“The doctor will be in in a few minutes. I’ll stay until then if you want.”
“Yeah, yeah. All right.” Whatever was best for Lauren.
Chapter 4
Lauren heard Carson shift on the bedside chair, but she kept her eyes closed. He’d said she needed to rest and she was trying to do just that. But she kept reliving that terrible panic and praying it wouldn’t come back. Between that and the fuzzy thinking, she couldn’t calm herself.
Fortunately, it wasn’t long before someone slipped into the room—the doctor, judging by his scrubs and lab coat. He was bald with warm brown skin and a kind smile.
“Hello, young lady. I am Dr. Kadambi.”
“Lauren Wentworth.”
“Congratulations. You have already passed my first test.” His gaze flickered to Carson. “You are friends with Miss Wentworth? It is good if someone who knows the patient is present for the questions.”
“Ah, in that case, I think it would be better to bring Jonah back in. That okay, Lauren?”
She pressed her lips together. “I guess.”
“Tell me how you are feeling,” the doctor said as Carson left the room.
“My head’s a little better.” The nurse had put something in the IV. “I’m a little nauseated.”
“We can get you something for that. Any weakness, tingling, or numbing anywhere?”
“Um... no.”
“The light is off, so I assume your eyes are sensitive?”
“Yes.”
“This probably will not be pleasant, but I need to check your pupils.” He leaned in and shone the light in her eyes. “Good. Now follow the light with your eyes only. Good, good.”
She heard Jonah slip into the room, but she was still seeing spots from the light.
“Come in, Jonah. I am Dr. Kadambi and I will be asking Lauren some questions. We may need a bit of help.”
“Okay.” Jonah came as far as the chair and perched on the edge of it.
“Lauren, can you tell me where we are?”
“At the hospital. Pinehaven Hospital.”
“What happened to bring you in today?”
“I... I fell.”
“I told you that,” Jonah said. “I had to tell her that twice. She didn’t remember falling.”
Dr. Kadambi raised his brows at her.
She thought hard. Back to the last thing she remembered. She wanted to prove Jonah wrong. But she couldn’t recall the accident. “I—I don’t really remember falling.”
“That is not unusual with a concussion. You might never remember the moments before the accident. What is the last thing you remember?”
“Um...” She thought back. “We were on the pier. I just came back from a boat ride.”
“That’s right.” Jonah voice was laced with excitement. “That was this afternoon.”
