Page 29 of The Bad Boy's Homecoming
All Missy could do was stare at Levi with yarn in his lap while holding a large book.“Hi, oh I bet you’re thirsty.”He shuffled to grab a cup with a bendy straw and stretched it out to her lips.
She took a sip, unable to resist, and then tried to sit up higher on the weird bed.But one arm was trapped in some contraption that kept it elevated just above the bed and she ended up falling back on her pillow.
“Are we at the hospital still?”she asked.
“Ya, we brought you in a few hours ago after the accident.Dalton said you needed to stay the night,” Levi said.“So we’re having a reading, knitting sleepover.”
She didn’t know how to respond.And wondered if she was still dreaming.
“Missy,” Dalton said, appearing in the doorway.“You’re up a little earlier than I expected, but you slept a few hours.”
“Why are you all in my room, and why does my hand still hurt so much?”she asked.
“After we cleaned your hand and gave you some pain meds, we immobilized it to make sure you don’t bump it while you slept,” Dalton said.“And my persistent family thought you wouldn’t want to be alone, so they’ve been sitting here reading to you,” Dalton said.“Your cousin felt bad he had to get the boys to bed and authorized it.”
Missy smiled as their grandmother held up her knitting.“Levi’s been reading to us while I knit you something cozy.”
“Oh.”She didn’t know what to say.She was surprised but also really grateful to have them all there.
“How about you two give me a few minutes with Missy.I need to check her vitals, and she may need another dose of pain reliever,” Dalton said, ushering them out.
“We’ll just be out in the hall if you need us,” Levi said over his shoulder as he exited with Mrs.Hart, and Dalton closed the door.
“They’ve been pretty worried,” Dalton said.“Okay, now I need you to be honest—on a scale of one to ten, how bad is the pain?”
“I’m about a seven.Is it normal for it to feel like needles are poking my hand?”she asked.
“Yes.Most likely a good sign.All the numbing medicine is wearing off, and now we have to see how much more pain reliever you need.”
“I can’t believe I was so clumsy.”
“Missy, I have to ask, did you get dizzy before you accidentally burned your hand?”
“No.”
“Did anyone push you?”
“No,” she said, surprised at the question.
“Okay, I just have a duty to you as my patient to protect your health and safety and I have to rule out any other causes.”
“No, I’m just a klutz and maybe a little jumpy.”
“Do you want to talk about why that might be?”Dalton said, looking at her as he took her temperature.
“Do I have to?”
“No, but as your doctor, I need to let you know if you are in any unsafe relationships.There are resources.People can protect you, but you have to talk to me.”
“I’m safe now.”
He nodded.“Okay.Can I count on you to let me or Wesley know if that changes?”
“Yes.”She swallowed the lump in her throat.
“As your doctor I also want to say, if you ever want to talk to me or maybe you’d rather talk to Brooke, we’re always available and anything you tell us is protected as part of your medical information.”
“Thank you, Doctor Hart.”
