Page 76 of Embattled Ever After

“Dr. Hartfield, I was just coming to update you…”

“Let’s go into the waiting room so they all can hear.”

The older man nodded and followed her the rest of the way. When they entered the room every single person stood up and waited. The doctor seemed surprised at the size of the group, but when he smiled the tangible tension in the room began to ease.

“Duncan is resting comfortably,” the doctor told them. “The surgery went well, though the repairs were extensive. The pelvis took the most time. There were several breaks in it, requiring several titanium plates and a multitude of screws to stabilize it. The bad news is, he’s going to be in a lot of pain at first. But the good news is, the repairs are secure. When we replaced the ball of the femur and sealed everything up, the leg moved better than I can ever remember it moving. I think he’s going to be pleased with the results.”

Lora’s hand was holding hers and Alex didn’t even remember taking it. Chad’s hand was also on her shoulder, and tears were dripping down her cheeks. Alex didn’t remember ever crying over another person, ever. Her mother was gone long ago, and her father being gone was just a way of life. But Duncan Wilde….Duncan had burrowed into her soul like no other.

***

Throbbing, screaming pain…

If he could have cried out he would have, but he couldn’t catch his breath to do it. Oh, God,it hurt. Duncan shifted on the bed and his body blazed, an inferno of agony.

Voices murmured around him, but he didn’t understand what they were saying. No, he just couldn’t concentrate. There was misery all through his lower body, but he couldn’t focus on where. Nothing felt right.

It was his worst nightmare, being in pain and helpless. He’d been there before.

Then one voice became clear, distinct from the rest, speaking directly into his ear. “We’re getting you some relief. Don’t worry.”

That voice meant something to him, and he nodded, teeth gritted. Something gripped his hand and he clung to it. Suddenly there was a cool wave that washed over him, stealing a large part of the pain away but it made him dizzy, too. His hand tightened on the hand in his, needing the anchor in his swirling world. Then blackness swallowed him, and the pain.

The next time he woke up he wasn’t as fuzzy. His hand was still held by another. He tried to open his eyes but everything was so bright. Eyes tearing, he lifted his hand to wipe his face, but his hand was bandaged. IV, it looked like.

“It’s about time you woke up.”

Duncan turned his head to the left. Alex sat at his side, holding his hand in both of hers. She smiled at him gently, and his eyes teared up for a completely different reason. He’d woken up in hospitals many, many times, but he’d never woken up to someone waiting there forhim.

“Hey,” he croaked, his voice rough and throat sore.

Alex leaned away, tugging at her hands, but he held onto one. When she turned back to him she smiled, offering him a spoonful of ice. “Try this. It will help with the soreness.”

Duncan opened his mouth and took the ice on his tongue. Almost immediately, relief coated his throat and he groaned happily. She offered him another spoonful, and he took it, then another. Finally, he shook his head.

“What happened?”

Alex winced and recounted his crash to the unforgiving ground and the resulting surgery. She explained to him the repairs that had been made and his prognosis.

“Fisk has been after me to get the surgery done anyway. Was he crowing?”

Alex grinned, her eyes shining. “Not crowing, exactly. Although he did preen a little when he left the operating room and came out to talk to us.”

“Us?”

“Did you actually think your company would let you go through this alone? Or your family? They’re all out in the waiting room, waiting for me to leave so that they can get in to see you. Look around.”

For the first time Duncan noticed all the flowers. Every flat surface held a bouquet or balloons or some other shit. There was also a cart parked against the wall littered with gifts. His throat was aching again, but this time it wasn’t because of the surgery.

“People are very concerned about you. The Chief of Police called, and wants you to contact him when you can. Several of these are from clients. There’s one from Harmony House.”

“Oh, wow,” he told her softly. “They don’t have the budget for that.”

“The vets took up a collection for you.”

Damn it. Alex was going to think he was a blubbering baby. He wiped his eyes of tears and looked at the arrangement she pointed at. It wasn’t the prettiest or most elaborate, but it was the most important one to him. “They didn’t have to do that,” he whispered.

There were tears in Alex’s bright green eyes as well. “You’re important to them. They wanted you to know that.”

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