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“It’s terrible, Clay.” Her eyes fill with tears.
“I know. We can talk about it when you feel better. We need to concentrate on getting you well again first.”
She shakes her head. “I can’t talk about anything… ever. Please, don’t ask me to.”
She looks and sounds so weak. Nothing like the woman I’ve known for years.
I tilt my head to look at her clearly. She looks terrified and unsettled. Whatever she has just remembered has put her on edge.
“Okay. Whatever you say. We’ll take everything at your pace, short stuff.”
I will get everything out of her in time, but my next milestone is getting her home where she belongs.
“I used to dream and imagine you calling me short stuff. Thinking about you kept me fighting. I still feel like I’m dreaming. I thought I’d never see you again.”
“You never have to imagine me saying anything ever again, because you’re going to be sick of the sight of me before the week is out.” I wink at her.
“Carrick. I heard him.”
I laugh. I know I shouldn’t, but I think everyone in the hospital has heard Carrick this week.
“You did hear him. He’s outside. Do you want me to get him?”
She nods and tries to move but gives up when she realizes that she’s meant to be lying comfortably now, not putting on a face for the world. We’re all her family here, and we don’t care what she looks like, what position she’s lying in, or what she’s wearing. We’re just glad to have her with us after all this time.
I open her room door and signal for Carrick to come in. He looks petrified, but he rushes past me then stops dead in his tracks. He leans over and embraces his hands on his knees.
I pat his back and take up my space beside Shay. Carrick pulls himself together and rounds Shay’s bed and gives her the best hug he can with her lying down.
“Don’t you ever do that to me again, Shay. I’ve been going out of my ever-loving mind. I was dragging Clay to Iraq to kick some ass, and then you showed up, looking like hell, might I add.”
“Why did I agree to let him in? I forgot that he never shuts up.” Shay laughs and closes her eyes. She holds the bridge of her nose and tenses.
“Sore?” I ask her.
She looks exhausted, but she doesn’t respond to my question.
“I see your sarcastic sense of humor is still there.” Carrick rolls his eyes in jest.
“Always.” She smiles weakly. “What’s the damage with my leg?”
Carrick and I look between one another. I don’t think either one of us wants the task of telling her about her injuries, but I think I’ll be the better candidate for the job.
“I know it was bad. I tended to my wounds for the first…” She shrugs. “I don’t know how long it was, but Josh was finding water from rivers. We had no supplies. We had to make do with what nature had for us. I…” She shakes her head, her hands fidget with her blanket, and she bites her lip. “Just tell me how bad it is.”
I take in a deep breath and exhale slowly, deliberately stalling for time. “It’s better than we first thought when you arrived here. We were told that there was a chance you’d lose your leg, especially if the infection had spread to the bone and didn’t respond to antibiotics. However, the plastic surgeon was able to remove a lot of the dead tissue that was causing infection, and so far…” I hold up crossed fingers. “…So far, the wounds are healing nicely, and the orthopedic surgeon is happy with the progress. What we don’t know yet is how badly affected your mobility will be. You’ve lost a lot of muscle in your legs.”
She nods. “Rehab will help. I thought it would be a lot worse.”
I can’t help but feel so proud of the woman lying in front of me, because her strength and determination is still shining brightly. Some people would give up at the first hurdle, but not my short stuff. Nothing will keep her down.
“Mom and Dad have just gone home to Clay’s to get some rest. I’ll give them a call when I’ve got my fill of you.”
I don’t think Carrick has taken his eyes off Shay since he walked into her room and saw she was awake. I don’t blame him. I feel like if I blink, everything will disappear, and we’ll be back to searching for her again.
Shay clears her throat. “How are they?”
“Over the moon that you’re home. We’ve all been existing, ya know.” Carrick shrugs and reaches forward and takes Shay’s hand in his. “It hasn’t been pretty but having you home is the best gift ever.”
