Page 12 of Shimmering Emeralds
“Better?” Levi asked, looking truly concerned.
I nodded, thinking how strange it was to have someone taking care of and worried about me. I was used to being the mothering one, not the recipient of tender ministrations.
We sat there so long the ice melted. The waiting room around us slowly cleared out as loved ones emerged from the emergency room and went home with their families.
Levi continued to hold the bag of cold water against my ankle with one hand as if removing it might cause further injury. My butt had gone to sleep and was tingling with uncomfortable pins and needles, but I was reluctant to shift and risk losing the warmth of Levi’s free hand, which was casually resting on my shin. Even through my jeans, I could feel the heat radiating from his touch.
“I should get some fresh ice,” Levi said as he sat up and carefully lowered my leg from its perch on his.
As I had suspected, the removal of his comforting touch made my heart ache even worse. I had to struggle to keep from allowing my shoulders to hunch forward and my chest to cave in from the unrelenting pressure.
Just as he was standing to head to the ice machine, the double doors swung open and the doctor who had spoken to us earlier ambled out. This time she was alone. Rather than searching around or calling out a name, she headed purposefully in our direction.
My heart fell from my chest down to my knees as I tried to read the woman’s somber expression. She didn’t look like she was bringing good news.
Levi set the tied plastic bag of water aside, and we both stood up. My numb ankle protested at the weight I tried to put on it, so I leaned toward Levi. He immediately wrapped his arm around my shoulders to support me.
The doctor confirmed my suspicions by saying, “Your daughter coded.”
It was a good thing Levi was there to catch me because my knees immediately gave out from underneath me.
10
Levi
Icaught Meg as she nearly fainted. Her tiny rib cage felt even more dainty than she appeared. She evidently hid her fragility beneath bulky clothes. It was obvious that the past couple of years had been extremely hard on her. She was the strongest woman I’d ever known, but the devastating blows that kept coming to her family were too much for anyone to handle.
She needed someone to lean on, and I longed to be her rock for as long as she would allow me to stay. I never should have left her in the first place. I’d been a stupid, arrogant ass, and I’d been paying the price for that dumb, selfish decision every day since I’d made it.
The doctor leaned in and gave Meg a concerned look. Quickly righting herself, Meg assured her, “I’m okay. Please tell me the rest.”
“The swelling in her brain caused her intracranial pressure to increase to dangerous levels. This compressed her brain tissue against her skull, so in order to avoid damage to her brain stem, we had to temporarily remove a portion of her skull to decrease that pressure. She is stable now, but she is attached to some frightening-looking equipment in the intensive care unit. I can take you back to see her if you’re up to it.”
I struggled to process the doctor’s monologue. Meg’s eyelashes fluttered as she, too, worked to make sense of the dire message.
When the doctor raised her eyebrows into a questioning look, Meg nodded her head to confirm that she was ready to go see her daughter.
The doctor said, “Follow me,” and we both moved to walk behind her through the double doors.
Giving me a surprised look, the doctor said, “We need to limit visitors to immediate family only.”
I wasn’t sure how the woman knew I wasn’t the child’s father, but I nodded my head to indicate my understanding as I hung back from following them. The last thing I wanted was to let Meg go back there and face this alone, but I knew it would only make things worse for her if I caused a scene.
Meg paused for a moment to look back at me when she realized I had stopped walking by her side. Lifting her chin, she turned back to the doctor and practically dared her to object when she said, “Levi is coming with us.”
The doctor thought it over for a moment before responding quietly, “As you wish.”
I took a giant stride to catch up with them, and we all continued our trek to see Harper.
As much as I had tried to mentally prepare myself on the way to her room, I was still shocked by how helpless and frail she looked hooked up to all of the beeping and flashing medical machines. The hospital bed seemed to engulf her tiny frame.
Meg walked in and leaned over one of the bed’s railings to speak to her daughter. “Hi, sweetheart. Mama’s here, and I love you very much.” She took one of Harper’s pale hands within hers. “You are so strong and brave, and we need you to fight your way back to us.”
I had never been so proud of the fearless woman I’d always loved. Even when facing what had to be one of her biggest nightmares, she handled it with grace and dignity. I’d never seen anything quite so beautiful as Meg’s obvious overwhelming love for her little girl.
As if suddenly remembering there were others in the room, Meg glanced up at the doctor. “Can she hear us? Should I keep talking to her?”
“Absolutely.” The doctor nodded as she tapped to input a monitor reading into Harper’s electronic chart. Finishing and closing the laptop, she focused her full attention back to Meg. “Evidence shows that coma patients respond very well to hearing their loved ones’ voices, so talk to her, read to her, hold her hand. All of your natural instincts are right on track.”
