Page 70 of Big Island Summer
“Okay,” she said, nodding along.
“She needed a few stitches on her face, but it was a clean cut that should heal without any scarring. There are no signs of any internal bleeding, but she does have a minor concussion. We’d like to monitor her for a few more hours, just to be sure everything’s okay.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
“She’s been very brave.” He smiled at Olivia and then nodded to Ken and Sonya on the other side of the room. “I’ll be back before the end of my shift to check in.”
Lani stared after him for a moment, still disoriented by the adrenaline spike that had lasted all the way to the hospital.
Another surge of panic hit when she realized that she still hadn’t called Tenn. She pulled her phone from her pocket and hurried to reach him before he hit the windy, treacherous part of the Saddle Road.
“Hello?” His voice was raw.
“I’m here with Livie,” she said immediately. She held the phone towards their little girl. “Say hi to your dad.”
“Hi Daddy,” she sang out, a bit loopy from the painkillers.
“Hi Livie!” The words were bright and cheerful, but Lani could hear tears in his voice. “I’m on my way.”
“See you soon!”
Lani pulled the phone back and said, “She’s okay. We’re in room three-oh-six.”
“Okay.” He took a ragged breath. “Thank you.”
“Drive safe,” she said fiercely.
“I will. I promise.”
“See you soon.”
“Lani?” His tone was urgent, and her finger paused over the red circle.
“Yeah?”
“I love you.”
She let out a breath of relief, like a one-note laugh. “I love you too.”
“Can we go home now?” Olivia asked as Lani pocketed her phone.
“Not quite yet.” Lani stepped closer and held her hand. “Daddy’s coming here, to the hospital.”
“Okay,” she sighed. Her eyes drooped, and Lani felt another jolt of worry.
Were kids supposed to stay awake when they had a concussion? Was that a thing? The guy in scrubs hadn’t said.
“What do you want for dinner?” Lani asked brightly. “We can get anything you’d like.”
“I’m not hungry,” Olivia mumbled. Her eyes slipped closed, and Lani cast a panicked glance towards Sonya and Ken.
“She can sleep,” Ken said, as if reading her mind. “They said it would be okay.”
Lani’s shoulders slumped in relief. “Thanks.”
She stood by the bed, stroking Olivia’s hair as she drifted off to sleep.
The door opened again, and she glanced over her shoulder to see Sonya leave the room.
