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Chapter Three
Kael
By the time we arrive at the hospital, I’m ready to crawl out of my own skin. It's been thirty minutes of hell and staff too busy to get an update on the phone. I crash in through the doors, immediately slowing my steps when the desk attendant glances up sharply, and try to calm myself as I ask for Cora. For whatever reason, the guy and his posse follow me in, but I really don’t care. They’d tried to introduce themselves, but I hadn’t paid attention after the one I’d been talking to said his name was Drake.
The lady looks up Cora's information, giving me a small, polite smile as she delivers the news. “Sir, your wife is already in surgery. If you’ll go down this hall and take a left, then the elevator to the third floor, you can follow the signs into waiting room B. I’ll let the nurses’ station know to expect you.” I thank the woman and begin to follow the directions only to find I’m still being followed.
“Do you mind? I’m grateful for the ride, but anything further isn’t necessary.” Why are they still here?
“Please, we’d like to make sure Cora is okay and to offer any support we can.” His eyes are tight at the corners, and I again feel like there’s more to it than that.
Not wanting to waste the time arguing, I spit out, “Fine” and keep going. It’s only minutes to get to the waiting area, and I find an employee at the desk to inquire further about Cora.
“I’ve already sent word to the operating room for an update. Please have a seat, and someone should be out shortly,” the man says.
“Thank you.” I move the seating area and find a chair close to the door I imagine someone will come out of when there's news, dropping my bag and Cora’s oversized purse onto the one next to it. The guys follow me in but move to take seats on the far side of the waiting area.
My head thumps back against the wall, and as I'm closing my eyes to settle in for a long night, an envelope sticking out of Cora's purse snags my attention. The corner of it has the courthouse stamp on it, and I pull it out to find a copy of our marriage certificate. Bowing my head, I wipe at a stray tear that escapes before it can fall on the printed paper. There’s already a smudge from my fingers, and I carefully fold it back up before tucking it into the envelope and redepositing it in Cora’s purse.
***
I’m not sure how long I wait until the door opens and a green scrub-wearing individual comes out, but it feels like an eternity.
“Family of Cordelia Malbec?” the woman questions the room.
“Shultz, it’s Cordelia Shultz. We were just married. I’m her husband,” I correct her.
The woman gives a short nod at the information. “Mr. Shultz, I’m one of the nurses on the surgery team— I'm not going to sugarcoat it; your wife is in critical condition. The collision caused internal injuries, and the placenta separated fully from her uterus. The fetus was stillborn by the time a cesarean was performed.” She pauses, letting me absorb the news as I feel the blood drain from my face. I’d already been sure she was gone at the accident site, but I'd held out a small bit of hope that I was wrong.
“It’s very likely that even with immediate delivery the result would have been the same. At this point the surgeon is trying to stop the bleeding from the tear. Several of her ribs were broken by the seat belt, and there is deep bruising around the entire torso. Her right leg is fractured, most likely from the vehicle buckling as I believe it was her door that was initially hit?” I nod yes, and the woman continues with her seemingly never-ending list of injuries. “One of her kidneys is badly bruised and swollen and will need to be monitored closely— right now we're hopeful it will heal. The most urgent issue is the bleeding from her uterus; at this time, the doctor has managed to slow it greatly, but if he can’t get it under control, he’ll have to perform a hysterectomy.” The woman stays stoic, but a hint of sympathy lurks in her gaze.
“No," I protest, "she wants kids. Not unless he has to.” The nurse holds up her hand to stall me.
“The surgeon is doing everything he can to avoid it, but she’s had two transfusions already. It’s putting her in further danger, and I want you to be prepared in case it happens. That’s all I have for you right now. I’d encourage you to get checked out just to be sure you didn’t suffer any injury either while you wait.” The woman who never even gave me her name disappears back behind the door. The beep as it electronically latches sounds dully in my ears while my brain tries to make sense of everything.
Before I can fully digest the broken condition of my wife, another nurse comes out. "Mr. Schultz?" She waits until I pick my gaze up from the floor to look and nod at her. "I'm Francine, and I'm going to be the one taking care of your little one now." She smiles kindly while the entire room freezes, and I feel the blood drain from my face. I can't do this. "Would you like to help? A lot of parents in this situation find it comforting to have some mementos. I know your wife isn't in a position to attend at the moment."
Of course, she had to say that. And I bet Cora would want them as well. Sucking it up, I follow the nurse through the doors.
By the time I'm done, I've signed more documents than I can remember what for and have had my heart pulled through my ribs. The somber faces that greet my return aren't any comfort, and I sink back down into my chair, ignoring the five in the room with me, to rest my head back against the wall.
I must doze off for a bit because someone is tapping me on the shoulder what seems only a moment later. It’s the same woman as before that updated me about Cora. And she doesn't waste any time wrecking what's left of my world.
This time her stoic manner is tinged with a grim finality. “Mr. Shultz, your wife’s condition has deteriorated. Her kidney swelling increased, and it ruptured. The blood loss was overwhelming, and between it and the uncontrollable bleeding in her uterus, both have been removed. She’ll be moved into recovery as soon as she’s stable enough to do so. She coded twice, and her blood pressure is still dangerously low. We're doing everything we can, but— I’m sorry, but her prognosis is very poor at this time. I’ll be back as soon as you’re able to see her.”
I’m too shattered to notice when she leaves. I drop my head into my hands, my loss streaming down my face in tears of pain and sorrow. In a single moment my family was ripped away from me on what should have been one of the happiest days of our lives. Ripped away by the assholes sitting in this room, watching my heartbreak unfold. Rage overtakes me, and it’s everything I can do not to tear into them; only not being able to see Cora stays my hand.
“Get. Out,” I grit through clenched teeth.
“Kael, we can help—” Drake starts.
I cut him off. “No, you’ve done enough. I’m sure you heard what’s happened, and you could have prevented it. Now, leave.” I go to the bank of windows to stare out at the dark Seattle skyline. I’m debating calling Cora’s family or not even though I'm already feeling guilty enough for them knowing she was getting married today. I’d tried to get them to come; instead, they’d refused, and her step-brother had told Damien.
Her fighting for her life and our baby being gone is all my fault.
Drake tries again. “I can help her.” He says it fast, so much so that I don’t register what he means at first.
The incredulity shines bright in my tone when I blurt out, “How, how do you think you can help her? Can you fix her body? Bring back her baby? No. You can’t.” Idiot, money isn’t going to help this situation. One of the others is trying to pull him back, furiously arguing that he can’t do it. I’m not sure what they’re talking about, but they’re obviously not happy.
