Page 152 of Unspoken Rules

I want to argue with her, demand she tell me what is going on, but it’ll be no use. These nurses don’t give any info. I’ve tried. I wait as patiently as I can, pacing my room, wondering what the hell is taking so long.

What is the doctor going to tell me when he gets on the phone?

Bad news?

Good news?

“Mr. Harper? It’s Dr. Connor.”

“Please tell me what’s going on.”

“Well, it seems Christopher has decided to wake up.”

Wake up? Christopher woke up?

“He woke up?”

“Yes, sir.” I hear the smile in his voice. “Been up about twenty minutes now. We’ve run some tests, and most things seem to be okay.”

“Most things? What does that mean?”

“It’s very common for patients in comas to wake up and be confused. He’s been out a few days now, and that’s disorienting. I’m sure in just a short time he’ll be back to normal.”

“What do you mean, confused?” I urge. There’s something he isn’t saying. He’s a doctor, for fuck’s sake, isn’t he supposed to be direct?

“It’s hard to say right this moment, Mr. Harper. Why don’t you come down to the hospital and we can talk further? Chris was asking for you.”

I blink, freezing in my spot.

“He was asking for me?” I breathe out.

“That’s right,” Dr. Connor says.

“Has anyone called his mother?”

“Yes, one of the nurses just got off the phone with her.”

“And my son is okay?”

“Your son is just fine, Mr. Harper.”

When I end the call, I drop to my knees and cry.

My son is just fine. And he was asking for me.

Chapter Sixty-Five

Bryson

Cole and I rush to the hospital. I’m not sure they’re going to let me in, but I knew I had to be there anyway. I won’t go in right away, because I can’t imagine Chris being okay knowing his father and I are together, regardless of the circumstances, but I at least need to be there just in case. Maybe this situation will allow him to forgive us. Hear our side of the story and believe us when we say it’s done. Whatever it was Cole and I had, it’s done for good.

There is no valet at this time, so Cole parks in the lot and we navigate through the hospital until we’re on Chris’s floor.

We have to wait for someone to buzz us in, since the unit is locked.

“I’m going to wait in the waiting area,” I tell Cole.

He nods and goes to the nurse’s station to let them know he’s here, then goes right into Chris’s room, which I can see from here. I watch for a long time, wondering what is going on. Wanting to go back there and see for myself, but too worried it’ll upset him.

---