Page 82 of Free to Believe
“Hey, baby. It’s Daddy. I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere until you open your eyes.”
* * *
Michelle arrives aboutfive hours later. I asked the nurses to have her brought to a private room so the doctor can explain the extent of Jenna’s injuries.
“None of Jenna’s major organs were injured during the car accident. Her seat belt and the front and curtain air bags saw to that,” the doctor repeats. I’ve heard this already, but hearing it again just infuriates me. I jump out of my chair and begin pacing.
Michelle looks at me nervously. “Then why isn’t she waking up, Doctor?”
Sitting down, he takes my ex’s hands. “Ms. Madison.”
“Williams,” we both say simultaneously.
The doctor falters before starting again. “Ms. Williams. As I explained to your ex-husband, Jenna’s injuries likely happened due to the impact with the steering wheel. She has what we call a temporary traumatic brain injury. The coma is her brain’s way of dealing with that trauma. We took tests yesterday, and we’ll be sending her down for another round shortly.” Standing, he says something I didn’t catch on to yesterday. “Your daughter is extraordinarily lucky. Someone at the scene performed life-saving CPR on her. If it hadn’t been for that, we’d be having a very different conversation.”
“When can I see her?” Michelle asks.
“I’ll take you to her now. Mr. Madison?”
I jerk my head in his direction. “Yes?”
“Only one person in with Jenna at a time. We can’t have too much stimuli overwhelming her,” the doctor warns me.
My breathing is harsh in the room even as Michelle says to the doctor, “I’ll…I want to go see her.”
“She’s your daughter, Michelle. Go. Before they take her down for the tests,” I rasp.
“Right.” She starts to make her way out the door, but she pauses. “Jake?”
“Yeah?”
“This isn’t your fault. It’s God’s will.” She slips out the door without saying another word.
God’s will…
Do you know what the number eight means, Jacob? Theta. Death.
I’m to blame for them all dying.
Emily.
I need to have a few words with her before I focus on the only thing that matters.
Saving my daughter’s life.
* * *
“Get out.”My words are harsh. Not even letting her get a word in, I go on the attack. “This is your fault,” I accuse.
“Jake, we were hit…” Emily begins, but I don’t want to hear it.
Not now.
Not while Jenna’s lying there.
“I was such a fucking fool. I should have listened to my first instincts about you and stayed far the hell away from you,” I hiss.
Wounded blue eyes stare back at me in a face that’s just as battered as my daughter’s.
