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“Elias Finchley, Mr. Ranger’s attorney.”
He nods. “Mr. Ranger’s numbers are remarkable. His markers show no elevation that require keeping him sedated.” He scrolls once more through his tablet. “Lipids and lipoproteins indicate a healthy man. His BP is stable. No concerns from surgery. Slightly elevated temp, but that’s to be expected. The only reason for the MIC would’ve been risk of stroke, but I think we’re passed that.”
“So that means?”
“That means we can discontinue Propofol and reverse the coma. Depending on how Mr. Ranger responds upon waking, we may be able to pull the vent, though we’ll have to keep him a few days. We need to be assured he can breathe on his own and ensure the surgical wound is closed.”
The relief that washes over me is palpable. It’s all I can do not to puddle on the floor and sob grateful tears.
The doctors finish and leave without more conversation. Colt sleeps through it all, but our reprieve will be short-lived.
“Exton and Willa arrive a little after noon. I’m going to pick them up at the airport, if that’s okay with you, so they don’t have to grab an uber. Unless you want to?”
“I’ll stay with Pop and Colt. Colt’ll be awake by then and I hope Pop will be too...”
“Darlin’, if Colt get antsy, you’ll have to leave Kimp’s side. They won’t allow anything that impedes his healing. You sure you don’t want me to take him?”
“I’m positive. I can handle this.”
“That works—” he starts before interrupting his own thought. “I was looking for my tablet this morning. Where’d you put it?”
“Shit. I forgot it in the barn. You asked. I grabbed it and set it… Somewhere. My desk maybe? I’m sorry.”
“I’ll ask Brax to bring it.” He walks to Pop’s bedside and grabs a notepad and a pen with the hospital’s logo on the side. “Game plan. What do you need? What will we need? Anything that will help Colt? We could be here a couple of days, though I supposed Kimp’ll be moved out of ICU and into a regular room once he’s stable and the hospital realizes how loud a gaggle of Rangers can be.”
“A razor or clippers, if we can get one easily.” I look to Pop. “He’s never not clean-shaven. I don’t want him to feel scruffy. Bottled water. We’ll need it for Colt’s bottles. And several phone chargers. Oh, and a Ranger jersey.”
His head springs up. “All are easy asks until the last one. I’ll do my best.” He kisses me boldly on the lips and holds my eyes as he pulls away. “Back in a flash. Do you want anything to eat before I go?”
I shake my head, but my stomach growls at the same time. I don’t know when I ate last.
“Baby? You want to stretch your legs and hit the cafeteria or you want me to?”
I look over to Pop and then Colt. When I look back to Eli, it’s as if he can read my mind.
“I’ll be right back. Stay with your dad. He’ll want to see your face when he wakes up. Same with Colt.”
He leaves and returns several minutes later with a tray that could feed five, but instead is full of choices for me and for Colt. I get a quick peck to the forehead, and he’s gone again.
* * *
At a quarter to eight,a nurse enters Pop’s room with another doctor. I only know this because of the color of her scrubs.
Colt is anxious and the eggs, toast, and bottle didn’t help. He’s out of his element. Hell, we all are. Besides, this room is cold.
“Miss Ranger, we need you to step out of the room.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Patient rights require privacy. We’ll call you when we can.”
“Call me…?”
“Ma’am, it’s hospital policy. He’ll receive a quick bath, and we’ll administer antibiotics and meds to reverse the coma. We won’t be long.”
My patience is thin, but I do as she asks. Grabbing my phone and lifting Colt to my hip, we make our way into the hall. When several moments have passed, I find myself troubled and anxious. I go to the nurse’s station only to find it empty and wander further, this time out the double doors and into the waiting room where I panicked last night.
I slide to the floor and allow Colt to crawl. I pretend to chase him, tickling his feet and sides, and letting his giggles wash over me.
