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CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
Tulsi
“What is it? What is it?”Tulsi gripped Mia’s shoulders and held on tight, not knowing if she was supporting Mia or the other way around.
“My uncle just called,” Mia said, pain and fear mixing in her eyes. “There’s been an accident. Two kids were drag racing on the highway. One of them hit your dad’s truck head on and Clementine’s air bag exploded.”
“But she’s okay.” Tulsi gripped Mia tighter, her heart slamming in her chest. “Clem’s okay!”
“I don’t know,” Mia sobbed. “They said she was hit with shrapnel from the air bag and maybe the other car. She’s bleeding really bad so they’re taking her straight to the hospital. Sawyer’s getting the truck; we can go right now.”
“No,” Tulsi moaned, rage and terror rocketing through her, making it feel like the ground was tilting beneath her feet. “She’s going to be okay. She has to be okay. She has to!”
“I’ve got you.” Pike appeared behind her, propping her up as her knees buckled. “Come on. We can all fit in the truck. She’s going to be fine. Let’s get there as fast as we can and let her know she’s not alone. She’s going to need her mama.”
Tulsi fought to catch her breath and firm up her legs. Pike was right. Clem needed her. She couldn’t fall apart. She had to get to the hospital and get Clem’s hand in hers and then everything was going to be okay. She couldn’t let herself imagine any other outcome or fathom a world without her baby girl in it. Clem was everything, the best part of her and the biggest piece of her heart.
There was nothing she wouldn’t do to keep her child alive.
When they arrived at the hospital, the Emergency Room nurse met them in the waiting room to explain that Clem was in surgery to remove the shrapnel that had pierced her chest, but that the tiny Lonesome Point hospital was low on blood.
“We’re asking any family members who are a match to donate right away,” the woman with the tired eyes and black hair pulled back in a tight ponytail explained. “Just in case Clementine needs a transfusion. Do you know if you or the father are O positive?”
“I’m A negative,” Tulsi said, not hesitating for a second to do what she had to do. “But Pike is Clementine’s father and he’s O positive. Her Aunt Mia might be too, but I don’t know for sure.”
She felt shock ripple through the people behind her and Mia made a sound like she’d taken a sucker punch to the gut, but Tulsi didn’t waste time trying to explain.
“Can I go to her?” Tulsi asked the nurse. “Maybe if she just saw me in the room, or outside the window, it would help.”
“I’m sorry,” the nurse said sympathetically. “They put her under and no one but the operating team is allowed in the room. They’re taking it slow to make sure they keep her stable while they get all the shrapnel and debris out of her body.” She glanced at her watch. “It’s going to be at least another two hours until she’s out of surgery and then we’ll have to monitor her in recovery to see how she’s responding to coming out of the anesthesia. But as soon as she’s awake and stable, we’ll make sure you’re the first person she sees. The best thing we can do now is get a blood donation from Dad and anyone else who’s a match and go from there.”
Tulsi turned, flinching as she met Pike’s stunned gaze.
“Go with her please,” Tulsi whispered, motioning toward the nurse. “Help our daughter and I swear I’ll explain why I kept it a secret. Just…help her.” Tulsi fought to keep her face from crumpling. “Please, help her.”
With a final dazed shake of his head, Pike pushed past her, following the nurse through the swinging doors.
“Wait,” Mia said, releasing Sawyer’s hand. “I’m O positive. I’ll donate, too.”
Mia hurried after Pike, not sparing Tulsi a glance. But as she passed by, Tulsi caught a glimpse of the hurt and betrayal tightening her best friend’s features. Things were never going to be the same between them. They might not be civil on the other side of this, let alone friends, but it didn’t matter. All that mattered was Clem getting through the surgery and staying alive.
Tulsi crossed her arms tight at her chest, refusing to cry when Sawyer laid a gentle hand on her back.
“It’s going to be okay,” he said. “She’s a fighter and she’s strong. She’s going to be okay.”
Tulsi nodded hard and sniffed. “She will. She has to be.”
“Can I get you anything?” Sawyer asked kindly. “Water or a coffee? Find you a chair?”
“No, thank you,” Tulsi said, taking a step away, knowing she didn’t deserve comfort. “I should check on my dad and call my mom in Destin to let her know what’s happening. She’ll want to start looking for a plane flight.”
The ladies at the check-in desk let her know that her father had suffered a concussion and some serious bruising, but was in stable condition and being moved to a room upstairs.
“Can I go see him?” Tulsi asked. “Is he awake?”
“He is, but he’s put in a request for no visitors.” The blonde with the pencil shoved through her bun tapped a pink fingernail to the computer screen. “No one except his wife, no other family members.”
“What?” Tulsi shook her head. “Why? Can I at least talk to him on the phone in his room, I don’t—”
