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Twenty-One
“Letme get a nurse and get you checked out first.” Tessa stood and hurried out of the room.
Dad leaned his head down on the bed next to my arm. The IV attached to me was startling, but I did my best to ignore it. “I’m so sorry, sweetie. This is all my fault.”
His hand still held mine, and I gave it a slight tug. “What happened? I don’t remember?”
“There was a fire,” he said without moving.
I closed my eyes, and the memories came back. The smoke. The heat. Being trapped. “I couldn’t open the windows.”
“I know.” His voice was tight. “I know.”
“I saw the firetruck pull up, but I don’t remember anything else,” I said to the ceiling. It was easier to stare up than look at him.
“It took them several minutes to break through the glass. We don’t know why yet. You were unconscious during that time.”
The door opened again, and Tessa stepped inside with a man wearing light blue scrubs. “Well, this is a wonderful sight, Avalon. I’ve been waiting to meet you for a while.”
He was very handsome, and his charm helped me relax. “Sorry.”
“Never apologize for needing to rest.” He winked as he walked to the bedside opposite my dad and held his stethoscope to my chest. “I’m Doctor Lindsey.”
I offered the best smile I could and breathed in and out at his instruction.
“How are you feeling?” he asked while helping me sit up so he could listen from the back.
“Tired. My throat hurts too.” I spoke softly. That seemed to be the only thing to lessen the pain.
“You can start sipping water, but it will take a few days for the swelling to go down.”
I nodded, and after he listened, he put his hand on my shoulder, leaning me back to the pillows.
“Your lungs sound great. We were worried there would be more damage from smoke inhalation, but it looks like your body just needs some time to recover.” He smiled at me then my dad and Tessa before walking back to the door. “I’ll be back to check on you in a bit.”
Tessa replaced him at my side and lifted a small cup with a straw to my lips. I took a few greedy sips before she pulled it back. “Let’s start small.”
I nodded and looked at Dad, he watched me with more worry than I’d ever seen from him, and that was saying something.
“Why were you out for so long if there isn’t damage?”
Tessa shifted to my head and moved the pillows, so I was propped up a bit more. “I think she collapsed from the effort of holding up her barrier for so long, not necessarily the smoke.”
That triggered the memory of my legs giving out. I was so exhausted at that moment, and the smoke was too much.
“I think so too.”
Dad’s shoulders slumped. “I’m so sorry.”
“Why are you sorry? It wasn’t your fault. You weren’t even there.”
“Exactly.” His voice was too loud for the small room. “I should have been there. I should have taken care of you.”
I looked to Tessa for help. Blaming himself wasn’t going to help anything, and there were too many other things to worry about right now.
“Ron, we all wish we could have done more to help or prevent the fire, but that thinking will only make things worse. We need to focus on what we can do now.”
He sighed and nodded slowly. “You’re right.”
