Ah. Well, I suppose this is where I come in.
“Oh, there’s the doctor. Excuse me, doctor,” Simon says and rushes to stop him.
I follow right behind my brother.
A pained expression covers the man’s face. “I’m sorry, sir. I can’t tell you anything unless you are immediate family.”
“I’m his wife,” I blurt out, and Simon’s neck basically snaps to look at me.
The doctor flips a page on his chart.
“What’s your name?”
“Calla Robertson.”
The doctor nods and gives me a tight smile.
“I can walk you back to see him.”
“Thank you. Is my brother allowed to come with me?” I nod toward Simon.
“Of course. Follow me.”
Simon doesn’t say anything; he just grabs my hands and squeezes it tight. I know he’s going to have a million questions for me later, and later is just fine. The most important thing we need to do right now is see Beck.
I pause at the door the doctor informs us belongs to Beck.
“The good news is, outside of a few broken ribs, a dislocated shoulder, and more bruises than one cares to count, no surgery was required. I’ll give you three a moment before I return to fill you in on more and discuss the recovery time.”
I don’t stop the tears, tugging Simon back when he starts to enter.
“Hold on,” I say, and the doctor steps away to give us some privacy. “I… I…”
“He’s going to be fine, Calla. Let’s go see our boy, alright? Everything else can wait.”
I nod.
The room is dark; only a little light from behind the curtain is peeking through. It glows over Beck’s face, which is covered in bruises and scratches. It looks like one eye is swollen and one arm is wrapped in a sling.
Simon clears his throat, which causes Beck to open his eyes. Well, eye, because I was right— one is swollen shut.
“Hi,” I say first.
Beck doesn’t say anything. He just lets out a breath and closes his eyes.
It’s at this moment I realize that the book doesn’t matter to me. I believe him. He’d never do anything to hurt me.
“How ya feeling, buddy?” Simon asks.
“Like shit,” Beck answers with a scratchy voice. I grab the water from his bedside table and help him sip.
“Thanks.”
“No problem.”
Silence fills the room, and yet my head is swarming with the conversations that should be happening right now.
“So, uh, you married my sister?” Simon asks, smiling at Beck.
