“I’m Doctor Love,” she starts. “I’ve had a look at Nick’s results. How about we take a seat?”
Take a seat? Does that mean bad news? She must see my terror because she smiles and pats my arm before taking a seat herself.
Da squeezes my hand and I hold my breath, waiting for the doctor to continue.
“Nick was conscious on arrival. The MRI showed a very small hairline crack but no bleeding, which is great news. However, he is concussed, which means he’s a little disoriented, although it should resolve itself pretty quickly. He has a couple of cracked ribs, which will be sore but should heal up on their own. We’d like to monitor him overnight to be safe. Try not to worry …” Dr Love looks at Dad.
“Lulu,” he supplies.
“Lulu. He’ll be back on his feet in no time. All things considered it could have been much worse.”
“Can I see him?” My words are barely a whisper.
“Of course. Once they’ve moved him to the ward. Although you might like to consider going home. You look exhausted.”
And with another pat on my arm, she’s off through the swinging doors.
When we get to Nick’s room, he’s sleeping. They hand over a bag with his belongings and I almost laugh at the sad state of his lovely boots. Just as the nurse is leaving the room she turns back.
“Oh, by the way, we advised his next of kin. So, you don’t need to worry about that.”
“Next of kin?”
“His mother. Mary Pierce.”
My stomach bottoms out at the mention of the woman who caused so much trouble. But at least she’s all the way on the other side of the planet.
Once the nurse is gone, I drag a chair to Nick’s bedside, take hold of his hand and press it to my lips.
“I love you,” I whisper, and resting my face against his knuckles, I settle in to wait.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Nick
Theroomisdim,and without even opening my eyes, I can tell it’s a hospital based on the smell alone. I try to speak but what comes out is nothing more than a croak.
“Water?” is all I can manage. There’s a foul taste in my mouth, and my throat is parched. Someone slips a chip of ice into my mouth and I sigh in relief.
Suddenly the room is full of movement, doctors and nurses poking and prodding. Maybe waking up was a mistake.
“Nick, you’re in the hospital. You bumped your head,” a voice says. I open my eyes, but my vision is blurry and it makes the bed spin, so I shut them again.
I have trouble latching onto a thought, but the doctor doesn’t seem too concerned, and right now, my head hurts too much to panic.
“Things might be somewhat jumbled for a day or so, but you’ll come good. What you need is peace and quiet.”
My eyelids are lifted, and bright light flicks back and forth.
“Just relax while I check your pupils. Everything looks good. Get some rest.” I don’t need to be told twice, so I let myself drift back into sleep.
The next time I wake up, my vision is clearer. Something soft touches my face. I can smell my grandmother’s garden, which seems weird. I concentrate on opening my eyes again, but it’s not my grandmother beside me. She’s young and her clothes are crumpled. Her wild blonde hair is sticking out at all sorts of strange angles, and there are deep purple bruises under her eyes. And she’s pregnant.
Impossibly blue eyes lift to mine. It takes a moment, but it all comes back to me. A face I know. A face I love. Lulu is right beside me.
“Nick,” she whispers. She’s holding my hand, kissing my palm, hot tears spilling down her pale cheeks.
“I love you,” I manage to croak, curling my fingers around hers.
