Page 18 of Knox
“I wasn’t trying to make choices for you,” I explained. “I was trying to help and find out what else you could do.”
He scrubbed a hand over his face. “I know you meant well, but the last two days have been a lot. I’m exhausted and don’t have the energy to go back and forth with you right now. I’m going to bed.”
He turned toward the hallway, not waiting for me to respond.
I spent a few minutes debating whether I should stay or go back to my place. We’d never really argued before, so I wasn’t sure if he wanted space or not. Deciding I didn’t want to leave when he was upset, I walked to his bedroom, quietly stripping down to my boxers, and climbed into bed behind him.
I lay there for a few seconds before finally saying, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gone behind your back. It’s just that I’m worried too, and I wanted to help. I love you.”
He rolled on his back. “I know. We can talk more about it in the morning, okay?”
“Okay.”
“I love you too,” he added.
I reached for his hand beneath the sheets and laced our fingers together.
His fingers tightened around mine, and I had to believe we’d figure things out together.
8
CREW
Mallory had beenin a medically induced coma for three days. Each one felt slower than the last. Each one made me worry more about the future.
Knox, Grady, and I were in the living room—Grady on the floor playing with toy dinosaurs, and Knox next to me flipping through something on his tablet—when my phone lit up on the coffee table.
I sat up fast as I saw the name on the screen. “Hey, Mrs. Wade. Everything okay?”
“Crew! She’s responding to touch,” Debra rushed out. “They started the process last night, and she’s moving her fingers when the nurses speak to her or press on her hand. She hasn’t opened her eyes yet, but they say it may be soon.”
It felt as though the weight I’d been carrying around lifted. “That’s amazing. I’m on my way.”
I hung up before she could say anything else. I wanted to be there when Mallory woke up.Neededto be there.
Knox looked over and whispered, “Mallory?”
I nodded. “They started waking her up. She hasn’t opened her eyes yet, but she’s responding.”
He nudged my leg. “Go. I’ll stay with G Man.”
Grady looked up. “Where are you going, Daddy?”
I walked over and crouched in front of him. “To see Mommy at the hospital. Knox is going to stay with you, okay?”
My son frowned. “But I wanna go.”
“I know, buddy. But let me check on her first.” I didn’t know how long it would take for Mallory to be fully responsive, and I wanted to wait until she was before Grady saw her.
“Okay.” His shoulders drooped. “Tell Mommy I miss her.”
I hugged him tight and kissed the top of his head. “I will.”
When I gotto the hospital, Debra sat at her daughter’s side, adjusting the blanket and smoothing her hand over Mallory’s uninjured arm. Hank was in the chair on the other side of the bed, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.
“She’s responding more,” Debra told me. “Not just reflexes either. She squeezed my fingers, and her eyes opened a few minutes ago, but just for a second.”
“She’s tracking sounds now too,” Hank added. “When Deb talks, her head turns toward her mother. The doctor said that’s what we want.”
