Page 12 of Ghost of Christmas Future
Running Eagle had texted when his plane landed in Boston and again when Kaye and Jace picked him up. Eagle had wanted to see Jude, but Kaye insisted they go home.
Cope texted Ronan on the hour to check on Jude. There had been no change. When he’d written to Ronan at 3 A.M., Ronan had texted Cope back with a command to go to sleep. Cope hadtried his best to nod off, but gave up trying when the sun started to rise.
The morning had moved in slow motion, with the kids waking up and wanting breakfast. They’d all decided the night before that the bigger kids would stay home from school, while Ezra and LizzyB went to daycare as usual.
Finally, after what felt like hours, Cope sat in the back of Fitzgibbon’s SUV with Running Eagle. Fitz drove and Jace sat in the passenger seat. Ten followed behind with the kids. Everly was insistent that she see Jude again, arguing that Running Eagle could help her speak to Jude. Who was Cope to argue?
“My gift isn’t working,” Cope said to Eagle when Fitzgibbon pulled into the hospital’s parking lot. “I don’t know what’s going to happen to Jude. Do you?”
Eagle shook his head sadly. “I don’t know what’s going to happen to my grandson. My advice for you, Cope, is to focus on the here and now. Let tomorrow take care of itself. Your job is to assure Jude that you and the kids are fine. To be honest, son, you look like shit.”
Cope snorted. He didn’t mean to, and tried to stop, but ended up laughing instead. What the hell kind of asshole husband was he to be laughing like a hyena while his husband fought for his life in the intensive care unit.
“You’re not an asshole husband, Cope,” Eagle said with a wink. “If Jude hears or sees that you’ve given up hope, he will too. My grandson always was a follower. Be the leader he needs to help get him out of this mess.”
Nodding, Cope got himself under control. He needed to find a way to let Jude know everything was okay, without making it seem like they were having a party without him. Christ, Copeflashed back to the moment yesterday morning when he’d made Jude feel like life had been better without him, when he, Ronan, and Fitz had been off hunting a killer in the wilds of Vermont.
“Cope?” Eagle asked.
Shaking his head, Cope looked up to see Jude’s grandfather holding open the elevator doors. He hadn’t even realized he’d gotten on the elevator. “Thanks.” He followed behind Eagle, Jace and Fitz into the ICU ward and down the hall to Jude’s room. Ronan stood up when Eagle walked inside. He hugged the old man and left him alone with Jude.
Cope was torn between speaking to Ronan or going into Jude’s room, but decided he’d leave Eagle with his husband. “I can’t thank you enough for spending the night here. How is he?”
“He’s stable,” Ronan said on a yawn. “They removed the cooling blankets and ice packs around midnight. The doctor is doing her rounds now. She wants to speak with you when she comes to see Jude.”
“Will you see her with me? I didn’t get any sleep last night.” Cope knew his brains were scrambled at this point. He knew Ronan had his notebook and would jot things down as the doctor spoke.
Ronan smiled. “I know. You texted me more than a lovesick schoolboy!”
Jude’s door opened. Running Eagle motioned Cope inside. Ronan and Fitzgibbon were behind him.
“You’re Cope Forbes, Jude’s husband?” a woman in a white coat asked.
“I am and these are Jude’s best friends and fellow members of the Salem Police Department; Captain Kevin Fitzgibbon and Detective Ronan O’Mara.”
“I’m Doctor Victoria Albert. I came on shift around eleven last night. Ronan and I are quite well acquainted.”
“What can you tell us about Jude’s condition?” Ronan asked, his notebook and pen at the ready.
“Jude is stable. The swelling on his brain has gone down considerably, which is why we’ve taken him off the hypothermia protocol. I’m hopeful that the medication we’ve been giving him will continue to reduce the swelling. I’ve taken the craniotomy off the table for the time being.”
“For the time being?” Cope asked, feeling off-balance. Hadn’t the doctor been saying Jude was improving? If so, then why would the idea of surgery be off the table fornowand not forever?
“Head injuries can be tough to treat, Cope. One step forward can sometimes mean taking two steps back. I’m encouraged by the progress he has made. Mr. Eagle said his grandson was one tough son of a gun, a pronouncement I agree with wholeheartedly.”
“What can we do to help Jude?” Fitz asked.
“Just what you’re doing now. Be with him. Hold his hand. Talk to him. Tell stories of your time together. Laugh.” Dr. Albert’s gaze was on Cope. “So many family members treat this place like a funeral home. The best thing you all can do for Jude is to make him remember what he has to look forward to when he wakes up.”
“I know you said that things can fluctuate,” Cope began, not quite sure he wanted to finish asking his question. He was even more scared about her answer, but pressed on anyway, “Is my husband going to wake up? I read studies last night that said eighty percent of patients who go on the respirator-”
Eagle slapped a hand over Cope’s mouth. He shook his head, begging Cope not to finish his question out loud.
“First of all,” Dr. Albert said, with a raised eyebrow, “stop using Google. You’ll drive yourself crazy. In my experience, I’ve seen patients with worse head injuries than Jude make a full recovery, so let’s focus on that, shall we? I’ll be here all day with Jude. If you have any questions, please hit the buzzer and let one of the nurses know you’d like to speak with me. I promise, Cope, we’re doing everything we can for your husband. Isn’t that right, Jude?” She paused for a moment. “I see you’re the strong silent type, which has always been my Kryptonite.”
“Thank you,” Cope said, as the doctor left the room. He turned to Jude. The bruises on his face looked darker than they’d been the day before. The rest of his face was pinker. Yesterday, Jude’s face had been grey and sickly. His body was healing itself. “Hey, babe.” Cope pressed a kiss to Jude’s forehead. “We’re all here. Me. Ronan. Fitz. Eagle. The kids will be here in a bit. They sat at the table last night making pictures for you. I can’t wait for you to see them. You should have seen us all last night eating peanut butter and fluff. I finally took the plunge and ate one. I wished I’d listened to you when we first got together and tried one. Better late than never, I suppose.”
Cope heard voices from down the hall. “I think the kids are here.” He opened the door and saw Wolf, Everly, and Aurora looking like they were on a mission. Wolf had a handful of artwork. Everly carried what looked like a box of markers, and Aurora had a large Stanley cup.
