“What happened?” I ask, my voice croaky.
My dad moves to the side table to pour me a glass of water. After sipping on enough chilled water to ease the scorching burn in my throat, I bounce my eyes between my parents and Lacey. My brows knit together. They all appear to have aged so much in a short period of time.
My confused eyes rocket to my hospital room door—adding to the giddiness in my head—when it suddenly swings open. An Asian-looking doctor with a kind smile and bright green eyes enters the room carrying a stainless steel clipboard.
“Hello, Blaire, my name is Jae,” she greets me, her voice a unique mix of accents. “I’m the head of surgery at Ravenshoe Private Hospital. It’s great to finally talk to you in person.”
After returning her smile, I ask, “What happened?” I’m not meaning to be rude. I’m just seeking answers to my questions.
Lacey pushes off the door and stands next to Jae. “Blaire’s having a little bit of difficulty with her memory.”
Jae smiles a contrite grin. “That’s understandable. We have had you heavily sedated the past five days.”
Although shocked at her admission I’ve been in hospital for five days, I'm not completely astounded. I feel the most rested I’ve ever felt.
While removing a light from her crisp white doctor’s jacket, Jae moves to the left side of my bed. When she flashes a bright light into my eyes, I inhale a sharp, ragged breath. My mouth falls open as all the events leading up to me being shot flashes before my eyes.
Panic consumes me as my hands dart down to my stomach. “The baby. Is my baby okay?” I ask Jae, dread in my tone.
My parents stare at each other in shock. Their mouths wide, their brows stitched.
When her shock wears off, Lacey squeals, “You’re pregnant?” her voice high in both alarm and excitement.
Tears dribble down my cheek when I nod at the three sets of eyes staring at me. Although their mouths don’t utter a syllable, their eyes are questioning enough.
“Well, I was. . .”Oh god. Please let my baby be okay.
Dr. Jae places her small hand on my forearm, drawing my attention back to her. “Because you’re only a little bit over three months along, the fetus is burrowed deep within your pelvis, happily nestled away from the area the bullet entered your stomach. Since the medics were advised of your condition on arrival, we ensured only pregnancy-approved drugs have been administered to you the past five days. I’ll schedule another scan in a few days, but everything appears to be following the path it should be.”
I snap my eyes shut as sweet relief engulfs me.
My happiness is short-lived when the air shifts so dramatically, a shiver racks through me. Clutching my chest to ensure my wildly beating heart remains in my chest, I slowly open my eyes. A numbness spreads across my chest when I'm met with four sets of eyes staring at me in alarm.
“But. . .” I want to say more, but I can’t force any more words out of my mouth. The tension suffocating the air of oxygen thickens as my concern grows exponentially.
“What aren’t you telling me?” I force out through the painful lump in my throat.
Heaviness slams into my chest when Jae turns to face my parents. “I’ll give you a few moments of privacy. Please be aware Blaire has just awoken after major trauma.”
The beat of my heart merges into dangerous territory, sending the equipment on the side of my bed into alarm. They are the exact words spoken to my parents when they advised me Katie didn’t escape our attackers’ clutches the first time.
After switching off the wailing alarm, Jae exits the room. I lock my eyes with my dad.
“Katie?” My one word is rickety, coerced through the sob sitting in the back of my throat.
Keeping his worldly eyes connected with my wide gaze, my dad moves to sit in the chair next to my bed. When he curls his hand around mine, the rattle of his hand vibrates all the way up my arm.
His eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Katie is okay. She's safe.”
I sigh in relief as tears of joy roll down my cheeks. My breathing turns labored when my dad adds on, “But Rico. . .”
My eyes rocket to my dad. “No. . . Oh, God, please no,” I beg when my his eyes relay the entire story without another word needing to escape his lips.
My dad scoots to the edge of his chair and stares me straight in the eyes. “He saved you, honey. Rico put himself in the line of fire to save you.”
Pain shreds through my heart, tearing it in two. “No, Daddy, no,” I sob, not wanting to believe the truth beaming from his truthful eyes.
He stands from the chair and bands his arms around my shoulders. “I’m sorry, honey. I’m so sorry.”
