Page 81 of Shape Of My Heart
This was what it would have been like if his mother and Clarissa had been taken to a hospital after their accident, if they hadn’t been killed instantly in the crash. The waiting would have been the same and it wouldn’t have beengoodnews.
He was about to talk about the showcase when Dr. Carson came into the room. Amy leapt out ofhisarms.
“Please tell me she’ll be okay,” Amy begged. They alljoinedher.
Dr. Carson smiled. The action lifted his graying mustache and his eyes twinkled. “It’s very early to tell, but I would say she’s going to be fine,” he declared with pride. Amy threw her arms around him, hugging him hard withgratitude.
“Thank you so much,” she said over and overagain.
Her brother thanked him, too, and turned to Josh with a bright smile onhisface.
“Thank you again,” he expressed, putting his hand out to shake his. Josh took it and offered a smile. “This wouldn’t have been possiblewithoutyou.”
“It’s cool, man, happytohelp.”
Amy looked to Josh next and seemed quite choked up. He put his arm around her as she sunk into hisembrace.
“We’ll have to keep a sharp eye on her for the next forty-eight hours and monitor her closely for a few days. These types of procedures can require extensive aftercare, especially because of the stress placed on the body,” Dr. Carson explained. “Unfortunately, that will mean she’ll be with us for a few weeks and will need a good ten weeks to recover. She’s a very strong person, so I’m positive we’ll see quite an effective recoveryfromher.”
Josh listened and took the chance to hold Amy. He zoned out as Dr. Carson continued and thought of what this allmeant.
He wasn’t being selfish, it was just simply thoughts. This would change everything. It would change his relationship with Amy. She was only working for him to raise the funds for her mother. She didn’t need thatanymore.
She would work in L.A. when she started at Dior, but that wouldn’t be until next yearthistime.
All that was left of them was their relationship. For him that was everything, all that he had, and mattered more to him than playingfootball.
But he didn’t know how she felt. He didn’t know if it was enough for her, and he shouldn’t expect her to come back to him. He didn’t exactly make the best first impression, and he didn’t even begin to climb up the ladder of the type of man she should be with. She’d never have picked him if they hadn’t met the waytheyhad.
He understood, he had to. And he’d have to understand, too, if this meantgoodbye.
Amy was able to see her mother a few hours later when she recovered from the surgery. Josh met her briefly and, while she couldn’t talk, she smiled at him. Amy looked exactly like her. The resemblance was quite prominent. Looking at her mother, Josh could tell that she’d been through a lot. Not just from the surgery, but life in general. Her brother had that same look, too, and Josh could only imagine what they must have all gonethrough.
He stayed with Amy for as long as he could, staying right through till Sunday. It was clear that she didn’t factor him needing to get back to L.A., but he hadtogo.
Amy didn’t need him here anymore. The worst part was over and he should probably go anyway to allow them some private family time with eachother.
In the evening when they went back to the hospital, he took Amy aside so he could speak to her. She still didn’t seem to guess that he hadtogo.
“Are you okay?” He thought he’d begin with that because she looked more relaxed andrelieved.
“Yeah. I’m just so grateful that you did this for us.” Her sweet smile always got him. Always held his attention and made him feel like he could doanything.
“You’re welcome. I’m glad I could havehelped.”
They sat down on the bench just outside the room. He took her hand and held it to hisheart.
“Amy,” he began. Her smile widened as she looked up at him. “I should go back to L.A.” It was hard to tell her, and even harder to watch the bright expression recede fromherface.
“Oh.” She released a breath and brought her hand up to her cheek. “Of course. I’m so silly, I actually forgot. But yes, we shouldgoback.”
We.He was happy to hear that, but it was likely that she still wasn’t thinking straight. She didn’t need togoback.
“Notwebaby. Just me. You need to be here with your mom.” He gave her hand a soft squeeze as she held his gaze. He could tell she was processing it now, and the clarity of the situation was revealing itselftoher.
“Josh.I…”
“You need to be here for however long sheneedsyou.”
