Page 56 of Fractured Hope
“No problem. See you.” With a wave, he left.
“You don’t need to go with him?” I asked Max.
“No, we came separately. I thought you might need a ride home and thought it was safer if I drove you both.” Max grasped Atticus’s shoulder reassuringly.
Atticus gripped Max’s hand.
“Thanks, Max. Are you sure it’s okay that we stay with you?” I looked into his warm brown eyes.
“I’m sure.”
Atticus’s doctor came back in then, and Theo stiffened in his seat.
“You’re good to go. Sally here—” He gestured over his shoulder at the petite blond nurse who followed him in. “—has all your paperwork and a script for painkillers. If your symptoms get worse or you notice anything out of the ordinary, come right back in. Head injuries are no joke.” With a stiff nod, he left as quickly as he’d entered.
Sally came over and handed me the paperwork with a kind smile. “Here’s the discharge paperwork, script, and concussion care instructions.”
Theo relaxed as soon as the doctor left. He sent Sally a smile, rising to give her a hug. “How are you? How was maternity leave? How’s baby Dylan doing?”
“Wonderful,” she said with a faraway smile. “He’s amazing. I couldn’t have asked for a better baby. You’ll have to come over soon and visit.”
“That’d be great, just let me know when.”
Turning back to us, Sally checked over Atticus’s bandages. “I’ll need to bring you a wheelchair so you can leave. Hospital policy I’m afraid. Do you have any clothes to change into? Your jeans are still mostly fine.” She pulled a basket out from beside the bed that I hadn’t noticed was there. “Your shirt was cut offand you were covered in blood. I can grab a scrub shirt from the nurse’s station if you’d like.”
“No, it’s okay. Mama brought me a change of clothes.”
“I’ll just grab a bag for you to put those jeans in. Be right back.” She placed the basket at the foot of the bed and left the room.
“We’ll step out,” Theo added as he and Max headed for the door.
I assisted Atticus to slowly sit up with the help of the electronic bed.
Sally popped back in with a reusable plastic bag. “Here you are. I’ll leave you to get dressed and give Theo the wheelchair. Take care of yourself.” She nodded in farewell and left again.
I carefully helped Atticus dress. He was obviously in pain, moving slowly and stiffly.
“When can you have another pain pill? You’re clearly hurting.” I leaned down and kissed his cheek as I helped pull his jeans up his legs before he stood to finish the job.
“I’m not sure. Soon, I think. I can tell it’s wearing off.” Grimacing, he shifted to allow me to help him with his shoes.
Once he was fully dressed, he sat back on the bed while I went to let Theo and Max know we were ready to go.
“You look more human now,” Theo said as he entered with the wheelchair. “Since I know you’re staying with Max now, I’ll let Mama know and try and encourage her to bring food by tomorrow so you can at least rest tonight. I’m not making any promises, though. You know what she’s like when one of us is injured, even if we’re adults.”
“I know all too well.” Atticus moaned as he shifted into the wheelchair with Theo’s help.
We left the hospital very quickly after that.
I gave Theo the script, and he said he would get it filled and bring it by Max’s right away. Max helped me settle Atticus intothe front seat of his Ford Expedition SSV, and I quickly returned the wheelchair, then hopped in the back.
Max insisted we stop by Atticus’s to grab the essentials before going to his house, so he headed that way. Once we arrived, Max made us stay in the SUV while he checked over the house. When he assured me the coast was clear, I hurried inside as quickly as my walking boot would allow and awkwardly grabbed some clothes and toiletries for Atticus, as well as all my belongings. Thanks to Atticus I had more possessions now than when I’d arrived. Throwing everything into a large suitcase I found in the closet, I did one final check to make sure I had enough for a few days, then headed for the door.
I couldn’t help but pause in the living room, taking in the still beautiful tent. Smiling to myself, I quickly ducked into the tent and grabbed the lube bottle, just in case, adding that to the front pocket of the suitcase.
26
ATTICUS
