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I’m coming, Jenna, I’m coming.
She drove as quickly as she could within the limits of safety, half hoping she’d be pulled over so she could ask for a police escort. No one stopped her and she parked and stormed through the doors of the hospital like a hurricane. “I’m looking for Jenna Stewart. I mean Sullivan.”
It was only when the woman at the desk gave her a startled look that she became conscious of her disheveled appearance.
Clearing cupboards and loading the last of the boxes had been dirty work. Her skirt was thick with dust and she knew she probably still had that smudge of dirt on her cheek.
She didn’t give a damn. All she cared about was her daughter.
“Jenna Sullivan. She was brought in a few minutes ago. Car wreck.” Saying the words made her mouth dry. She knew it would be a long time until she forgot the moment she’d picked up the phone and heard Jenna’s trembling voice.
Mom, help me.
When had Jenna ever asked her for help?
“The team are with her now. If you’d like to take a seat, we’ll—”
“I would not like to take a seat. I need to see my daughter.” She felt like a lioness and she was ready to use her claws if she had to. She knew enough about people to know that aggression wasn’t going to help her, so she kept her voice well modulated but firm. If the woman couldn’t see Nancy meant business, then she needed a sight test.
“As soon as she has been assessed you’ll be able to—”
“Now,” Nancy said. “I’d like to see her now. It’s important that she has family with her.”
Her daughter had called her for help, and no way was she letting her down. Not this time.
Not ever again.
The woman at the desk eyed her warily, clearly wondering if she should call security. Keeping her eyes on Nancy, she picked up the phone and moments later an ER nurse appeared.
“You’re Jenna’s mother? I’m glad you’re here. She’s asking for you. She’s very upset. You can have a few minutes with her before we take her to the OR.”
Nancy’s stomach flip-flopped. “She needs surgery?”
“Her blood pressure is low and the scan we did shows that she’s bleeding into her abdomen. We think she might have damaged her spleen. It’s not uncommon after blunt trauma like a motor vehicle accident.”
That wasn’t the news Nancy had been hoping for and her legs shook as she followed the nurse through into the department. Spleens were important, weren’t they? Something to do with protecting you from infection? Mack would have instantly found the answer on her phone, but Nancy was a dinosaur and restricted to the limitations of her memory.
Jenna was lying on a gurney, an IV in her arm and a dressing on her head. There was a livid bruise on her cheek and her eyes were red from crying. When she saw Nancy, more tears spilled down her cheeks. “Mom? I’m so glad you came. Don’t leave me, will you? Promise you won’t leave.”
Nancy stepped forward, hiding her shock.
“I’m right here, honey. I’m not leaving.” She wrapped her arms around her daughter as carefully as she could, hoping she wasn’t making anything worse. “There. Everything is going to be all right.”
“Everything is awful,” Jenna hiccupped and Nancy rocked and soothed her.
“I know you’re scared, but the doctors here are wonderful. They’re going to fix this.”
Please let them fix it, please let them fix it.
“It isn’t just the accident. That’s one more thing to pile on to all the other things. Things they can’t fix.” Jenna sobbed harder and the nurse monitoring her blood pressure glanced up and frowned.
Nancy ignored her. “What do you mean? What can’t they fix?”
“The baby.” Jenna’s words were disjointed and jerky. “They can’t...fix...the baby.”
Nancy smoothed away Jenna’s tears with her thumb. “You’re pregnant? Have you told the doctors?”
Jenna shook her head, her face swollen with crying. “I’m not pregnant. I’ve never been pregnant.” She choked out the words. “I’m never going to be pregnant.”
