But there’s a knot of worry forming in my stomach, which only increases in size when I hear the next words out of the caller’s mouth.
“My name is Hannah. I'm an ER nurse at Nashville General Hospital,” the voice continues, calm but serious. “You're listed as Laura Slattering's emergency contact. I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but she's been involved in an accident.”
21
Hayes
Now
When I answer Annabelle’s call, the first thing I notice is the fear in her voice.
“Slow down, Annabelle. I can barely understand you. Start over, Yankee.”
I’m standing in my condo, staring out the enormous windows that overlook Nashville, my eyes scanning the city while my brain races to catch up to her words.
“It’s Laura, my best friend,” she says, her voice breaking. “The hospital just called. She was in a carwreck.”
Her speech is choppy, every word laden with emotion. “They said… oh God. They said she was unconscious when she arrived. What if she doesn’t make it, Hayes?”
“Don’t think like that, Annabelle,” I command as I switch into crisis management mode. “Which hospital?”
“Nashville General.”
“Okay. Do you want me to pick you up at work or meet you at the hospital? My afternoon is free. I can leave now.”
“No, no, but Hayes…” I hear a sharp exhale on the other end of the line as Annabelle grapples with her emotions. “Could you pick up the girls from school and watch them for me, please? The woman who usually watches them is out of town visiting family for Christmas. I don’t know who else to call. I’m sorry to ask you to do this, but there’s not anyone else I trust. Please.”
“Annabelle, of course, I can do that. Breathe, baby, breathe. It’ll be okay. Where are you now?”
“I’m driving to the hospital.”
“Annabelle, focus on driving. I’ll meet you at the hospital so we can switch cars. I’m assuming the girls still use car seats of some kind, right?”
“God, I hadn’t even thought of that. Yes, they still use booster seats.”
“It’s okay. Together, we’ll figure it out. I’ll meet you there.”
Seventeen minutes later, I rush through the hospital lobby and head straight to the elevators. On the second floor, as soon as the doors slide open, my eyes land on Annabelle.
She’s sitting motionless in a chair, pale as a ghost, her body stiff. I drop to my knees in front of her and gently cradle her face in my hands, trying to bring her back to the moment.
“Annabelle, I’m here, baby. Have you heard anything yet?”
She shakes her head, her wide, terrified eyes locking on mine. Her bottom lip trembles.
“No. They haven’t told me anything.” Her voice is thin and shaky, barely above a whisper. “I noticed she hadn’t come back from lunch. I thought maybe she had a meeting or something. I should have known.”
I press a kiss to her temple before sinking into the chair next to hers. I hold her hand, trying to comfort her, knowing that as terrified as she is about Laura, this situation is probably also digging up the trauma of Kyle’s accident.
"You're not alone in this. I'm here with you."
A few minutes later, a man in a white coat approaches us. “Excuse me, are you the family of Laura Slattering?”
Annabelle jumps to her feet, nodding.
I stand behind her with my hands on her shoulders, prepared to hold her up if she crumbles.
“I’m Dr. Giancarlo, Ms. Slattering’s attending physician. She’s in stable condition. She sustained a concussion, several lacerations and contusions, and a compound fracture of the wrist. Because of the nature of her wrist injury, she needs surgery, but because of her concussion, we're holding off on the surgery for now.”
