Page 60 of The Lady on Esplanade
Beau ended his pacing and looked at me closely.“An accident,” he repeated.
“Yes.So, was Felicity okay with it when she saw you?”
He reluctantly pulled his gaze away from me and resumed pacing.“To be honest, she was a little annoyed at first, so I asked if she was hungry.I figured we were in New Orleans and food is the perfect way to build bridges, so I took her to Camellia Grill for lunch, because sharing a chili cheese omelet is a great way to start a conversation.And I was right.”He shot an apologetic glance at his grandmother.“I told her that we didn’t expect her to cut ties with the Sabatiers and that I was sure we could find a way to coexist with them.”
Mimi shifted in her chair to give him a hard look.“You didn’t—”
Beau interrupted her.“Because we want her in our lives, and if that’s a condition of having her be a part of our family again, then Mimi and I will adjust.I also explained that our hands were tied regarding the kidnapping charges, because that’s a federal offense.”
I pressed my head against my pillow and closed my eyes, trying to process the deluge of information.
Cool fingers stroked my cheek.“I think Nola needs to rest,” Jolene said softly.“I’ll stay and keep everyone updated.And I’ll make sure that she calls her parents,” she added, with a hard edge to her voice.
“I don’t have time to rest,” I said.“Sarah’s arriving tomorrow, and then we’re driving to Mississippi.I still need to clean up my room before she sees it and tells Melanie.”I attempted to sit up and throw off my covers, but the nurse held me down with a firm hand and a smile that clearly said he wasn’t to be messed with.
“Oh, no, Miss Trenholm,” the doctor said.She was smiling, too, but it was the kind of smile Jolene gave me when she caught me sneaking out the door without lipstick.“I’m afraid that for the next ten to fourteen days you will need to keep your leg elevated above the heart for twenty-three hours a day.Absolutely no weight on it whatsoever—and definitely no traveling.”
“Two weeks?And then I can walk on it?”
“Not quite.If you follow my instructions, in two weeks we can put your foot in a removable boot, but even then you won’t beallowed to walk on it.”She smiled at me like a mom speaking to a toddler who wants to dive into the deep end of a pool without knowing how to swim.
She handed my chart to the nurse and leaned over me to shine a light in each of my eyes.“Everything looks good here, but we’ll want to keep you for another night for observation and to run a few more tests.Standard protocol for concussions.We’ll send you home with pain meds, as well as a schedule for upcoming appointments with a doctor and a physical therapist.If you do everything you’re supposed to, you may be able to begin weight-bearing exercises as soon as four to six weeks, depending on how well you follow instructions.”She sent me a look as if she thought I might argue.
“So can I ride my bike?That’s not a weight-bearing exercise.”
She didn’t respond right away, maybe because she was waiting to see if I was joking—which, for the record, I wasn’t.“You are technically correct.Riding a bike is not weight bearing, but falling off is, and it’s not recommended unless you’d like to compound your injury and break something else.”
She took my chart back from the nurse and jotted something down before sliding it back into the slot at the end of my bed.“Do you have any more questions for me?”
I had several, but I knew without asking that her answer to all of them would be no.I shook my head.
She said good-bye before giving Jolene an odd wave, then left, the nurse staying behind to check my vitals and perform other annoyances.
Jolene frowned down at me.“I wonder if they’ll let me bring a pretty scarf to drape around your neck to soften the harsh light.I’ll ask Sherri.”
“Sherri?”
“Yes—Dr.Longo.She and I were sorority sisters at LSU.It’s such a small world!”
“I guess that explains the pink lab coat and pearls,” I said.“Couldyou please find my phone?I think it’s best to wait until JJ’s competition is over before calling Melanie and Jack, but I need to call Sarah.Or maybe you should call Sarah.She’s going to be so disappointed not to be going to Mississippi with you.I can handle Melanie and Jack.”
“Not as disappointed as I am.At least Jaxson will still be going, so he can drive your car back.”
I tried to sit up, but Jolene gently held me down, reminding me of how her petite exterior disguised a warrior woman who could change a flat while wearing heels and repel an intruder with nothing more than a giant plastic Barbie head.
I vigorously shook my head.“Oh, no.Nope, nope, nope.If I could think clearly, I might be able to come up with a creative way to tell you what you can do with that car that doesn’t involve it being anywhere near me.Like—”
“Don’t say something you’ll regret,” Christopher said as he entered, carrying a bouquet of happy-face balloons.He was followed by Cooper, who looked as ragged as Beau but appeared to have at least changed his clothes since the accident.
I looked around at the crowd gathered in my hospital room.“Who’s minding the store?”
Christopher chuckled.“I guess you’re feeling all right.I don’t know anybody else who would worry about practical matters right after waking up from a coma.”
“I do,” Beau and I said in unison.
Christopher made room on a small table by the window for the balloons.“To answer your question, Camille and Henry.”He shared a quick glance with Mimi.“Or mostly Camille, I should say.And Trevor will be there after school to manage them.I’m actually on my way there now.I just wanted to stop by and see how you were.I’m glad to see you’re awake.”
“We all are,” Mimi said.“And I should be going, too.”She rose and began gathering her things.
