Page 36 of Words from the Heart
Chapter 27
“Parker… you’re awake.” Delilah rushed to the edge of the bed, “I need to call the nurse.”
“Wait,” Parker whispered, trying to reach out for her arm, “Ow…” he moaned, pain radiating through his body. “What happened?”
“You were hit by a drunk driver, Parker. You’ve been unconscious for a day.”
“Shit.”
“Let me call a nurse… Please.”
“Ok.” Parker pressed his eyes together, “Call them.”
Delilah pushed the door open and called out for a nurse. She watched as they checked him over. “The doctor will be in shortly,” the nurse smiled as she left.
“Delilah,” Parker called her closer, “I could hear you, when I was asleep. You were reading something. What was it?”
“You could hear me?”
“Yeah – you said ‘everyone who loves me leaves or dies’. Why’d you say that?”
“It was Momma Belle’s letter. She was dying, Parker. So even if the tree hadn’t killed her, she’d of died anyway.”
“I don’t understand… she never said anything. Fuck…” he winced.
“You shouldn’t be talking, rest. We can talk later.”
Parker nodded, closing his eyes and giving into the pain coursing through his veins. “Don’t leave,” he mumbled.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
Delilah searched for her phone and called Hank. She promised to call him if Parker woke up, and although he was passed out again, he needed to know he had been conscious.
While she was on the phone, the doctor came in and assessed him.
“Delilah,” he spoke, “Parker’s vitals are good. We’d like to go ahead and get him to surgery and repair his leg.”
Delilah nodded, “How long will that take?”
“A couple of hours. So why don’t you go home and get cleaned up. Someone will call you once we are done.”
“I don’t want to leave him.”
The doctor placed his hand on her shoulder, “Delilah, I understand you’re worried. But this will take a few hours and the only thing you can do is sit around and wait. Take this chance to get cleaned up. I promise we will take good care of him.”
Hank burst through the door, “Delilah.”
“Hank,” Delilah smiled, “He’s asleep. The doctor was just telling me they are taking him up to surgery for his leg. Can you take me home?”
“Um… sure. I was at your place when you called. Will you call us if something changes?”
“Of course, now go. Get some rest and change.” The doctor nodded towards the nurse, who unhooked some things and pushed his bed towards the door.
Delilah reached out and brushed her hand down his good leg, “Parker, I’ll be here when you wake up.”
Hank led her from the room, “Come on, you need to eat. Parker would kick my ass for not making sure you’re taken care of.”
Delilah watched as they wheeled him down the long corridor. She felt like her heart was cracking, the breath was being sucked from her lungs, “Delilah.” Hank pulled her towards the entrance, “He’ll be ok.”
