Page 9 of Shimmering Emeralds
“Wait. Isn’t it too early for her to be in labor? Is everything okay?” My eyes frantically searched their faces for clues.
Alex was the first to respond. “It is early, but the doctor told us that she has made it far enough along that the baby is fully developed. It’s not ideal, and they’re trying to slow her progression, but it’s looking like we might be having a baby today.”
“Two babies in one day,” my mother didn’t bother to hide her snarky tone.
I didn’t appreciate the situation Alex had put Claire in either, but the rational side of me knew it hadn’t been intentional on his part. Alex loved Claire with all of his heart. My significant doubts about him had been eradicated, and I was now sure of his undying love for my sister.
Ignoring his mother-in-law’s barbs, Alex said to Hannah, “Are you ready to go see Mommy?”
“Yes,” she nodded enthusiastically.
Turning back to me, he said, “We’ll be right upstairs. Keep us updated. Claire is worried sick, and she’d be here with you if she could.”
I nodded to acknowledge that and added, “Same goes for you. Let us know how things are going and tell Claire I love her.”
“Will do,” he promised, but he was already turning to leave, his heart and mind obviously focused on his wife.
After he left, the chaos in the busy waiting room escalated as more injured children and frightened parents arrived from the scene of the accident. It seemed like I was watching it all from under water, since the sights and sounds were muffled by the icy terror for my own child’s safety that clutched my heart.
I have no idea how much time passed. It could have only been minutes, although it seemed like an eternity. Finally, a small group of doctors emerged from the double doors.
“Mrs. Stark?” One of them announced loudly.
I waved my hand and stood, not bothering to correct the short woman about the title that insinuated I was married. The blood all drained from my face, and Levi took ahold of my arm to steady me when she said, “I wish I had better news for you.”
8
Levi
Itried to focus on what the petite, weary-looking doctor was saying, but I didn’t understand most of the words that were coming out of her mouth. She tossed frightening words like subdural hematoma and craniotomy out at us as if they should make sense to my muddled brain.
All three of us stared at her with wide eyes as she spoke, sharing the worst news any of us had ever received. Although much of what she said went over my head, I believed the gist of her speech to be that Harper had suffered a traumatic brain injury and that she was in a coma.
“How long?” Meg’s voice came out sounding strained when she stared at the doctor with terrified eyes and asked the one question that we were all wondering the answer to.
“That, we just don’t know.” The doctor removed her New England Patriots-themed skull cap and brushed a hand through her short, spiky hair as if she knew that this was not at all the response we had hoped to hear.
When we merely blinked at her, stunned into silence, she elaborated. “She might surprise us and wake up tomorrow, or it could be months from now,” her voice lowered perceptibly when she added, “Or not at all.”
Meg’s hand went up to cover her mouth as she processed that last bit. The pain etched onto her face nearly made my knees buckle, but I knew I needed to remain strong for her.
“Please, there must be something you can do.” Meg pleaded with the doctor.
“I’m sorry, ma’am. I’m afraid we’re in a watch and wait situation. You’ve got a strong little girl in there. Be brave for her. Once she’s set up in a private room, you’ll be able to come back and see her.”
With that, the doctor turned and her stone-faced entourage followed her back through the swinging doors. All three of us stood in stunned silence watching the doors swing back and forth after their departure.
“I didn’t… I didn’t understand all of that. Did you?” Meg turned to her mother, obviously hoping the older woman would have some sage words of wisdom.
“What I understood is that these doctors don’t know anything.” Stella’s voice escalated in volume as the sentence progressed.
I knew the woman’s agitation wasn’t doing anything to help Meg’s state of mind, but I wasn’t sure what to say to help calm either of them. I’d understood enough of what the doctor said to know they were considering drilling a hole into the child’s skull to reduce the pressure. The mere idea of that sent a chill straight down my spine, so I couldn’t imagine how much it must terrify Meg.
Meg shook her head, unwilling or unable to accept the doctor’s prognosis. Her voice sounded thin and weak when she spoke. “But she was fine. She was talking to me and helping us look for Hannah. This can’t be right. She was okay after the accident.”
She looked first to her mother, and then to me for back-up. I knew she wanted us to tell her that the doctors had made a mistake and that Harper would come running through those doors at any moment, but we couldn’t give her that kind of false hope. It wouldn’t be fair to the fragile, hurting woman.
For the first time since I’d met her years ago, Stella remained quiet. Her silence put the burden of responding to Meg’s pleading tone on my shoulders.
