Page 38 of Sassy Surrogate
A jumble of police vehicles, ambulances, and Graham’s SUV litter the property, some parked out on the road. I’m already moving before Kieran brings the car to a full stop. Flying into the house, I come to a skidding halt in the foyer as I spot Danica lying on the floor, an alarmingly large pool of blood beneath her.
One paramedic snaps a neck brace on her while two others gingerly work a backboard in under her as carefully as they can. Once they’re done, the one facing me counts to three and they lift her onto the gurney standing nearby. Galvanised into action as I realise they’re about to leave, taking my heart with them, I dash over to where the EMTs are preparing to take her out to an ambulance.
“Excuse me, that’s my fiancée on that gurney. Can you…” Unexpectedly, my voice cracks, and I find myself unable to continue.
“We need to move her quickly, sir, she’s hanging in there but barely. And we’re concerned about the amount of bleeding since she’s pregnant. You’re welcome to ride along, but we need to go. Now.”
The urgency in the woman’s voice penetrates, and I nod and step aside, indicating for them to go ahead. I can feel fear crawl beneath my skin. If I lose Danica, I’m not sure I’d want to live. As I wait for them to load her into the back of the ambulance, I feel a hand on my arm.
Turning, I see Rebecca standing beside me, Graham beside her, a comforting arm slung around her shoulders. Tears are streaming down her face, and the devastation in her eyes is more than I can bear. I drop my gaze, staring at my shoes instead.
She opens her mouth to speak, but all that comes out is a sob. Graham tucks her a little closer to his side and speaks in her stead.
“We’ll be right behind you.”
“We’re ready to go, sir.”
I nod at Graham, then climb into the ambulance. Picking up Danica’s ice-cold hand, I rub it gently, trying to massage some warmth back into it. I’ve never been a religious man, but for the first time in my life I pray. I pray the entire trip to the hospital because I know that if she doesn’t make it, life is over for me.
From the time we pull up to the emergency room, everything moves at warp speed. They rush Danica into the hospital through a set of double doors I’m barred from going through. Terror slices through me as a nurse tells me I can’t go with her wherever they’re taking her. What happens if something goes wrong and I’m not there?
The thought of her being alone and scared almost brings me to my knees, no matter how irrational it is with her current unconscious state. With a gentle hand on my arm, a lady leads me to a desk in the admissions area. She guides me down into a chair and walks around to the other side of the desk.
By the time we’re done, I’m about coming out of my skin worrying about what’s happening.
“Give me a second. I’ll find out where she is.” She chats to someone for a minute. “Your fiancée is currently in surgery, but they’re expecting you on the floor. There’s a waiting room for the family, and you’re welcome to wait for news there.”
Taking a moment, I compose myself. “Thank you. For everything.”
“You’re most welcome, sir. I’m holding all of you in prayer that all goes well.”
With tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat, I get to my feet to make my way up to the waiting room.
Everyone’s there already by the time I arrive. Rebecca is doing her best to console Danica’s mother and grandparents over in one corner. Kieran and Graham are pacing over by the windows. The two of them come over to me when they spot me.
“Any news?” I ask.
Graham shakes his head, and Kieran says, “We’d hoped you’d have something.”
“No. I’ve just finished at admissions. Sit tight. I’m going to make enquiries quickly.” Retracing my steps, I head for the nurses’ station guarding the entrance to the hallway to the operating rooms. “Excuse me. Are you able to give me an update on Danica Brand, please?”
The nurse behind the desk consults a computer in front of her. “I’m sorry, sir. She’s still in surgery. We’ll only know more once we get her to recovery. But as soon as she’s out of surgery, I’ll get her surgeon to come see you.”
“Thank you,” is all I can manage to squeeze past the damn lump that’s taken up residence in my throat and refuses to leave.
It’s difficult returning to the waiting room with no news. All we can do is wait. I can’t offer any comfort to anyone, and I can’t stand the air of desperation that surrounds Danica’s family. I take a seat in the farthest corner from everyone to brood. I get so lost in my thoughts and memories I startle when Rebecca sits down beside me and places a hand on my leg.
The woman is pale and barely keeping it together, but she’s there to offermecomfort. “Hey.”
“Hey.”
“You hanging in there?”
“By the skin of my teeth.” She nods but doesn’t say anything else for a moment. “Becca, what am I going to do if anything happens to her? She’s my everything; life isn’t worth contemplating without her in it.”
“Don’t talk like that.” She pauses for a moment as if weighing her words. “I’ve known you for years. In all the time I’ve known you, you’ve run from the first hint of commitment or emotional entanglement. It would be a cruel twist of fate to take away the only person I’ve ever seen you like this with. And I don’t believe fate isthatcruel.”
“Let’s hope so then. Let’s hope so.”
