Page 155 of Off Season

Eventually, Reagan Daulton and her husband, Carter, walk in. They’re still dressed as they were for the wedding. She immediately grabs a hysterical Kam by the shoulders. “Calm down. You’re not going to get answers acting like this. My sister and brother-in-law work here. I called them as soon as I heard about the accident. He’s a spinal surgeon. He’s with her in imaging so they can pinpoint exactly what’s wrong with her. He couldn’t say much more without your permission, but I know he’ll be down to talk with us in a few minutes. We’ll get you answers, just be patient a little longer.”

Kamryn nods and whisper-cries, “Okay, thank you.”

Tears are pouring from her eyes. I hate seeing her like this.

I pull Kam into my arms as Reagan continues, “I know every single board member at this hospital. We’re going to get her the best treatment available. I promise you that.” She rubs Kam’s arm. “The press is already on this. I need to issue a statement on behalf of the team. I won’t give any health updates without your approval, but I need to say something. Do you know why she was with Tanner Montgomery?”

Kam stoically responds, “She’s been fucking him for a year.”

Reagan’s eyes widen as she looks to me for confirmation. I nod. “She nannies for his daughter. They’ve quietly been dating for about a year.”

Kam’s voice cracks, “Like I said, she’s been fucking him for a year.”

Reagan’s lips twist. “Perhaps something along the linesofshe had a lot to drink, and he was making sure she safely got homewould be better.”

Kam brings her hand to her mouth as if something is just now occurring to her. “I bet Tanner was drinking. I want the electric chair for him if he was.” She looks around. “Where the hell is he? Did he drop her and leave?”

I sigh as I rub her back. “You know that’s not the case. He cares deeply for her.”

Reagan nods. “He passed out when they got to the hospital. He had refused treatment at the scene, wanting to stay with your sister. He’s now getting imaging done too. Last I heard, he was still unconscious.”

Shit. I hope he’s not hurt too badly. I pull out my phone and text Fallon. I don’t have Tanner’s father’s information. Maybe she can reach out to him.

Ripley and Quincy run in through the emergency room’s automatic glass doors. As soon as they locate us, Ripley and Kam run toward each other and embrace in a pile of tears.

We all stand there quietly as the two of them sob in each other’s arms. No words need to be spoken for us to know that we’re all fearing the same thing.

Eventually, a tall blond man in a white lab coat walks toward us. He looks like he’s about forty. He and Reagan exchange a familiar glance. He must be her brother-in-law.

Looking at Kamryn, he asks, “I suppose it’s safe to assume you’re Bailey Hart’s sister?”

She immediately turns to him. “Y…yes. Is she okay?”

He holds out his hand for her. “I’m Dr. Brody Cooper. I’m the head of the neurosurgery department at this hospital. I’m married to Reagan’s sister, and she asked me to take the lead on Bailey’s case.”

Kam shakily takes his hand. “Please tell me she’ll be fine.”

He swallows as he gently drops her hand. “I won’t lie,her injuries are severe.” Kam starts getting hysterical. I take her back into my arms as I practically hold her upright. “The imaging showed two issues. Do you have a medical background?”

Kam shakes her head.

He nods. “Okay. I’ll give it to you in layman’s terms for now. Her first injury, which is not my area of expertise, was to her lower abdomen. I’m only involved because Reagan asked me to be. The trauma is severe enough that she’ll need to have her right ovary removed.”

Kam gasps before yelling out, “Will she be able to have children? That’s all she fucking wants in this world.”

“Women with one ovary can have children. If you’d like, as a backup, we can harvest any eggs we find in the right ovary when it’s removed.”

Kam nods. “Yes, harvest everything you can. I’ll have her kid if it comes to that.”

He presses a few buttons on an iPad before looking back up at her. “That surgery will take place right away. She’s being prepped now. As for her other injury, she sustained a spinal fracture.”

Kam nearly collapses, but I hold her tight. “Will…will she walk again?”

He pulls something up on his iPad and shows it to her. It’s a three-dimensional illustration of a spine. “I’ve reviewed the imaging thoroughly, and I will operate on her tomorrow.”

The illustration then runs like a video, displaying the fracture and exactly how he’ll go about the surgery and what it will entail. The technology is amazing. He explains it in detail. “I’m optimistic that with a lot of physical and occupational therapy, she’ll make nearly a full recovery.”

Kam asks, “What doesnearlymean?”

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