Finally, the doctor appears. He gives me an appraising look. At first, I assume it’s because he recognizes me. Then I realize I look like a caveman. I smooth the beginnings of the beard that has grown in the last several days.
“Mr. Wolfe, explain to me the circumstances of the patient’s arrival.”
“We were camping—the End of the World Enduro challenge. It was several days in. She woke me up, saying she was having a hard time breathing and her chest hurt.”
“Surely you know that someone with her condition shouldn’t have been doing that kind of activity.”
“What condition?”
“A heart condition.”
I frown. “She never mentioned that.” Regret melts my defenses. I had no right bringing her out there to the woods. To me, it was a tough challenge—manly. To her, it was probably awful and as it turns out, life-threatening.
The doctor nods. “There’s a solid chance she didn’t know about it either. The good news is she’s going to be okay. We were able to successfully stent the valve that was causing trouble. She’ll be waking up soon and when she’s ready, we’ll need to ask her some questions.”
“Thank you, doctor.” Relief, unlike any I’ve ever known, sweeps through me. Tears well in my eyes.
“In the meantime, why don’t you go home and shower?”
I look down at myself. I’m filthy, covered in dirt and grass stains.
Thankful that Cateline is okay, I check into a local hotel, shower, shave, and put on a new T-shirt and a pair of jeans. I’m exhausted, but there is no way I’ll spend any more time away from Cateline than necessary. But the Jeep, with her luggage, is back in the woods.
My mind whirs while a car service brings me over. What did the doctor mean that she had a preexisting condition? Does she have medication she forgot to take?
I get the Jeep and return to the hospital. The nurse at the desk does a double-take. “Were you the fellow sitting in the waiting room all night and day?”
“That was me. Muddy, sweaty, and covered in bug bites.”
“My, oh my. And I thought you were some kind of very tall vagrant. Were you trying to go incognito or something?” She must recognize me.
“No. We were camping and—” I grip the back of my neck and hang my head. “Is she okay?”
“She will be. Thankfully, you got here when you did. The doctor will explain more. You can go in now.” She points to a metal door. “Fourth on the right.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“Hang on.” She comes around to the other side of the desk and lifts onto her toes. “You’ll just have to take a selfie with me so I can show the girls who I met. Stacy, down in the NICU, is a big Boston Bruisers fan. Oooh. She’s going to be so jealous.” Her phone snaps the photo as she smiles.
The glimpse I catch of the picture is of a haggard, worried man.
The unit is relatively quiet except for the beeping and whirring of machines. The lights were bright in the hall but dim behind the curtains that cordon off the patients.
Cateline lies in the bed with wires and tubes coming in and out of her small and fragile-looking body.
Why had I ever taken her out there? I move closer to the bed, desperate with worry.
Her hand rests on the sheet. After lowering into a chair, I take her slender fingers in mine and watch her sleep peacefully. Icame so close to losing her. What if I hadn’t brought my phone? What if there wasn’t service? What if I’d been too late?
I rest my forehead on the edge of the bed and my shoulders shake. I cannot let anything happen to Cateline or lose her. I can’t imagine life without her.
30
CONNOR
I’m not sure how much time passes with me sitting by Cateline’s side when a nurse enters to check her vitals.
Her eyes flutter open and immediately land on me. “Hi.” Her voice is scratchy. “You showered and shaved.”
