Page 89 of Trust Me With Forever

Katie:Hmph. Well, I’ll get an update from Nolan’s guy anyway and see if there’s anything that can help stop the weirdos from going after you. Maybe the town can set up a system.

Me:Thanks.

Amber:I’m not much of a security guard, but I can be that, too, whenever you want!

Me:I wouldn’t want to cross you, Amber. You could probably get away with murder.

Amber:Maybe. But Rafe will be okay, Abby. I refuse to think otherwise.

Katie:He’d better be. And no matter his condition, if he makes you sad again, I’ll pay him a visit and kick his butt.

Me:Let’s save the ass-kicking for later. The doctor should give me an update soon, so I’ll let you know what she says.

The next morning, I sat in the hospital waiting room, staring into my now cold cup of coffee, and replayed the scene from the night before: The ambulance. Rafe coding on the way and them reviving him. Waiting through the surgery. My family arriving and doing their best to comfort me.

And now I sat, waiting to see if Rafe made it out of the surgery.

A surgery that should’ve ended two hours ago.

My throat closed up again, and I took a sip of cold coffee to get myself under control. All I wanted to do was cry. However, if I fell apart now, then I’d be a mess whenever the doctor finally came to give an update. And I needed to be strong for Rafe.

I breathed in and out a few times before checking my phone, hoping for news about the hit and run. But there was nothing from the sheriff’s office.

Emmy returned with a fresh coffee. She sat down, put an arm around my shoulders, and asked, “Do you need anything else, Abby? A donut? Candy? Or something healthier, like a banana? You’re pale and I don’t like it.”

I shook my head. “No, I couldn’t eat anything if I tried. Besides, Rafe should be out of surgery at any moment, and I want to be here.”

She leaned her head on my shoulder. “Rafe’s too stubborn to die.”

Although her voice cracked at the end, betraying her words.

I hugged her back. “He only just came home and mended things with you. He won’t leave you, Emmy. I’m sure of it.”

She leaned back. “He won’t leave you, either.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to say that while I loved him, our marriage was a sham. But then the doctor appeared, and we both stood.

I asked, “Is he out of surgery?”

The doctor nodded. “Yes. He pulled through and if he remains stable for the next twenty-four hours, he should recover. We’ll be monitoring him closely for the next day.”

As she went through what they’d done during the surgery, I tried to pay attention. However, all I wanted to do was see Rafe with my own eyes, maybe hold his hand, and then tell him he’d better wake up so we could talk.

So when the doctor finally finished with, “Would you like to see him?” I nodded. “Yes. Please.”

“Two people at a time can visit with him, if you both want to go.”

Emmy spoke up. “You can see him alone first, Abby. I’ll come in when you’re ready.”

I turned to my friend. “Are you sure? I know you’ve been worried too.”

“Now that he’s mostly out of immediate danger, it’s probably better if I wait a little longer so I don’t scold him about being stupid and nearly getting himself killed.”

I almost smiled. “I already scolded him while waiting for the ambulance. So maybe we should hold back on doing any more until he wakes up.”

“Sounds like a plan. Now, go. I’m sure once he hears your voice, he’ll start healing even faster.”

Even though it wasn’t exactly scientific, I nodded and followed the doctor down a hallway. She entered a room, and I followed. At seeing Rafe’s unconscious form lying in the bed, attached to all kinds of wires and tubes, my heart skipped a beat.

---