Drea was beginning to realize that despite his cavalier attitude, he was a caring guy.
Ok.Still on your porch.
I know.I’m watching through the window.
She glanced over her shoulder and saw him standing there, texting.I might be an idiot, but I’m not an ass.You okay??
“Dammit,” she said aloud.He’s not my boyfriend.He’s not my boyfriend, she said to herself.Drea laughed despite herself.She needed some space from Cujo and her feelings.
I’m fine,she answered.
Promise?
She couldn’t, and he knew it.She never made a promise she couldn’t keep.Years of being let down by those around her.Her teachers promising her the time she spent looking after her mom would not affect her grades, promising they’d help her stay on top of schoolwork.Her mom promising she’d quit smoking.Her dad promising he’d stick around.
Goodnight, Cujo.
No, I’m not fine, she thought as she let herself into her car, but she promised herself she would be.
CHAPTER SIX
Cujo let the double doors of the hospital swing closed behind him and searched the waiting room.He’d been finishing up a neck piece for a long-time client when he’d received the call.It sucked to abandon the team on a Saturday, but family always took priority.
His dad’s face was pale, the skin around his eyes pinched with worry.Devon stood, ankles crossed, leaning next to a tall window.
The smell of a hospital brought back memories Cujo fought to forget.The insipid paintings of flowers and those awful attempts at Modern art.Ammonia and pine assaulted his nostrils as he sat down to face his dad.Eerily syncopated beeps of equipment were interrupted by a loudspeaker announcement for a visitor to move their car from the ambulance bay.
Cujo sat down.“What happened?”
“It’s your mom.I don’t know anything else yet.They sent for the doctor.”
Cujo watched the clock on the wall.The minute hand vibrated every time it changed position, wavering back and forth as if it hadn’t decided which direction time should take.
“Alec Matthews?”All three of them hurried over.“I’m Doctor Jaffrey.I’m the neurologist looking after your wife.This is Detective Lopes, he’s the police officer assigned to Mrs.Matthews’ case.”
Cujo looked at his dad, who seemed to be having problems keeping himself together.He recognized Detective Lopes.He’d helped Harper earlier in the year.
“I’m Brody Matthews, her son.Detective Lopes, we’ve met.I co-own Second Circle with Trent Andrews.”
“I remember.Sorry we aren’t meeting again under better circumstances.”Detective Lopes shook their hands.
“This is my father, Alec Matthews, and my brother Devon.Can you tell us what happened?”
“Mrs.Matthews was found in North Shore Park.We believe it was a botched robbery.She was severely beaten.”Cujo shifted involuntarily.The detective’s words hit him physically.
Alec groaned and fell against Devon, who looked as white as the walls behind him.
Dr.Jaffrey took over.“Mrs.Matthews has suffered several injuries, including a traumatic brain injury and has required significant facial reconstruction to the left side of her face.She’s been in a coma for a week.Until yesterday.She gave us her name today, but Mrs.Matthews has posttraumatic amnesia.She can only remember details from several decades ago.”Dr.Jaffrey stopped for a moment to look at his pager.“It isn’t uncommon for someone who has been in a coma.Memory loss can last a few weeks, it might come back tomorrow, or it might never return at all.”
“Does she have any other injuries?I mean was she… how did it happen?”Alec asked.
“We ran extensive tests.The CT scan and MRI revealed some damage to her skull and brain.She’s been in surgery twice to address an internal brain bleed.The injuries to the left side of her face are substantial.Normally, we’d want to see more swelling go down, but the injuries were too severe to wait.We inserted plates into her cheek, and her jaw is wired.She’ll possibly need further surgery when she’s healed some more.”
Cujo looked down at the floor, sucking in huge breaths.Fuck.He shook his head, trying to stop the spins that threatened to lay him out on the gray linoleum.
“What’s the prognosis?”Devon asked.
Yeah.The future.Great question.
