Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 136743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 684(@200wpm)___ 547(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 684(@200wpm)___ 547(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
A collage of care, a dozen ways he has demonstrated his feelings for me. I know how fiercely he loves those boys. I’m sure his ex-wife will be there, and probably her husband too, but something screams in my head that I should be there. The hole that has been aching beside me since our last conversation—I can’t let him feel that way now. This is what you do to support and be there for the ones you love.
Love?
I stumble, my shoe getting caught on the kitchen rug, or maybe it’s my mind stumbling on this new realization.
Love?
“I’m sorry, Mom,” Inez says, her words hitting my back as I race to the garage door.
I stop and turn, taking a second to study her. “Why, honey? It’s not your fault. I just need to know Adam’s… that Judah…”
Worry crowds my throat and lodges a knot under my ribs.
“I mean I’m sorry for…” Inez licks her lips, eyes cast down. “For before.”
I walk over to her, bracketing her face between my palms and looking into her eyes. “We’re good, honey. I love you.”
“I love you too.” She leans into my shoulder and mumbles into my shirt. “I hope he’s okay.”
“He will be.”
I give her a quick kiss, rush out to the garage, and pray the whole way to the hospital that my words are true.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
JUDAH
He’s gonna be fine.”
At the doctor’s proclamation, I breathe for what feels like the first time in a year. The relief is dizzying, and I slump against the wall of the hospital room, swiping a shaking hand over my face.
“Jesus.” Tremaine sinks to the chair beside Adam’s bed and drops her face into her hands. “Thank you.”
“I told you I’m fine,” Adam says, though he looks worse for wear with the white bandage eclipsing part of his forehead.
“They probably just wanted a second opinion,” the attending physician, Dr. Carolton, says with a kind smile. “I’m sorry your neurologist is on vacation, but I can assure you the CAT scan shows typical seizure activity for Adam’s condition. We feel confident the complication came from the blow to his head when he fell.”
“He’s never been out like that,” I say. “Even if he hit his head before, we were always able to wake him up.”
“I wasn’t on the scene, of course,” Dr. Carolton says. “But the EMT indicated Adam gained consciousness very soon after they attended to him.”
“Yeah.” Adam nods. “My head hurt, but it was kinda fun riding in the ambulance.”
Tremaine gives him an incredulous, chastising look. “Boy, if you don’t—”
“Maybe we can talk later about how much ‘fun’ it was, Son,” I say. “I don’t think your mom’s ready for that yet.”
“He’s on new medication.” Tremaine shakes her head. “I knew we needed to monitor him more carefully.”
“Hey.” I touch her shoulder and wait for her to look at me. “The new meds have reduced seizures by seventy percent. They’re working, but he probably won’t ever be one hundred percent seizure-free. We know this. We’re getting good results and doing the best we can do.”
“Your husband’s right,” Dr. Carolton comments. “The complication came from the head injury, not the seizure itself.”
“Oh, we’re not married,” Tremaine says. “Not anymore.”
“You didn’t have to say it like that,” I half joke, glad after the last few harrowing hours to find some levity. “Damn, Maine.”
She cracks a smile, the first since we arrived in a panic here at the hospital, and shakes her head, rolling her eyes. “You know what I mean. That reminds me, I need to call Kent. He was trying to get a flight out of Chicago when he heard what happened. I may just tell him to come home tomorrow like originally planned if we’re out of the woods?”
She directs the last of the question to Dr. Carolton.
“Oh, yes.” Dr. Carolton hangs Adam’s medical chart on the foot of his bed. “In cases like these, we like to take precaution and observe overnight in case of concussion, but from what we’re seeing, he should be fine.”
“Can I stay with him?” Tremaine’s voice breaks with relief, belying her placid demeanor.
“I think we can arrange that.” Dr. Carolton offers an understanding smile.
“Cool,” Adam says casually, but I’m sure he’s thrilled he doesn’t have to stay in the hospital alone.
“We’ll get a cot in here,” Dr. Carolton says before leaving with promises that a nurse will come through soon.
“Where’s Aaron?” Adam asks.
“Ms. Coleman picked him up from school.” Tremaine turns to me. “But with you and Adam not at the house by now, he might start to get anxious soon, Judah.”
I walk over to the hospital bed. “I’m gonna go home to check on your brother, okay?” I lean down to kiss Adam’s cheek.
“Okay.” Adam raises anxious eyes. “Make sure he knows I’ll be back tomorrow and that I’m okay.”
“I will.” I look to Tremaine. “Walk me out?”