Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 103428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
I blew out a deep breath. “What if we don’t give it to her?”
“Well, there are a lot of very real risks for long-term coma patients. Blood clots, infection, loss of higher brain function…” He paused and looked over at Amelia. “We’re not there yet. But these decisions are hard, and it often takes a family time to make them. As Amelia’s health care proxy, that falls to you. So it’s something to start considering.”
I sighed. “Okay.”
Dr. Rosen took a small pad out of his pocket and jotted something before ripping the sheet off and holding it out to me. “This is the name of the drug and a website where you can read up about it.”
“Thanks.”
After he left, I walked back over to the bed and stared down at Amelia’s belly. The bump was barely visible, especially with the blankets over it. It was bad enough I had to make life and death decisions for her, someone whom I suddenly felt like I’d never known at all. But now I had to make decisions for a child who might not even be mine.
• • •
Colette stopped at the door, staring at Amelia a moment before walking into the small, glass ICU room.
“Hey.” She forced a smile. “How are you holding up?”
I was a fucking wreck, yet I nodded. “I’m hanging in there.”
She set her purse down on a visitor’s chair, walked over to the bed, and took Amelia’s hand. Tears fell from her cheeks. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get back sooner.”
Colette had been off work this week to take care of her mom, who’d had major neck and spine surgery yesterday. But we’d spoken every day since the accident. She was one of Amelia’s few friends, and they were pretty close.
“How’s your mom doing?”
“She’s okay. They moved her out of the ICU last night into a surgical unit. So that’s good.”
I nodded. “Glad to hear it.”
She stared down at Amelia. “I just can’t believe this happened, Merrick. It’s like a bad dream. Any news today?”
I shook my head. “No change. If nothing improves in a few days, they want me to consider approving a treatment that might stimulate her nervous system and bring her out of the coma.”
“Oh great. Are there any risks to her? Like could it make her worse?”
I hadn’t yet told Colette about the baby, or about the man I’d met when I walked in. She’d had her mother to deal with, and the news about the accident had been bad enough to tell her on the phone. But I was curious whether she knew about Aaron. If there was one person Amelia would tell, it would be her.
I took a deep breath. “The risks to her are minimal. But there are some risks to consider…for the baby.”
Colette’s head whipped up. “Baby?”
I nodded. “Apparently, she’s more than four months along.”
Colette’s forehead wrinkled. “Apparently? So you didn’t know?”
I shook my head.
Colette looked perplexed, but then understanding came across her face. She looked away, and I knew in that moment that she knew about Amelia’s affair.
“You know about Aaron?”
Colette’s eyes widened. “Did she know you knew?”
“No.”
“How long have you known?”
“Since they brought her in wearing another man’s engagement ring, and I found him in the waiting room.”
She put her hand over her heart. “Oh, Jesus. I’m so sorry you found out that way, Merrick. I really am.”
“Me, too.”
I wanted to ask her so many questions, but I was fucking exhausted. Sleeping on the chair next to Amelia and all the noise of an ICU didn’t lend itself to more than a half hour of rest at a time. “Are you going to stay for a while?” I asked.
“If you don’t mind. I don’t have anything else I need to do. Will has me covered this week since I was supposed to be down with my mom.”
“Would you mind if I went home for a few hours?”
She looked me over. “Have you not gone home since everything happened?”
I shook my head.
“Oh, God. Definitely go home. I can stay all day, overnight even. If anything changes, I’ll call you.”
“I’ll come back after I get a few hours of sleep.”
She nodded. “Whatever you want. But I’ll be here, so take as long as you need.”
“Thanks, Colette.”
I walked over and held Amelia’s hand for a moment before squeezing. “I’ll be back in a little while.”
Colette nodded. “You look like shit, boss. Get some sleep.”
I took the elevator down to the lobby and was halfway to the door when I noticed someone sitting alone in the large waiting area. Aaron met my eyes. He swallowed and stood. For a few seconds, I debated going over and punching his lights out, but I didn’t have the fucking energy. Plus, there was something I needed to know. So I walked toward the seating area. The guy was still dressed in the clothes he’d been wearing the day they brought Amelia in. And his face still had dirt and bruises. Guess I wasn’t the only one who’d been here three days.