Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 105846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Summer is fighting for her life—literally—and emotionally, I know Bennett is fighting with every ounce of strength for his.
27
Norah
Today, without a shadow of a doubt, has been the longest, hardest day of my life.
I thought finding out everything I did on the day of my wedding was the worst thing I would experience in my lifetime, but this—watching Bennett’s agony and Summer’s pain—has surpassed everything that day was and more ten times over.
After we arrived at the local hospital just outside of Red Bridge and they managed to stabilize Summer’s breathing, a Life Flight helicopter arrived to take her to Burlington where her normal staff of doctors practices. Bennett had to talk fast, but they let him on the helicopter with her. I have a feeling the combination of his desperation and the underlying sense that he would literally kill anyone who stood in his way played a large role in getting him on board. I procured his keys to follow with his truck.
Now, after a day of tests and hushed conversations between doctors in the hall, Summer is finally resting comfortably, while Bennett sits at her bedside. She looks so small here, in the harsh lighting of the hospital, and I’m still fighting with everything I have not to break down and cry.
As soon as I’m out of here, though, my face will be the newest hot spot on Niagara Falls.
“Bennett,” I call softly, barely rapping my knuckles on the wood door as I do.
He looks up, and I can’t help but notice the red rimming his eyes. I want to apologize, to make myself small in this really huge moment, but I don’t. He wouldn’t want me to. “Can I talk to you in the hall for a second?”
He nods, leaning down to kiss the back of Summer’s hand before he releases it. I turn and head for the hallway, knowing that the biting hold my teeth have on the inside of my cheek isn’t going to stave off my tears much longer.
I wait patiently in the fluorescent light, leaning my back against the wall for support. Bennett comes out a minute later, and I do my best not to falter when I see him.
“I just wanted to take a minute to see if you need anything before I head out.” The emotion in my voice makes my words come out all choppy. I clear my throat and force the tears to stay behind my eyes. “I can get you food or clothes or call someone for you? Anything at all, I’d be happy to do it.”
“You’re leaving?”
Temporarily stunned, I open my mouth and close it again before finding some semblance of words. “Only when you’re ready for me to. But I don’t want to intrude, so I thought I could take an Uber home for the night and come back in the morning if you need.”
“An Uber? Where’s your car?”
I take no offense that he’s discombobulated right now. Frankly, I’d be shattered pieces of hysteria if I were him.
“At the entrance to the Happy Trail, actually. The start of my sheep-ish adventure.” My anecdote should be funny, but nothing feels funny right now.
“I’ll take you to it.”
“No, Bennett. It’s okay, really. I’ll find a way home. Take a cab or an Uber or something. You can stay with Summer, and—”
“I’m not letting you ride all the way home from Burlington with some stranger in a cab, Norah. Summer’s sleeping, and with the meds they gave her, the doctors think she will be for a while. I’ll take you to your car and then come back.”
I nod instead of fighting it. For just tonight, I refuse to be a pain in this man’s ass.
After letting the nurse know he’s leaving and stopping in to give Summer one last kiss—from each of us—we weave our way through the hospital to the parking garage, climb into his truck, and head off for Red Bridge in comfortable silence.
It’s not until we’re completely out of Burlington that Bennett says something that renders me speechless. “I was happy you were there today. For Summer.”
Wow. Just…wow. My heart races, and it takes me a hot minute to get my bearings. I have so many questions I want to ask him about Summer and her well-being and how often emergent situations like that happen. But I know now isn’t the right time.
So, I simply go with honesty when I get my tongue to work. “I was happy I was there, too.”
Besides Charlie and the other nurses who help take care of Summer, Bennett is usually doing it alone. Being a single parent is hard enough, but being a single parent with a daughter as sick as Summer? I can’t even imagine. I hate that that’s his reality.
“And I owe you an apology,” he declares, and I look toward him while trying to hide the disbelief that wants to make itself known on my face. “I was out of line on Friday night, and I owe you an apology for it. I’m sorry.”