“You have a humerus fracture. Luckily, it was a clean break. The orthopedic surgeon on call decided you only needed a splint and a sling to keep the arm immobile until they can do a better assessment after the swelling goes down a bit. He doesn’t think you’ll need a cast, though. The baby is fine,” Dr. Carson was quick to add when my other hand moved to my belly. He pointed to the monitors beside my bed. “That one is the baby. We’re keeping you for a couple days to monitor both of you.”
“The beeping is killing my head,” I admitted.
“I’ll turn the volume down for now,” Doc Carson said as he leaned over and did just that. “You have a mild to moderate concussion. If you weren’t pregnant, we would be able to send you home tomorrow, but seeing as you are, and you are also now three centimeters dilated, I have suggested that you remain in the hospital for the time being. We had you moved to the maternity ward just in case, but your ortho and I will be checking in on you routinely.”
“Drake?” I questioned. “Where is my brother?”
“As far as I know, he is in surgery.” Dr. Carson glanced down at his wrist - his watch. “He should be coming back out soon.”
“Surgery for what?”
“Your mother and father are at the surgical center waiting room,” he mentioned. “They knew you were okay and needed to be there for Drake.”
“I get that, but what surgery did he need?”
“I’m not sure, but I’ll go try to find out. It is imperative for you and the baby that you try to remain calm, Violet. You’ve been through a great deal.”
I gave him a nod of assurance, and Dr. Carson left to go find out about my brother or do whatever he did when he wasn’t checking in on me.
After a while, a nurse popped her head in and offered me a wide smile. “Dr. Carson sent me to let you know that they’re still waiting on an update, but your brother is doing well in surgery and your family is still waiting to hear more.”
“Thank you,” I managed.
“We have a strict protocol for your room and visitors, but there is a couple downstairs in the emergency room who are asking to see you. Garret and Evelyn Westover.”
I gave her a nod and when she continued to stand there, I offered a quick smile as well. “The baby’s grandparents,” I admitted. “You can send them up.”
“I will let them know downstairs. Is there anything you need before I head out?”
“Thirsty,” I admitted, considering speaking felt like a chore.
My nurse pulled a rolling table closer to me and then realized quickly that wouldn’t work because it was on the wrong side of the bed from my good arm and the machines that kept watch on mine and my baby’s vitals were piled over on the other side.
“I’ll help you take a few sips real quick and then get someone in here to help me move all this stuff around.”
I offered a rather weak thanks after she set my cup back down. It wasn’t near enough water since my throat still felt like it was in the middle of a dry spell in a desert. Still, it was probably for the best because the more I drank, the quicker I’d have to figure out how to get myself free of everything so I could go to the bathroom.
About ten minutes later, Garret and Evelyn Westover made their way into my room. Evelyn immediately started to cry when she saw me. I hadn’t seen myself yet, but I knew that my face and head hurt on my left side and my right arm was in a sling and situated on top of my big belly.
“Oh my God! You could have died!”
“Ev, we talked about this,” Garret warned her as he came over and placed a gentle kiss on my uninjured cheek. “Do you need anything?” he asked me.
“More water,” I suggested with a tip of my head toward where the nurse left my cup and a pitcher of ice water.
“I’ll get that for you,” he said as Evelyn made her way to my side.
“I’m too short to lean up and kiss you without bumping your arm,” my former mother-in-law lamented. She surprised me then by leaning forward and placing a quick kiss on my belly. “That will have to do for both of you.” It was weird and endearing all at the same time.
“How are you guys here?” I asked.
“Mark called me. He didn’t want you to be alone while he and Wendy waited to hear the news about Drake.” My father-in-law did not seem very impressed with my parents. “I don’t see why one of them couldn’t be here for you while the other waited for news,” he mumbled, and Evelyn popped his shoulder playfully.
“Now who needs to remember what we talked about?” she teased. “It’s not our place to judge.”
“It’s okay. If they were here, we would just be worried about Drake together.”
“Well, at least then you wouldn’t have been alone doing it.”
