“Um, spinal fracture. Burns… Uh, I’m sorry.” He presses his palm to his forehead. “Sienna can tell you. My nurse. She can tell you, I’m sorry.” He rocks back and forth in his seat, as everyone in the room watches on, visibly worried.
“Your honor, I’d like to stop and give Curtis a break. Can we hear from his nurse? She’s in the gallery today.”
“Go ahead, but medical diagnosis only.”
“Yes, your honor. Sienna?” Liv strolls over to her, throwing her a look of apology as she puts the timid nurse on the spot in this packed courtroom. “Can you state your full name and title for the court?”
She stands stiffly, tucking non-existent stray hair behind her ears. “Uh. Yes. Sienna Teller, BSN, RN, CCRN.”
“Can you tell us what those credentials mean for the record, please?”
“Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Registered Nurse. Critical Care Registered Nurse.”
“Thank you, Nurse Teller. Can you tell us about Curtis’s injuries?”
“Curtis came into the Emergency Department with Second-Degree burns on more than half his body. He was diagnosed with a spinal fracture to his C7 and T1 vertebrae. This resulted in nerve damage to his arms and legs. He was also diagnosed with a severe Traumatic Brain Injury.”
“How did the TBI affect his health?” Liv asks.
“He lost consciousness at impact, and as a result, he was not responsive when he arrived at the ED. The medical team decided to induce a coma to help him heal from his injuries. Severe swelling and bleeding in his brain made his condition unstable for weeks. He was in the ICU for weeks. He has memory loss, confusion, dizziness, and ongoing headaches. His burns are healing, but he’ll be left with significant scarring.”
“Thank you, Sienna. Is there anything else the jury should know about Curtis’s medical condition?”
“I don’t want to speak out of line, Miss Greenwood, but I think the court should know that Curtis should not be here today. The doctors in the emergency room did not think he would make it the night he came in, and they also weren’t sure they could wake him from his coma. His injuries were severe enough that we spent weeks searching for a next of kin in case he died. Luckily, he did wake up, but that led him on a path of more surgeries. 12 before he could leave the ICU. He has been in the rehabilitation center for months. He’s supposed to be in a wheelchair. The doctors couldn’t believe his strength to not only survive, but to persevere.”
“Thank you for sharing that, Sienna. Curtis is lucky to have a medical team that cares about him so much.” She smiles gently and nods her thanks as she turns back to the judge.
“Your honor, I’d like to take a short recess. To give Curtis a break.”
“I’ll grant you a recess, but only to get your next witness in line. Mr. Debaugh is not fit to testify. I sympathize with his condition, I do, but I don’t want to see the boy suffer in my courtroom. We’ll pick things up first thing tomorrow morning.” He hits his gavel, giving no room for argument.
Liv just lost her star witness.
Chapter Forty-Four
Liv
At this point, I don’t know how this day could get any worse. I still have a stalker. My intern quit on me. I almost fainted in the courtroom. I lost my star witness before he could finish his entire impact statement. And, even though my best friend gave me the best news earlier, making me a godmother for the second time, it’s left a hollow feeling in my gut.
I thought by the time she had another baby, I’d be closer to that phase of my life, too.
“What can I help with?” Hayes asks, watching me shove my papers into my briefcase.
“I don’t know. I need a minute,” I tell him coldly. I don’t mean to, but I don’t have any energy left after this crap day.
I don’t look up, and I don’t need to. I feel his body leave my atmosphere. He’s been nothing but great to me, and I’m awful.
I’m a terrible person. I suck at my job.
Tears prickle at the back of my eyes, and I have to inhale deeply to fight them off.
Everyone is counting on me to put Jeremiah away for therest of his life… I’ll be lucky to get him eight years now, and that is a hard pill to swallow.
When I turn to leave the courtroom, my friends are huddled around each other talking, and Hayes is in the corner talking to Nathan. All in their own worlds, and I can’t bear to pretend that I’m optimistic about today’s outcome.
I slink out the side door and immediately run into Curtis and Sienna.
“I’m sorry, Miss Greenwood. I thought I could do it.”
