Abbey might never wake up.
Zach’s grip on Cael’s hand tightened, cutting off part of the circulation in his fingers.
“I’m sorry.” Dr. Thomas paused again. “I’m having her moved to the ICU just down the hall from the ER.”
“When can we see her?” Alex asked, gently caressing Amy’s neck and shoulders as she sobbed into a ball of damp tissues.
“You can check with one of the nurses at the station desk. Once Abigail is settled, they’ll allow up to two visitors at a time to see her. Standard visiting hours are seven a.m. to nine p.m., but arrangements can be made should one of you like to stay.”
Zach released Cael’s hand and walked around to the other side of the hospital crib in which Taylor still slept. “What about her daughter?”
“We can release her to a designated family member or friend. As we do not know how long Abigail may be in a coma, I would advise you seek legal advice on a temporary guardianship as well.”
Zach nodded, reaching for Taylor’s little hand.
“I’m very sorry.” She gave them a kindhearted smile. “Are there any other questions I can answer for you at this time?”
Zach looked to his dad who shook his head. “No,” Zach answered for everyone. “But thank you.”
Dr. Thomas nodded and left the room, closing the door behind her.
Zach stared down at his niece—the one ray of sunshine streaming through the dark, thunderous clouds that had rolled in with no advance warning on what had started out as a beautiful spring day. Cael hated to think it, but at least that precious little angel had survived the horrific crash that was still trying to take Abbey from them.
Staring at Taylor, Cael took a deep breath.
Blunt force trauma.
Severe brain injury.
Internal hemorrhaging.
Coma.
The words replayed over and over, threatening to consume him. They might lose her. It was a very real possibility Cael didn’t want to even consider. He had to remind myself that Abbey was stubborn. She wouldn’t easily give up. This was the third time in just over two years that Abbey had been in the hospital fighting for her life.
The first time, she’d been drugged at a nightclub, raped, and stabbed, left for dead in a seedy hotel room, yet somehow, she’d found the strength to pull a pillowcase off a pillow, wad it up, and press it against the stab wound, then had pulled out her cell phone and called 9-1-1. A month later, she learned she was pregnant by the unknown rapist. Everyone told her it would be okay if she didn’t want to keep the baby, but Abbey decided to anyway. She had refused to throw away the life growing inside her simply due to the circumstances of the conception.
The second time had been when Taylor was born. After hours of labor, a drop in the baby’s heart rate and other complications during delivery had led to an emergency C-section that resulted in excessive bleeding. Both almost died that day.
Now, they were in the midst of the third. It’s said third time’s a charm, so Cael chose to believe that Abbey would fight and pull through again for the third and final time and maybe then, death would finally give up on trying to take her.
Cael blinked and looked up, meeting Zach’s heartrending gaze. He and his sister had always been close, and Cael knew how much this was killing him.
“I’ll take care of Taylor,” Zach said, looking back down at her again.
“I’ll help you,” Cael blurted out. He was sure Zach could manage without his help, but he couldn’t let him go through it alone. He wouldn’t, and Alex already had his hands full caring for Zach’s mom. As much as Cael knew they would help too, they didn’t need the added burden.
Zach lifted his head and gifted him a small, grateful smile. God, how Cael loved him. Too bad he couldn’t tell him as much.
“I’ll go find out who can help us with getting Taylor released,” Cael offered, heading for the door.
“Thanks,” Zach replied.
Chapter 3
Shortly after Cael left to find a nurse or doctor for Taylor’s release, Zach’s mom and dad left to find Abbey. Zach had told them he and Cael would be down with Taylor as soon as all her paperwork was taken care of. Now alone, Zach sat beside Taylor’s hospital crib, holding her little hand—the one not in a cast—waiting for his best friend to come back so they could get out of there.
With his elbow on his thigh, he rested his forehead against his fingertips and busied himself with thoughts of everything he would need to do in order to take care of Taylor. He would need to go to Abbey’s apartment and collect some of her things. Then there were diapers, wipes, clothes, and whatever else he would need to change her. Zach figured he could use the little portable crib until he could move her other one to his house, should he need to. Taylor already attended a nearby daycare, so he wouldn’t need to arrange that. Of course, he’d have to take over paying for that. Then there was the matter of Abbey’s apartment and bills. He’d have to figure that out too.
