Page 16 of Pucking Strong

I take a deep breath and let it out, both my hands holding tight to his shoulders. “She’s alive.”

He turns me around, one arm across my chest, and points at the monitor. “Look at her heart rate. She’s so strong. Her pulse ox looks good too. God, look how strong she is. She’s a fighter, Karlsson.”

“A fighter,” I echo, my eyes darting to take in all the machinery. I’m no doctor, but I can hear the slow, steady beat of the heart monitor.

“That’s one tough little girl.” His arm tightens across my chest. “But she needs her uncle now. So, you are gonna sit in that chair and hold her hand. Do you hear me?”

“I don’t know what to say to her,” I whisper, leaning against the support of his body. “If she doesn’t know … If they haven’t told her …”

Teddy’s hold on me softens. “Then you tell her you love her. Tell her she’ll always have a home with you, no matter what. As you loved your sister, you’re going to love her daughter. It’s as simple as that. She’s yours now, Karlsson.”

Resolve hardens in my chest as I look down at her fragile, sleeping form. “She’s mine.”

“Yeah, man. She’s all yours.”

I knew it was true in an abstract sense. With one missed phone call, my life changed forever. I became a parent. I’m beholden to someone other than myself now. God help me, I’ve wasted so much time already. There’s so much to be done. For Petra, for Karolina. And I’m the only one who can do it. No more wallowing in grief. It’s time for action.

I tap his arm, and Teddy lets me go. Turning away, I step past him towards the door.

“Whoa—hey.” He grabs my arm. “Where the hell are you going?”

“Stay with her. When she wakes, call me.”

His eyes go wide. “What the hell are you gonna do?”

“I have to call my lawyer.”

With a nod, he lets me go.

I’ve always been the backbone of my family. Petra may have been the older sibling, but whenever she needed something, she came to me. I paid for her apartment, her car, Karolina’s school. I’m not leaving anything to chance now. Karolina is mine. I must make arrangements for us both to go home.

Karolina sleeps for another hour. The whole time, Karlsson doesn’t come back. In the meantime, I stretch out in the uncomfortable chair by her bed, messing around on my phone. I text my sisters and my friend Colin. After our internship year, he was offered a full-time job with the Jacksonville Jaguars. We made plans to meet up for dinner this week to celebrate my return to the 904.

Well, I won’t be making that reservation. There’s now the slight inconvenience of an ocean in the way.

I’m just about to slip out in search of coffee or a donut when Karolina stirs 0n the bed. Oh shit, I didn’t even ask if she speaks English. This could turn awkward quick. I glance desperately towards the open door. Then I shoot Karlsson a text.

She opens her eyes, whimpering a little as she shifts on the bed.

“Oh hey, try not to move, okay?”

Her eyes go wide as she looks at me.

“Do you understand English?”

Slowly, she nods. Poor thing, she looks miserable. She’s got purple bruising around her eye and little cuts all over the left side of her face. But her eyes are the deepest shade of blue, just like Karlsson’s. They’re flecked with grains of grey, reminding me of faded denim.

“Are you Karolina?” I hope my expression looks sufficiently warm and welcoming.

She nods again, which looks difficult to do with her neck brace.

“My name’s Teddy. I’m a friend of your uncle’s.” I glance towards the door again. “Uhh … Henrik. He should be here any minute.”

At this, she perks up. “Morbror är här?”

“Umm …”

Before I can say another word, Karlsson comes rushing into the room, talking fast in Swedish on his phone. I don’t have to know what he’s saying to know he’s ending the call. Then he drops the phone away from his ear, tears in his eyes. “Karro.”

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