“I’m on my way,” is the only thing I can say. “Text me which room she’s in.”
“Okay, will do. Drive careful. She’s stable, Ethan. She’ll be okay.” I’m not sure if she’s telling me that for my benefit or trying to convince herself, but either way, it does nothing to calm me down. “She doesn’t need to wake up, only to find out you died in a car accident.”
“I’ll see you soon.”
Since Rosco was able to hear everything that was said, I don’t bother to repeat it. Instead, I call Dan back and tell him what I found out. He ensures me he and his team are looking into it and will be sending officers to the hospital to guard Nevaeh’s door.
The ride to the hospital feels like it takes forever, but eventually Rosco pulls up to the emergency room and I jump out. After explaining to the nurse I’m Nevaeh’s husband, I’m brought back to where Nevaeh is lying in a hospital bed. It’s a private room, and at the moment it’s quiet, save for the beeping of the monitors.
Her face is the color of paper and with the white hospital gown they have her in, and the way the light is shining in, splaying across her face like a halo, she looks like a sleeping angel.
I round the side of the bed and take her hand in mine, bringing it gently to my lips and kissing her cold skin.
“I don’t know how this happened, Angel, but I’m going to find out, and I promise you, whoever is responsible will pay.”
“Care to explain why my best friend, who is lying in a bed, in a medically-induced coma, has officers standing outside her door?”
I lift my head to find Blaire standing in the doorway.
“Usually doctors are standing around a hospital room, not officers, unless…” she trails off, waiting for me to finish her sentence. When I don’t speak right away, she lifts a single brow. “Ethan, I suggest you start talking.”
“I don’t have any answers right now,” I say truthfully. “And my only concern at the moment is my wife’s well-being.”
“And something tells me her well-being wouldn’t be at risk if she weren’t married to you,” another female voice adds. Susan walks in behind Blaire, followed by her dad.
“The police said they can’t tell us anything. It’s an open investigation. They were asking for our whereabouts as if we’re suspects.” She scoffs. “What did you do?” she accuses.
“The last I heard Nevaeh was having breakfast with her father.The next thing I know she’s in a hospital in a coma. As soon as I find anything out, I’ll let you know. Right now, I’m going to call her doctor.”
I pull my cell phone out and dial Dr. Bromfield’s number. After speaking with his nurse and explaining the little I know, I’m told he’s on his way. When I hang up, Susan and Edward are staring, wide-eyed, at me, and it hits me—Nevaeh never told her father about her tumor.
Before either of them can speak, though, an older gentleman in a white coat walks in and introduces himself as Dr. Boyles. “Nevaeh hit her head hard on the cement and has suffered a concussion. After pulling her records and seeing she’s been pre-registered for a surgery for a Meningioma brain tumor, I’ve put a call in to her doctor.”
“I did as well.”
“What do you mean she has a brain tumor?” Susan gasps, her eyes flickering from the doctor to me. “Is she going to die?”
“No,” I bark. “She’s not going to die. And she’s been trying to tell you, but you’re too busy judging and pointing fingers and playing God’s damn assistant, she hasn’t been able to.”
Susan glares, but Edward puts his hand on her shoulder before she can argue. “Now is not the time,” he says to his wife. “Nevaeh’s health is our priority. What’s being done regarding this tumor?”
“At this time, we’re monitoring the bleeding in her brain. Once the swelling goes down, we will lower the meds and little by little slowly wake her up.”
“The tumor is bleeding?” I ask. “Why can’t you go in and remove it, then?”
“Not the tumor,” the doctor clarifies. “There’s minor internalbleeding from where she hit her head. When she was first brought in, we ran tests and believe she suffered from a seizure, which could be why she hit her head. The gentleman who found her on the side of the road said she was lying there alone. We don’t know how long she was suffering and we won’t know if any permanent damage was done until she wakes up and we run more tests.”
Jesus, fuck. What the hell happened to her? Why was she by herself? None of this makes any damn sense. She wouldn’t have texted Rosco to meet her and then taken off without him, turning off her phone. I know it in my gut. Felix is responsible for this.
There’s a knock on the door and then Nevaeh’s doctor walks in. “Dr. Bromfield.” I shake his hand. “This is Nevaeh’s mom and dad, Susan and Edward. And Nevaeh’s best friend, Blaire.”
“Nice to meet you,” the doctor says politely. “I looked over Nevaeh’s chart before I came in here and was caught up on what Dr. Boyles probably already told you.”
The doctor nods in agreement. “I’ve caught them up to speed, yes.”
“So, what now?” Blaire asks.
“Now we wait for the swelling to go down and then wake her up,” Dr. Bromfield says.
