AllFreeNovel
Share Us
In the bank, our paths didn’t cross often, but I did bump into him twice in the next few days. Both times, a smile never graced his face. Those penetrating eyes showed no real recognition. It was as if he had never rescued Emily and me. That was crazy. I, of course, smiled at him. I even mentioned Emily. I received nothing in return, which stung. I had to admit that, I would have liked a little something. I told myself that he was cool because I was a married woman, and we were in the building. We certainly didn’t need the rumor mill to kick into high gear and connect us. I was willing to grasp any explanation that made sense and didn’t indicate that he really had no interest in me.
Interest in me.
That was the bugaboo. On one hand, I didn’t want interest from Codrin. I didn’t want the guilt that came with interest. On the other hand, I wanted interest because that stroked my ego. I told myself that I was doing everything for Emily, who had taken a shine to Codrin. That was a little fib I could live with. I couldn’t live with the bigger truth that I longed for attention. Wayne had been gone for so long. All my old friends had been left behind in Wilmington. I fought the loneliness that came with being a single mom. Codrin might have at least smiled.
Luckily, the snow had created a number of problems that HR had to solve. Employees needed assurances. Management needed guidance. I found myself consulting with legal over several situations that defied the rule book. Just when I thought I had seen everything, someone arrived with a new conundrum. People were always inventing new ways to vex me. The issues kept me from wondering about Codrin.
The call from the school was unnerving.
The children had gone out for recess, and the playground was wet, not really slippery. Emily was running, and someone bumped her head. She fell and hit her head on the pavement. She was in the nurse’s office, resting, a big knot on her forehead. I was assured that she knew her name and address, and her eyesight appeared unaffected. But they were going to send her to the hospital for a scan.
What?
The nurse assured me it was purely a precautionary effort. The scan would show if there was a concussion and bleeding. That was the real fear.
Concussion.
The word bounced around inside my head, and I didn’t catch much more of the nurse’s explanation. My job was to get to the hospital as soon as possible. There were forms to sign and doctors to talk to. While they would go ahead with the scan, all the approvals had to be completed.
Concussion.
I informed Josh and left a message for Doak. I drove to the hospital at an unreasonable speed, hoping that the police didn’t notice. I wouldn’t have noticed them, that was certain. I had one thought, and one thought only…Emily.
A very nice volunteer steered me to admittance, where another polite woman helped me fill out the forms and verify the medical insurance I had just acquired. As soon as the paperwork was finished, another volunteer guided me to a waiting area. A nurse informed me that Emily’s scan was in progress. When it was over, she would be taken to a bed, where I could see her. As soon as the scan was evaluated, I would meet the doctor in charge. The hospital staff made it all sound so routine, so easy. Treatment was a well-oiled process. Yes, it might take some time, but it produced results.
Concussion.
When I reached the room and saw Emily, I wanted to cry. Two black eyes, a large lump, and a nose that I didn’t think had been broken, she smiled a wan smile.
“How is it?” I asked.
“My head hurts,” she replied.
I sat on the bed and took her small hand. “You’re going to be just fine. When the doctor arrives, we’ll get you something for your headache. Would you like to watch TV?”
She started to nod and stopped. “Yeah.”
Luckily, I found cartoons on the TV and placed the speaker next to her head. Rubbing her hand, I watched her. I didn’t know much about concussions, but I knew enough to check out the eyes. If they went haywire, I needed to pound the call button for help. She seemed all right, even chuckling at the cartoon. That was a good sign. I needed to get coffee, but I knew that as soon as I left the room, the doctor would arrive. That always happened. It was as if they waited down the hall, watching. As soon as the patient was alone, they would swoop in. The unlucky parent would get nothing. I sat and observed.
Hospital time was different from normal time. I watched TV with Emily for what seemed like an hour, only to discover that fifteen minutes had passed. It was bonkers, but it was true. Patience was what I needed, but patience was not my forte. Anxiety was the order of the day. I was that parent whose blood pressure was rising by the second, who needed information an hour ago. I needed my own sort of TLC. I was her mother.
“She has a concussion.”
The doctor was female, in scrubs, and a bit chubby. She wore glasses and smiled a lot as if that was what I needed. I did need it. I needed a lot of it. The doctor did the usual check for eye dilation, even as she asked Emily questions. Emily answered them all correctly—name, phone, and address. I was proud of her.
“There is no bleeding at this time,” the doctor continued. “We’re going to treat her headache and keep her here for observation. If everything checks out, she’ll be leaving tomorrow or the next day.”
“Surgery?” I asked.
“Not necessary at this time.”
“She looks…bad.”
“All the bruising will go away. I don’t think there will be any permanent damage.”
The little checkup lasted less than fifteen minutes. I was told I could stay with her. Not that I was going to leave. I walked out with the doctor, just in case there was something I needed to know, but Emily didn’t.
“You’re the parent,” the doctor said. “So, you have to act like it’s no big deal. Your daughter should heal quickly. Children normally do. In the meantime, talk to her, and keep her engaged. If she starts to slur or has problems with one side of the other, hit the call button. Bleeding for a child is the same as bleeding for an adult. Keep an eye on her.”
