“Stop,” Bill said. “If I’d seen the video of your little fight before you left for the dinner, I wouldn’t have let you go. You hit that display case pretty hard. Let’s wait until the last of the guests have gone.”
Ahri sat while the guests filed out, unable to think of anything but the pain. It intensified when someone picked her up. Kayn. He placed her on a stretcher.
“What about Rafe?” she asked.
“He didn’t get hit as hard as you did, but he’s coming to the ER too,” Bill said. “Don’t worry.”
“Rafe,” she called.
“I’m here.” He took her right hand.
“Tell your mother I’ll be late tonight.”
“She’s meeting us at the hospital.”
With another wave of pain, Ahri lost track of things again. Eventually, blessed relief flooded through her, and she opened her eyes to find an EMT working over her.
“I’ve given you some painkillers, so you should be feeling better,” the man said as he adjusted an IV drip.
“I do. Thank you.”
The medication made her drowsy, and she was in and out for the exam. At one point, an agonizing pain shot through her shoulder. She screamed and everything went black.
When she roused, she found herself in a different room, being transferred to a bed.
“I don’t have to stay here, do I?” Ahri gasped. It was hard to breathe. The room swayed. “I can’t seem to get enough air.”
“That’s because they gave you a nerve block for the pain in your shoulder.” The male nurse sent her a sympathetic glance as he typed something into the computer. “Unfortunately, it causedyour left lung to collapse. It should just be temporary, but the doctor’s keeping you here for observation until the block wears off.”
“I don’t want to be alone,” Ahri said.
“Don’t worry. Your mother’s here,” he said.
Her mother was in Korea.
“Hey.” Francie came to stand on the other side of the bed and took Ahri’s hand.
Emotion stole over her, and she had to blink back tears.
“Rafe asked me to come to you while Kayn gives him some moral support.” His mother’s face turned troubled.
“Is he all right?”
“He’s in x-ray right now.” Francie looked pale and worried, but also determined. “He was bleeding from one ear, and the doctor wants to rule out a skull fracture.”
Ahri’s mouth went dry. Rafehadto be all right.
“You two don’t have the brains God gave little green apples,” Francie muttered in disgust, “going to the banquet instead of coming here.”
“We didn’t think he was hurt that bad,” Ahri said.
“And he might not be,” the nurse observed. “It’s also a precaution. I’m going to send your friends in. It’s late, so they can’t stay long.”
Ahri waited until he’d stepped out of the room to ask, “Did the police come to pick up my doll?”
“Yes.”
“I’m so sorry.” Ahri winced and put a hand to her chest, her eyes burning. “I’d never have brought it to your house if I’d known.”
