Page 12 of Sparking Sara

“It’s possible due to the head wound,” she says. “But more than likely, her brain is having trouble regulating her body temperature. It’s common in head injuries. I’m also going to turn the temperature down in the room. I can bring you a blanket if you’d like.”

I look at the clock and see it’s after midnight. “That’s okay. I’m going to head home to get some sleep. Can you … keep her company sometimes? I feel bad that nobody has really been here for her.”

“You’vebeen here for her.”

“But I’m not family. She doesn’t know me from Adam.”

She nods sympathetically. “The day nurse told me you’re the one who rescued her. I’ll do what I can. We all will. I promise.”

“Thank you. I don’t have another shift for a few days, so I’ll come back in the morning.”

“You’re coming back?” she says, surprised. “I thought you were just sitting with her until her family got here.”

“Her familydidget here,” I say. “All she has is a cousin. One cousin. And a boyfriend, apparently, but he’s MIA. So, yeah, I’m coming back. Nobody should have to go through this alone.”

She studies me for a minute. “Are all firefighters like you?”

I laugh. But on the inside, I’m disgusted with myself. “Nofirefighters are like me. I’m in a class all by myself. Believe me on that one.”

“A bit cocky, are we?” she asks with a flirtatious smirk. Then she holds out her hand. “I’m Tiffany.”

Seriously?This is the second time today I’ve been hit on by hospital staff while Sara lies dying in bed.

“Hi, Tiffany. I’m Denver. And I’m really tired, so I’ll see you later.”

I grab my phone and walk out of the room as her words trail behind me. “I hope so.”

Chapter Four

The wet heat from the hot shower feels good on my stiff shoulders. I realize now how tense I must have been yesterday when I was in the car with Sara.

I didn’t get much sleep last night. Every time I closed my eyes, I relived those moments with her. Only this time, the car was toppling over the edge with me inside. When I wasn’t dreaming about Sara, all I could think about was my parents’ accident and seeing their dead bodies.

They were vacationing in Colorado when it happened. Both Aspen and I flew up there after we got the phone call. They didn’t tell us our parents were dead, not until we got there. But I knew they were. We wouldn’t have been told to go to the police station instead of the hospital if they were alive. And even though they had their IDs with them at the time of the accident, we were still asked to go to the morgue to identify the bodies.

Aspen couldn’t do it. I didn’t want to do it either, but there was no one else. And I’m the big brother. Well, by three minutes, anyway. It’s my job to protect her. But I never told my sister that those moments were the most horrifying of my life. To see our parents lying on a bed of cold, hard steel, just a sheet covering their alabaster bodies—it’s the memory that plagues my dreams.

Suddenly, I have the need to make sure Sara isn’t lying in the morgue on a bed of cold, hard steel. I quickly dry off and call her cousin.

“Joelle, it’s Denver Andrews. Have you heard anything about Sara?”

“I talked to a nurse an hour ago. She said nothing has changed. Her ICP remains high, and she’s still under sedation. She spiked a high fever overnight, so the nurse told me to dress warmly because they have the temperature turned down in her room.”

I’m not sure why I breathe a sigh of relief, because that really doesn’t sound like good news. But it’s better news than her being dead.

“And Oliver? Have you found him yet?”

“No. He must be worried sick by now. I know I’d be going crazy if John had gone missing and I couldn’t reach him.”

“You don’t know where he lives or works?” I ask.

“I really don’t know much about him. Sara met him at one of her showings, I think. He’s in the business, but I’m not sure if he’s an artist or if he works for a gallery or what.”

“How long have they been together?”

“More than a year, maybe? I’m not really sure. I’m sorry, I know I’m not much help.”

“I have some contacts at NYPD. I could put in a call to see what they can do.”

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