Page 66 of Blindly Yours

He shakes his head and rubs his hand across his mouth. “I don’t know what I’ll do if she…” his voice is so strained, I feel a lump form in my own throat. Pure anxiety is sitting in my passenger seat. This is a man who’s already lost one of the most important people in his life. And the other is now unconscious in the hospital. My heart drops again. I wish there was something I could do to make this better. But I’m helpless.

Suddenly, his phone rings. He pulls it quickly to his ear. “Hello? …Yes, this is he…”

I hold my breath.

There’s a long pause while he listens. “Ok, and how is she?”

I’m trying to catch his expression while not driving us off the road.

“Yes, please do. I’m about—” He looks over at me.

“Five minutes,” I say quickly.

“Five minutes away. Will I see her before she goes in? …ok, thanks.” He lowers the phone and takes a deep breath. “She’s awake.”

I exhale.

“She’s ok. A little disoriented.” He massages the bridge of his nose. “They’re pretty sure it’s a concussion. They just ordered a CT scan.”

“Thank goodness…” I wipe my hand across my forehead.

“I’m almost more anxious now that I know she’s awake,” he says. “She’s probably so confused.”

“Here’s the exit.” I flip on my turn signal and follow the blue hospital signs.

He braces both hands on the dash and takes a long, deep breath. “Thank you, seriously. You didn’t have to do this. I know you’re busy.”

I almost laugh, because he’s being ridiculous. “My clients can wait. Besides, it’s the least I can do after what you did for me over the weekend.” I chance a glance at him. He’s finally looking at me, watching me with grateful, careful,perfectblue eyes. I have to look away. “Ok, we’re here.”

“Right.” He quickly blinks away as I pull up to the front doors of the building. “Thanks, again,” he says over his shoulder as he climbs out quickly and swings the car door shut.

I watch him disappear inside, and then I pull the car around and find an empty spot in the visitor’s lot. I know I should turn and head back downtown, leaving the two of them to reunite and sort everything out.

But I can’t.

I want to stay. Two days with Kara brought me closer to her than I expected. The thought of anything serious happening to that sweet, smart little girl has me nauseous. I have to make sure everything’s ok.

So, I turn my car off and head inside. I find an empty seat in the waiting room and sink down onto the cracking vinyl. It’s a small hospital. Nothing like the ones we have in the city. It’s so quaint I’m surprised they even have a CT scanner here.

I sit quietly for a long time, studying the artificial ivy that hangs from a wooden shelf on the wall. Sliding Kara’s drawing out of my pocket, I run my thumb over the snowflakes she illustrated so well. Dozens of patients and guests filter in and out, but I barely notice any of them. I just think about Kara. And Nate. And the fear that must have coursed through him when he got that call. My throat tightens and I lift my hand to my mouth, trying to swallow the feeling. I hardly understand why I’m experiencing it so strongly myself. I barely know them.

Yet, the little part of them I do, the part of their perfect little life I was lucky to witness last weekend, is enough to bring me to the brink of tears at the thought of a tragedy befalling either of them again.

They don’t deserve any of it.

I stay on the brink of tears for almost an hour, and I consider asking the nurse at the desk for an update, but she probably can’t tell me anything. I’m not family. So, am I waiting for Nate? He might stay with Kara all night. He might not even have a reason to leave. He doesn’t know I’m out here, so what am I waiting for?

Slowly, I start to stand. I’ll send him a message later just to make sure she’s ok. But in the same moment, the doors swing open and Nate comes through. He’s headed toward the front doors, but he catches my gaze first and stops in his tracks. He opens his mouth and crosses toward me slowly. “What…what are you still doing here?”

I shrug and tuck Kara’s drawing away again. “I wanted to make sure she was ok.” I peer up at him. “Is she?”

He nods and takes a deep breath. “It’s a mild concussion. They’re going to keep her overnight for observation, and she’ll have to take it easy for a few days, but she’s ok.”

I exhale. “That’s such good news.”

Nate watches me with odd curiosity. “I had no idea you were still here. If I’d have known, I wouldn’t have left you hanging.”

I wave him off. “No worries. I just couldn’t bring myself to leave…”

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