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I picked my head up when I heard a gentle voice in my ear.
“Mrs. Brooks?” I blinked a few times to clear my eyes.
“It’s Beverly, honey. What are you doing here? It’s after midnight.”
I sat up. “How is Tim? Is Chase okay?”
“Tim is stable for now. His body is weak, but he’s fighting hard. Chase is upstairs. I can take you to him.”
“He said he would call. I shouldn’t go up yet.”
“Don’t be silly. He would love to see you. So would Khloe, and Tim when he wakes up. We’d all love to have you with us.”
I looked over to Shelly and Brody. “Thanks for waiting here with me.”
“We will take her home,” Beverly said. “Thank you so much for coming.”
Shelly stood and hugged her. “Let us know if you need anything.”
“You’re too kind.”
I followed Beverly through the daunting familiar doors, and felt a tightening in my chest. I kept my eyes straight ahead, so as not to see anything or anyone around me.
She turned into room 303. I hesitated in the doorway. My palms were sweating, and I could feel my heart beating in my throat. Seeing Chase upset, seeing Tim lying there in bed, I was not prepared for any of it. I breathed in deep through my nose to calm my nerves, and shoved my hands into the pocket of my sweatshirt. They couldn’t see me shaking. I had to hold it together for them. I needed to be strong for them.
I heard whispering, and then Chase appeared from behind the curtain that surrounded the bed. With sleep-deprived eyes and flattened hair, he looked exhausted. Still, he mustered a smile as he approached me at the doorframe.
“Are you expecting an earthquake, or are you going to come through the doorway?”
I would have laughed if it wasn’t for the nervous knot in my stomach. “I… I don’t know what to do.”
“Come in. Khloe will be excited to see you.”
I took another deep breath. I saw Khloe when I stepped into the room. She was sitting on Tanner’s lap, who was in a chair next to the window. Her eyes lit up as she hopped off of Tanner, and ran to me with open arms. I scooped her up and squeezed her tightly.
“I can’t breathe,” she whispered.
I pressed my forehead against hers. “How are you doing, my pretty girl?”
“I’m okay. Daddy is not feeling well. He’s tired, so he’s taking a nap right now. You can see him when he wakes up.”
Chase placed a chair behind me. I sat with Khloe in my lap. She leaned her head on my shoulder as she yawned a tiny human yawn. I looked around the room at everyone’s faces. They were all wearing the same tired expression.
“Do you guys need me to get you anything? They have pillows and blankets. I can get you a cup of coffee, or tea?”
“Why don’t you and I take a walk? We can get snacks for everyone,” Chase offered.
“I would love a cup of hot tea, actually.” Beverly held out her arms. “You can give her to me.”
I stood with Khloe in my arms, and placed her in Beverly’s lap. I looked to Tanner, who was mindlessly scrolling through his phone. “Do you want anything in particular?”
He shook his head without saying a word.
Back in the hallway, I kept my focus ahead, like a horse wearing blinders. We walked side-by-side in silence, turning corners and continuing down the next hallway. The pounding inside my head was so loud that I worried Chase could actually hear it.
“How long have you been here for?” he asked quietly.
“Since nine-thirty, I think. I know you didn’t want me here. I was just worried. If you want me to leave, I can have Shelly take me home. I just–”
