“No, ma’am,” Dr. Coggins says, and I sigh in relief. “Her reflexes and brain activity are good. I think she’ll be fine once the swelling in the brain goes down. Someone will let you know when she’s in the ICU.”
“I left the kids with Aunt Betty.” Sylvie’s voice triggers a headache. “She says she will be here tomorrow. I got you some dinner.” She hands her parents a plastic bag, but her mom takes it and puts it on the floor.
Preacher left about an hour ago, promising to return in the morning. We’ve been in the ICU waiting room for the past hour, and no one has come to talk to us.
The doors open, and Eden’s friends rush in. They hug the Roses, but to my shock, they leave them and take seats next to me.
The preacher’s daughter puts her hand on mine and says, “She’ll be okay, friend.”
“Ms. Hazel sent this for you.” The other one hands me a brown paper bag.
The smell of the food makes my stomach queasy. I put it away, stand, and pace my corner of the waiting room. The Roses don’t come into my area, and I don’t go into theirs.
“Can you tell us what happened?”
“She was involved in a head-on collision.” The words get stuck in my throat, and I have to fight back the tears that are forming in the back of my eyes. The girls don’t ask any more questions, but they stay close. For once, I don’t mind their company.
“Eden is really tough,” the mayor’s daughter says, and the other one nods. “When we were in the ninth grade, she got into an argument with the Kozloff twins. Their older brother asked Eden to the junior prom, and she said no.” Cori looks around and lowers her voice. “The guy was a real incel, if you know what I mean. Anyway, his sisters got mad and started harassing Eden.”
“Kozloff?” I ask, making a note to track them and their brother down.
“They’re long gone. Don’t bother.” Cori waves her hand. “Anyway, one of them pushed Eden, and when I tell you, she whooped both their ass in the schoolyard. They used to dress and style their hair the same. Eden grabbed both of them by their ponytail, spun them around, and slammed them into each other. Then she punched one square in the face, knocking her out. The other one ran.”
“Yeah?” I ask, impressed. “That’s my girl.”
“Yeah,” Selene says. “Then their mother and Mrs. Rose came to the school, and Mrs. Rose was about to beat Mrs. Kozloff’s ass. She got in her face and said, ‘I’ll show you where my daughtergot it from.’ Mrs. Kozloff backed off so fast. It was the best day.”
Both girls smile at the memory.
“You’re shitting me? Her?” I point at Eden’s mother.
“Yup. And that was only half of it. The principal threatened to suspend Eden, and Mrs. Rose said ‘I wish the fuck you would.’ He backed down real quick. No one shows up and defends their kids like Eden’s mother,” Cori says.
“If you and Eden ever have a baby together, that kid would be indestructible,” Selene adds.
Cori puts her hand on mine again. “She’s much too tough and stubborn. She’ll be back because she knows we need her.”
“She'd better be or else,” I threaten.
“And she’ll come back because she loves you. We’ve been best friends all our lives, which means I’ve been around for every boyfriend she’s ever had. She’s crazy about you. Talks about you all the time.” She squeezes my hand.
Chapter 61
Rip
It’s been two days, and Eden hasn’t woken up. Her parents and I take turns sitting with her during the day to make sure she’s never alone. We don’t speak, but there’s a silent truce. Her parents take turns visiting, but I’m the constant. I haven’t left since I arrived two days ago.
Her vitals are good. Her coloring is good, and I swear that she squeezed my hand back yesterday, but that could be wishful thinking on my part. Sometimes, it seems as if the entire small town is in the waiting room, but the only people other than me and Eden’s parents who sit with her are Selene and Cori when her parents let them go. I never give up my turn, but her friends bring me food and tell me stories about Eden growing up.
Despite visiting hours ending at eight o’clock, the nurses let me sit in her room at night.
Sylvie visits every day but stays in the waiting room. She hasn’t said a word to my face, but I overheard a conversation between her and her mother about me this morning.
Earlier
“I will not do it, Sylvie,” I hear Serena whisper. From her tone, I know she’s talking about me. “However you might feel about him, he cares about her. It’s obvious. Your sister needs everyone who loves her here.”
“She’s probably in that hospital because of him.”
