraid only legal spouses count as family, ma’am.”
“Then fine. I’m his wife.”
He mentioned a possible honeymoon, so what the hell?
“Ma’am, do you think this is the first time someone has said they were someone’s significant other and then corrected themselves when they found out we can only release information to spouses? Please take a seat. When a family member of the patient arrives, we can give out information.”
“Fine.” I turn around in a huff, glancing around the room.
No Bryce, no Marjorie, no Henry, no Angie, no Sage…
But a moment later, they all come rushing in.
And they don’t look good. Marjorie and Bryce are both wearing combinations of pajamas and jeans. They must have been planning an early night at home. Henry’s face is sheet white, and the girls’ eyes are streaked with mascara.
Angie runs into my arms and sobs. “Oh, Maddie. I’m so glad you’re here. I can’t believe this, on top of everything else going on with our family. Is he okay?”
“I don’t know what’s going on. They won’t tell me anything because I’m not family.”
“Mom and Dad will get the information.” Tears stream down Angie’s face. “I can’t believe this is happening. How much more can we be expected to go through?”
I feel so bad for her. This is her brother, after all. If something like this happened to Jesse, I would be devastated.
I’m devastated now. This is the man I love.
And I can’t lose him.
Why didn’t I say it back?
Why didn’t I do so many things?
I was so worried about stupid stuff.
Bryce and Marjorie talk to the volunteer and then return to us in the waiting area.
Bryce’s face is pale, and Marjorie doesn’t look much better.
But it’s Marjorie who speaks to us. “All they know is that he’s in surgery. He’s had some abdominal injuries. They’re sending someone out to talk to us.”
I gulp and sit down next to Angie. Sage and Henry sit across from us, looking worried. Bryce and Marjorie are still standing, pacing back and forth.
A man in scrubs comes out. “Mr. and Mrs. Simpson?”
“Yes?” Marjorie rushes to him and brings him back. “These are our children and a family friend. Please speak freely.”
He nods curtly. “Of course. I’m Dr. Amos, and I was the attending physician when your son was brought in. He suffered soft-tissue injuries, lacerations on his face and neck.”
“Did the airbag deploy?”
“It did,” he says. “But he was hit head-on by a pickup truck. His Jaguar couldn’t compete.”
“Where’s the asshole who hit him?” Henry asks.
“Henry,” Marjorie says.
“That driver didn’t make it,” Dr. Amos says. “His airbag didn’t deploy.”
“Good on him,” Henry says.
“Henry.” His mother again.
But I can’t blame him. Someone put Dave in this position. He’s a good driver, and he loves that car.
“Our imaging studies show several broken ribs and a hairline fracture in his collarbone. Your son is young and healthy, so these will heal quickly and easily.” He flips through some documents on his clipboard. “However, the studies also show blood in the abdomen. That means he probably has internal bleeding, and that’s why he’s in surgery. We need to find and repair the damage to the organs that are affected.”