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“I don’t know. For me, the swelling went down pretty quick, but I couldn’t run track for the rest of the season. We only had a month left then. They had me do some physical therapy to strengthen the joint. Never happened again,” he offered with a shrug.
“Fuck,” I muttered.
Graham cast me a rueful grin. “Your timing is good. You know we’re headed into winter soon.”
“I guess I’ll be grateful for small favors.”
Maybe an hour or so later, I was being wheeled in by wheelchair into the hospital. I’d argued against the wheelchair, but Graham insisted on it, declaring he didn’t want me making it worse. Even though I wasn’t about to admit it, I didn’t want to put any weight on my knee. It hurt like hell every time I did.
Graham stopped at the circular desk in the ER. It so happened Holly Fox was there. She looked up, glancing back and forth between us. “I’m assuming Jonah is the injured party here.”
“Of course, he is. He’s in the wheelchair,” Graham said dryly. “He dislocated his knee. We just need him cleared.”
Holly rounded the desk, coasting her concerned gaze over me. “Did Charlie send you guys this way?”
Graham nodded. “Yeah, she’s all booked at the office. She said you guys can do it as an acute care visit. I don’t even know the difference.”
Holly nodded along. “While you came into the ER, we have the walk-in clinic for her family practice in one of the wings.” Holly gestured toward a hallway. “One of her medical assistants will take a look, and we’ll go from there.” She glanced at me. “By the way, your grandmother is going to be okay.”
“What?!” I barked.
“You didn’t know she was here?” Her brown eyes widened.
“Uh, no. What are you talking about?”
“Let me take you to her. In the meantime, I’ll page Rachel.”
“Who is Rachel, and who is Charlie, by the way?” I asked.
“She’ll fill you in. I need to get back to the station. Holly, make sure they give me an update,” Graham called as he backed up with a wave.
“Of course!” Holly called over her shoulder as she turned the wheelchair and began moving me down the hallway.
“What happened to Gram?” I repeated.
“She’s fine, but she passed out this morning. Dennis couldn’t get her in his car, so he went over to Alice’s, and she drove her in. I don’t know why he didn’t call the ambulance, not that it matters. I don’t think they could’ve gotten her here any sooner. She’s fine. She’s just, well—” Holly stopped and turned to face me. “You know she’s dying, right?”
I felt as if I were falling and took a quick breath. “Today?” I was on my grandmother’s approved list of contacts with her doctor and the hospital, so beyond what she’d told me, I knew her odds weren’t good.
“Not today, but she’s slowing down. She felt really weak so we’ve got her on an IV to get her fluids up. The doctor thinks she is dehydrated. She needs to do a better job of staying on top of that. Charlie’s in surgery, but she checked her out this morning. She’ll make some adjustments so your grandmother is more comfortable at home.”
My heart gave an achy beat. Holly started wheeling me again. Moments later, I was in the hospital room, studying my grandmother. She rolled her head to the side, immediately asking, “Why are you in a wheelchair?”
“I dislocated my knee. Stupid injury. I was jumping down to get something and landed on a rock. It was just a bad landing,” I explained. “The more important question is how are you?”
Gram narrowed her eyes, completely ignoring my question. “You are not allowed to get hurt,” she announced, wagging a finger at me.
A chuckle rustled in my throat. “I did get hurt, but I’m fine. How are you?”
Gram waved a hand dismissively in the air. “I am fine. Dennis didn’t even need to bring me here.”
Holly checked something on the screen on the monitor beside my grandmother, clucking as she looked at her. “Dennis did the right thing by calling Alice. Your fluids were low, and you passed out. We want you comfortable and preferably conscious.”
“I’m dying,” Gram said, appearing annoyed by the whole thing.
I shook my head slowly, my heart giving several achy thumps. “Maybe you are dying,” I offered, “but we want you comfortable. I’m glad Dennis asked Alice to drive you here.”
“Well, I’m here for the night. Charlie already said so. How are you going to get home? I don’t think you can drive with that.” She gestured toward my right leg.
