Page 156 of Off Season

He answers, “It means that there are no certainties with the spine. I think she’ll walk, but I also know she’s aprofessional athlete. There may be certain things she can’t ever do again. A numb finger, toe, or more. Areas where the nerve connections are never quite right again. Something along those lines. As you know, athletes require a bit more than regular people. I don’t know if playing softball will be in her future, but I’m confident that living an otherwise normal life will be in her future. Like I said, no promises, but I think we can get her up and running.”

Kam nods. “I understand. As long as she can live a normal life. And you don’t know my sister. She can do whatever she sets her mind to. If she wants to play again, she will. What’s the timeline for her recovery?”

He blows out a breath. “Assuming the surgery tomorrow goes as I expect it to, I’d say three to four months of intensive inpatient treatment followed by a few more months of outpatient treatment. She’ll start her therapy here right away, and that will last for about two weeks. Then we’ll transfer her to the facility of your choosing. We can get you a list of facilities covered by your health insurance.”

Reagan shakes her head. “Give me only the name of the top facility. We’ll cover it if her insurance doesn’t. I want her to have the best care.”

Dr. Cooper clicks something on his iPad and shows it to Reagan. “If she were my family member, this is where I’d want her.”

Reagan takes down the information while I ask, “What about Tanner? How’s he?”

Kam mumbles, “Who cares.”

Brody types away on his iPad again before looking back up at me. “Are you family?”

I shake my head. “No. I’m a longtime friend and client though.”

He winces. “Does he have any family here?”

I shake my head again. “His father lives in Florida. Itexted his ex-wife, but I haven’t heard back from her. I’m as close as it gets. I’ve known him for a dozen years.”

He looks around. “I’m breaking a few laws by telling you, but he sustained a very severe concussion. The CT showed no brain bleed, but he’s unconscious right now and probably will be for a few more hours. He’ll need to stay away from light for at least a week and will require a decent amount of rest.”

Kam scoffs. “A concussion? That’s it? My sister is losing an ovary and has a broken back, and all that asshole got was a headache for a few days. Was he drunk? I want to press charges if he was.”

Dr. Cooper visibly swallows. “His bloodwork won’t be back until tomorrow, but it’s standard protocol to take it.” He slides his iPad into his lab coat pocket. “I need to run. Your sister will remain sedated until after her second surgery. We’ll know more when that’s done. I’ll come find you then. What she’ll need most is support and positivity. She’s got a long road ahead of her. She’ll be shaken when she wakes up and discovers all that she’s going to face in the coming months.”

I feel my phone vibrate and peek down at it. It’s Fallon. It looks like she was on an airplane when I texted but is now coming straight here from the airport. She asks for an update, and I give it to her.

I triedto get Kam to go home considering the fact that Bailey will be sedated for several more hours, but she refused to leave. Reagan and Carter left, promising to return when Bailey wakes. Along with Ripley and Quincy, we’ve awkwardly been sitting in a room with two beds. One has Tanner, who’s still out cold. He’s got a bandage aroundhis head. Apparently, he hit it very hard. Hard enough to cause a big gash requiring stitches. Fallon has been on and off silently weeping, sitting at his bedside.

Fallon is a blonde-haired, blue-eyed bombshell. There’s no other way to describe her. Even with red-rimmed eyes in the middle of the night, she’s a beautiful woman. She and Tanner had an amicable divorce. I don’t know the specifics of the breakup of their marriage because Tanner has always been tight-lipped about it, but I’ve never once heard him utter a bad word about her. All I know was that it was roughly five years ago, and they very peacefully co-parent Harper. Joint meals and full family vacations are the norm for them.

Fallon works in the physical therapy department of this hospital. Several of her coworkers have popped in to check on her. She’s obviously well-liked.

The other bed in the room is open, waiting for Bailey to return from her surgeries. Kam has been sitting in it while bashing Tanner for hours. I can tell Fallon is getting annoyed but is keeping quiet, likely knowing that Kam is simply scared for her sister.

After a few hours, Tanner eventually wakes. Every time he attempts to gather information, Kam berates him and peppers him with questions about the details of the accident. Finally, Fallon reaches her breaking point and grits out, “E-fucking-nough. Just shut your mouth. I can’t listen to you bitch and whine anymore. It doesn’t help anyone, especially Bailey.”

The three of us smile at each other. Kam had that coming. Ripley stands and takes Kamryn’s hand. “She won’t be out of surgery for a little while. Let’s grab a snack. We’ll give Fallon a chance to catch Tanner up on everything.”

We leave and head to the cafeteria. I buy all the coffee and dark chocolate I can find before we all sit. I look at Kam. “You need to relax with Tanner.”

“He—”

“They were in an accident. By definition, accidents are not on purpose. I was with him enough throughout the wedding to know he wasn’t drunk, Kam. If, for some reason, the bloodwork shows that he was, then he’ll have something worse than your verbal assaults to deal with. Tanner is not a bad man, and I know he cares about Bailey. It will be better for her if you workwithhim, notagainsthim.”

Ripley nods in agreement. “He’s right, Kam. Bailey won’t want you two at each other’s throats. It won’t help her.”

Tears begin streaming out of Kam’s eyes again. She croaks out, “I’m just so fucking scared for my sister.”

I wrap my arm around her. “I know, babe. She’s strong. You both are. Like the doctor said, let’s stay positive. When she wakes up, make your usual Kam jokes. Bailey can give her standard eye roll at you. She’s going to be scared out of her mind. I think you being yourself will be the most calming thing for her.”

She slowly nods her head. “You’re right. I’ll try.”

“Good. Have you heard from your dad?”

She shakes her head. “He must have already been asleep when I reached out. I left him a message to please call me as soon as he wakes, but I didn’t want to just leave a voicemail as to why. I’m sure he’ll fly up right away.”

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