Page 31 of Shimmering Emeralds
After a long moment of silence, Meg asked me, “Is it terrible that I’m jealous of all of those other parents that got to take their children home? Their kids are walking, talking, and playing like kids should, but my baby is stuck here.”
“You wouldn’t be human if you didn’t feel some injustice. It’s a shitty situation, and I can’t apologize to you enough for my part in it.”
Ignoring my comment, Meg bolted upright again and said, “It was only out of the corner of my eye, but I could swear that I just saw Harper’s leg move!”
27
Meg
We turned on the lights and called the night nurse, but she didn’t seem to think the movement I saw was nearly as big of a deal as I did.
“There may be some reflex movement, Ms. Stark, but it doesn’t necessarily mean she’s waking up,” she reminded me in a bland tone, like the words were a tired line that she uttered a thousand times a day.
She did a perfunctory check of Harper’s vital signs, but refused to call the doctor.
I glared at the woman, willing her to say that these signs of movement were encouraging and that my little girl would wake up soon. When she didn’t, I felt like screaming. The only thing that kept me from it was the knowledge that it wouldn’t be good for Harper. The next time I was at home alone, I would let loose with a screaming and crying tirade that would make the reality television housewives look meek and mild.
After the nurse left, I whirled on Levi. “It almost feels like they don’t want us to have any hope.”
“I think they’re trying not to give usfalsehope,” he said rationally.
His words made sense, but I needed someone to blame for how unfair it was that my daughter’s life was suspended in this state indefinitely.
It was tempting to lash out at Levi, but I knew he already blamed himself enough. If I tacked my anger and condemnation onto his, he would likely never forgive himself.
Levi dimmed the lights again and walked toward our tiny bed. “We should try to get some sleep.”
I doubted I would be able to doze off, but knew that I should try. I walked to the side closest to Harper’s bed and said, “I want this side, so I can watch for any further movement.”
“Sounds good,” Levi said, already walking around the bed to the other side. “I prefer this side anyway.”
I couldn’t help smiling as I turned my back to him and situated myself on the bed so that I was facing Harper. Once my head hit the pillow, I revealed, “And I prefer this one.”
Looping an arm around my abdomen and spooning up against me, Levi murmured, “We make the perfect team.”
I sagged into his warm embrace and closed my eyes.
“Well,well, well… Don’t you two look cozy all snuggled up together?” My sister, Claire, said from the wheelchair that her husband, Alex, was pushing into the room.
I blinked several times, trying to come to terms with the fact that it was daylight. Although I hadn’t believed that I would be able to sleep at all, I’d evidently conked out.
Trying to keep the guilty expression off my face, I sat up and looked at my sister. Levi and I hadn’t done anything wrong, but I had the distinct feeling that I’d just been caught swiping the last piece of someone else’s birthday cake.
Claire looked frighteningly pale, and I was stunned to see that she was still wearing a standard issue hospital gown. She must have had too much on her mind to send Alex to retrieve her favorite, soft robe.
Alex wheeled her over to the far side of Harper’s bed. Her eyes shone with unshed tears as she looked down at my daughter. Reaching out to fuss with the little girl’s blankets, she said, “She just looks like she’s asleep.”
I stood and crossed the short distance to Harper’s bed. When Levi got up to head to the room’s bathroom, my sister gave me a pointed look, but she didn’t question me about Levi’s presence.
I leaned down to kiss my daughter’s cheek. “Good morning, sweetheart.”
“Can she hear us?” Claire asked.
Even though I wasn’t positive of the answer, I needed to believe that she could, so I nodded my answer.
Claire smiled down at the little girl before saying, “Hey, sweet Harper. It’s Aunt Claire. You need to be strong and fight your way back to us because we all miss you very much. We love you and want you to wake up as soon as you can.”
Reaching down to retrieve something from her wheelchair, Claire went on. “Hannah wanted me to bring Snickers to stay with you because he always helps her feel better.”
