Page 108 of His North Star
Why weren’t they coming to tell us how he was doing? Was he in surgery? Would he make it?
I pulled up my e-book app. After staring at the same page for over twenty minutes, I gave up. I hadn’t taken a full breath since Charlie called.
“We shouldn’t have been out there,” James said, full of remorse.
Charlie shook his head. “You couldn’t have known that would happen.”
“I should’ve stayed home and packed like I planned.”
“When do you leave?” I asked.
“Saturday.”
So soon? Didn’t he still have a few weeks left?
“Where are you moving to?” Charlie asked, leaning his elbows on his knees.
“Missoula. I got a job close to home.”
“Good for you,” Gregory said. “Home is the most important place to be.”
I eyed Ty’s dad. Did he regret divorcing his wife and moving away from his sons?
“Thanks,” James said without a smile. “I’m looking forward to it.”
James snuck a glance at me, and I offered him a reassuring smile in return.
“Missoula is lucky to have you back,” I said. “Maybe Ty and I can come visit you sometime.” Had Ty told James he was in love with me? I shook my head. It didn’t matter. James and I already resolved our situation, and my only concern right now was Ty.
“I’d like that. Thanks, Maren.”
A hush fell over us. I stared out the window as cars came and went while repeating, “Let Ty be okay. Let Ty be okay. Let Ty be okay.” Denise asked for another update at the reception desk. The only information she had was that he was stable and they were running more tests.
Stable was good. It was better than wondering if he was knocking on death’s door.
Three hours later—seven since Ty came in—a doctor came to find me. Not the family. Me. The fiancée.
“Are you Maren Meyers?”
I stood. “Yes. This is Ty’s family.” I gestured to the others.
“It’s good you’re all here. He’ll need your support.”
“Is my baby okay?” Denise cried out.
Charlie put an arm around his mom’s shoulders. Greg stood, stuffing his hands in his pants pocket.
I reached out for James’s hand, needing support.
The doctor’s voice was even. “His body took quite the beating. He has a severe linear skull fracture, a dislocated shoulder, broken ribs, and numerous bruises along his left side.”
With every word spoken, a piece of my heart broke. At this point, was any part of my heart intact?
“But he’ll be okay?” Gregory asked. “He’ll recover with no lingering issues?”
The doctor nodded. “Yes. He’ll need time and some physical therapy, but considering how things could have turned out, he’s pretty lucky.”
“Can we see him?” I asked. I had no claim to visit him before his brother and parents. But I couldn’t leave until I spoke to Ty. Who cared if we didn’t get our perfect dinner followed by rugby? All that mattered was that Ty knew how much I loved him. Wanted him as more than a friend.
