Page 64 of Affinity

“I’ll try,” she sobbed.

Never in my life had I driven faster than I did that night. I put my hazards on in the hope that if the police spotted me, they would understand there was a reason I was driving like a bat out of hell.

Pulling up to the entrance, I threw the keys to the valet as I hopped out, shoving the ticket into my pants pocket as I rushed inside to find Abbi. The only problem was I’d never been to the hospital, so I had no idea where I was going.

Sprinting to the front desk, I panted out. “My wife, Abbi Jenner, was in a car accident and was brought in. Where can I find her?”

A little old lady with gray hair and cat-eye glasses smiled up at me before she typed something in on her computer. “She’s still in the ER. Would you like a map?”

“Please,” I all but begged.

I watched as she highlighted on the piece of paper how to get from where we were to the ER. I didn’t think I could have been further from it if I tried.

“Thank you,” I added as I snatched the paper out of her hand.

“You’re welcome. I hope your wife is alright.”

Me, too.

This was my fault. I should never have let her drive herself to work. I should have hired a driver or made her order an Uber. After walking around in what seemed like circles for twenty minutes, I finally found the ER. A woman with a deep scowl sat behind Plexiglas as she busily typed. After standing there for a few moments without a response, I cleared my throat. She looked up at me briefly before she went back to typing.

Clearing my throat again, I spoke quietly so the waiting room wouldn’t hear. “My wife was brought in not long ago. She was in a car accident. Can you tell me what room she’s in?”

“Name?” she asked in a monotone voice, her eyes still on her computer screen.

“Abbi Jenner.”

“And you are?”

Leaning closer, I answered. “Her husband, Reeves Jenner.”

“She’s in room six.”

“Great. Can you tell me how to find room six?” If the ER was anything like the rest of the hospital, I’d be lucky to find it on my own.

“Just through that door,” she pointed to one on her left. “I have to hit a button for you to be able to enter. Then you’ll go straight until you pass the nurses’ station where you’ll then take a right. Her room will be on the left side of the hall.”

“Thank you.” I could do that. It seemed simple. I stood waiting for the door to open, but nothing happened. My patience was hanging by a loose thread as I waited. “Can I go back and see her now?”

She typed something else before she nodded, and the door opened for me. Taking off in a jog, I followed her directions until I reached the room that read six.

Swinging open the door, I found three other people in the room surrounding a barely recognizable Abbi. Her face was black and blue, both her eyes were swollen almost completely shut, and she had a nasty scratch on her cheek. Her neck, chest, and arms were red and irritated, but even with all that was wrong with her, she was still beautiful to me. I was so happy she was alive.

Rushing toward her, I was stopped by a short and stalky woman. “Are you related to the patient?”

“Yes, I’m her husband. Is she okay?” I asked as I tried to get by the woman, but she continued to block me.

“Jenner?” Abbi moaned as she tried to open one of her eyes.

“I’m here, baby. Right here. Are you okay?” I wanted to push the nurse out of the way so I could get to my wife, but I held back.

“They say I need surgery on my leg, and they think I have internal bleeding.” A tear slipped down her bruised cheek down to the corner of her mouth.

“Can I please go to my wife?” I begged. Couldn’t they at least let me hold her hand?

“Only for a moment. We’re getting her ready to take her upstairs into surgery.”

She moved out of the way, and I darted to Abbi’s side.

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