Page 13 of Shimmering Emeralds
I was hanging back, uncertain what to do with my hands. I felt unneeded, yet there was no place in the world I would rather be than helping Meg through this inconceivable tragedy.
The doctor continued. “You’ll notice the lighting in this room is dimmer than the rest of the hospital’s glaring fluorescent bulbs and the temperature is quite cool. Those are intentional ways to help keep her stimulation low so her brain has time to rest and recover. You can stay in here as long as you speak quietly and don’t create any loud noises that might cause a pressure spike in her brain, which could adversely affect her recuperation time.”
We both nodded our understanding of those instructions and agreement to comply. Neither of us would do anything that might risk further injury to the precious child.
Meg’s phone chose that time to beep obnoxiously with an incoming text. Meg scrambled to push the button to quiet the device.
The doctor gave her a knowing smile on the way out before saying, “It might be a good time to put your phone on vibrate.”
Meg nodded before her eyes darted down to check the phone’s display screen. She stared at the words for a long time before revealing, “Danica’s here.”
My swallow sounded audibly as I stared blankly at the mint green hospital room walls. I couldn’t even imagine what angry, bitter words Meg’s best friend, Dani, would have to say about me being here.
11
Meg
Icouldn’t begin to express how relieved I was that Danica was back in town. She was, and always had been, my person. My mother and Claire were both vital, loving, and reassuring presences in my life; but Dani was my staunchest supporter and confidant. She was my very best friend, and the one I always turned to and leaned on during difficult times in my life. She was also the only one who knew my secret.
Claire and Mom cared about and supported me, but they were obliged to be there for me because of our family connection. We were blood relatives, so they had to have my back. Dani was my rock because shewantedto be in my life. It was a subtle difference, but it existed.
Besides, Claire had always been consumed by her love for Alex, and although Mother didn’t admit it aloud, she was still nursing a severely broken heart over my father’s abandonment of us––even all these years later.
Dani never made me feel like I came in second to anyone. Her perfect grades were the only thing that had ever taken priority over me. I couldn’t begrudge her that choice, though, because her brilliance and dedication had recently earned her a medical degree. Her lifetime of hard work was finally paying off, and I couldn’t be prouder of her.
It wasn’t long after I texted her the hospital’s room number that my best friend rushed into the room like a whiff of fresh air. She was carrying a bright bouquet of wildflowers. Her hair was a windblown mess, but she somehow still looked fantastic.
“Dani!” I intentionally inserted some enthusiasm into my tone, despite the dire circumstances of our reunion. “Or should I call you Dr. Waters now?”
Dani shook her head. “That still sounds so strange. I think of my mother as being Dr. Waters, not me. But I guess I’d better get used to it.”
I nodded, but my eyes darted back down to my daughter’s bed. Looking away from the little girl made me worry that I might miss an important movement or sign.
Dani approached the bed and looked down at Harper. “Aww, Meggy. I’m so sorry this happened.”
I understood her sentiment, even though she had nothing to apologize for. Before I could tell her that, Levi spoke.
“Meggy?” His expression was tinged with amusement for the first time all day.
Narrowing my eyes into slits as I glared across the bed at him, I said, “Dani is the only one with permission to call me that. Anyone else that tries it will face immediate death.”
He held up his hands in mock surrender before saying, “Understood.”
As if suddenly realizing he was there, Dani’s gaze locked onto Levi. She openly scowled at him as if he had just peed on her favorite Louboutin pumps. Even though she was looking at him, she asked me, “What ishedoing here?”
I wasn’t sure I even knew why Levi was here, but I was fully aware that a mysterious, deeply-hidden piece of my heart didn’t want him to leave. Knowing she wasn’t going to appreciate this answer one bit, but deciding she would find out soon through the town’s churning rumor mill anyway, I said, “Levi was driving the school bus that crashed.”
“So, he’s the reason Harper’s in here?” Dani’s eyes flashed with instant fury when they darted to me, as if she was unwilling to continue looking in his direction.
My gaze darted to Levi in time to see the guilty, forlorn expression draw his features down. I hated that look, and as much as I wanted to have someone to blame and lash out at for this tragedy, I knew it shouldn’t be Levi. He would likely fully take responsibility for it, since he obviously already believed himself to be at fault, and I didn’t want to add to his pain.
“No,” I shook my head to back up the word. “It was an accident.”
Despite my words to his defense, Levi still looked like he had just accidentally sat down on Dani’s teacup Chihuahua. Knowing that I wouldn’t be able to convince him otherwise with Dani here shooting eye darts at him, I turned to ask the woman, “Why are you here?”
“What a warm welcome.” She smiled to let me know that she was just teasing as she set the crystal vase of flowers she’d brought on the bedside table and began arranging them to her liking.
“Oh, I’m so glad to see you,” I clarified before adding, “But you’re a big city doctor now. I can’t believe you could take time off and race up here so quickly.”
