Page 25 of Crash
The last forty-eight hours have been an emotional roller coaster, to say the least. Neither family was wanting to go home, so instead, we were given the use of one of the large family waiting areas, rotating being the bedside care of Tessa. The doctors kept her sedated most of the first night due to her immense pain following the emergency surgery to repair her leg and the removal of her spleen. She’ll have a small scar on the side of her face from the gash caused by the broken glass, but she’s still beautiful to me. Now she’s on a regular medication schedule where they wean her off the heavy hitters and try to get her pain managed with less drugs. Her attitude hasn’t been the best.
“Here, I bought you some coffee,” her dad says, entering her room.
“Thanks.” I take the hot beverage.
His hands tremble, and I place mine over his in a show of comfort before standing and offering him my seat.
“I still don’t know why this happened to my baby.” He takes a long look at Tessa who’s asleep at this moment.
“Mr. Gordon, we will never know why some things happen and we can’t prevent them either. I keep replaying how we were on the phone and then ten minutes later, I’m answering a call for an accident and she’s the victim.”
Her father’s facial expression appears to be perplexed, and I think he’s going over what I said, but he turns the tables quickly. “Why were you on the phone with her, Austin?” He looks at me while he takes a sip of his strong brew.
I grow hot under my collar. I can’t lie to him, and at the same time, I didn’t think about the fact we haven’t told our parents we are an item. Not to mention we begged Courtney not to say anything. “Well, uh, Mr. Gordon. You see, Tessa called me, because, I, uh —”
“Because we’re dating, Dad. We started seeing each other this weekend,” Tessa says, awakening from her sleep.
Acknowledging her, I grab her hand and gently squeeze it before placing a kiss on her forehead.
“Oh. So, when the police officer came up here last night to give us her phone, and said he was looking for her boyfriend, he was talking about you?”
“Yes, sir. I’m sorry you had to find out this way.”
“Pssh, we were just wondering when it was going to happen.” He waves me off.
“What do you mean, Dad?” She presses the button to adjust the bed so she can sit up and motions for a glass of water.
I pour her a cup while she holds her father’s gaze, waiting on an answer. Before she can, her mother and my parents walk through the door and head to the bedside seeing Tessa is alert. I step back, giving way for her mother to be by her side, and exit the room. I’m sure they want to have this time with her. Strolling down the hall towards the exit, my name is being echoed.
“Austin, I know you hear me calling you.” Courtney is in better spirits than the last time we spoke. She has been holding down Tessa’s classes and taking all her calls. For a brief moment last night, all her students came up here to visit and sign her cast. Courtney had some of the girls draw flowers and others painted.
“Hey, sis,” I respond, and give her a hug.
“Eew. You look like Hell’s best friend. When are you going home? Tessa is fine, and her parents are here. So go, shower, shave, sleep.”
I rub my scruff at her mention of much needed grooming. “Not leaving until she’s released.”
“What about your job?”
“I took a leave. I have the time saved, that’s for sure. I plan on being there to help her through her recovery.”
“Bro, we both know how Tessa is. Even in her moments of calm and shyness, she’s strong and obstinate as hell. She is determined and independent. Her allowing you to help will be a change in character and a fight for certain.”
“She’s just gonna have to deal with it, ’cause I’m not leaving her side until that cast comes off, therapy is complete, and she dances her first dance.”
Courtney stares at me with an endearing gaze. “So, let me understand. You are willing to burn off all your personal leave to make sure she recovers?”
“Yeah. I keep thinking about how she worked her ass off to get this dance tour off the ground, and one accident, one careless person, erases all of that. Halting all her dreams and goals. I just want to be there and push her to get back to what she wants and deserves. She shouldn’t have to go through this because some asshole was on his phone and not paying attention to the fucking road. She could’ve lost her fucking life, Court. Her fucking life.” My emotions get the best of me, and all I’ve been holding in for the past three days comes to the surface. Tears stream, and a wall meets my fist when I think how I finally got the right one in my life and how she was nearly snatched from me.
Courtney embraces me and guides me to a seating area in the lobby, and I let go. This is an awkward moment between us since I’m the one usually wiping the tears.
“Austin?” a sweet voice calls to me.
I clear my throat and wipe my face then turn to respond. “Hey, Mrs. Gordon.” I stand to greet her, and she hugs me instead.
“We were wondering where you got off to. Tessa is looking for you.”
“Okay. She’s probably wanting me to go grab her something to drink or eat.”
