AllFreeNovel
Share Us
There was a huge white bandage plastered to one side of his head. His face was paler than she had ever seen it, except for the purpling bruise that ran from one side of his forehead down to and including his cheekbone. His chest was all taped up.
She swallowed hard, leaned closer, lifted a trembling hand to touch his bruised face. “Oh, Jimmy.”
She heard a throat clear. “Excuse me. Mrs. Corona?”
Kara straightened and turned to see a blond woman with a stethoscope draped around her neck over a white lab coat “We didn’t get that far,” Kara told her. “I’m afraid it’s still Miss Brand. But please call me Kara.”
“I’m Dr. Miller.” The woman held out a hand and Kara took it. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am that your wedding day was so thoroughly ruined. Are you all right?’
“I’ll be fine. It’s Jimmy I’m worried about. How is he, Doctor?”
The doctor looked past her at her patient. “The films don’t look bad. There’s no sign of any serious damage, but that doesn’t give us the whole story. We aren’t really going to know anything for sure until he wakes up.”
“Is he... is he unconscious or is this—” she could barely say the word. “—coma?”
“The EEG reads nicely. It’s not coma. Not yet. He could go deeper or he could come around. No way to predict it. We can really only wait and see.” The doctor sighed. “I’ll give you a few minutes with him. But then I need to examine him again. All right?”
“Thank you, Doctor.”
Dr. Miller left, closing the door behind her. Kara went to the bed. She leaned over it, putting her lips close to Jimmy’s ear. “Wake up, Jimmy. Wake up right now. Tyler’s in trouble. He needs you. And I need you, too.”
She cupped his face with one hand. “Wake up, Jimmy. Come on for Ty.”
It didn’t evoke a reaction.
Closing her eyes, she fought back a tide of disappointment.
“It’s okay. I just want you to know I’m here. We’re all looking for Tyler. We’re going to find him, I promise you that. We won’t give up.”
Sighing, Kara got to her feet. She had to clear out, give the doctor room to work. And she had to go looking for Tyler. She kissed his cheek, then turned and walked to the doorway.
“Kara?”
She froze near the door, then turned back around. Jimmy was peering at her, eyes barely open and squinting as if the light hurt them. His brows drew together and he opened his eyes a little further. He seemed to take in her appearance, the dress, and then he closed his eyes again in what looked like anguish this time. “You look—you’re beautiful. I’m so sorry…”
“Don’t apologize,” she said as she hurried back to his bedside. “I know it wasn’t your fault. Jimmy—” She sat down in the chair beside the bed and gripped his hand in both of hers. “Do you remember what happened?’’
“They... they took Tyler.” He scanned the room. “Angela and Vinnie took Tyler. I need a phone.”
“I’ll get you one. But I need to ask you something first.”
He drew a breath, nodded. “I owe you so much. Ask me anything, Kara, and I’ll tell you.”
She nodded. “Why you did you really want to marry me?”
His brows drew together. “Kara, believe me when I tell you there’s not another woman in the world I would rather have as my wife.”
She nodded. “Because there’s nothing in the world as important to you as Ty. And I’m the best choice for him.” She lifted her head, met his eyes. “It’s okay, Jimmy. I know. I’ve known all along, somewhere inside. This is about Tyler. Not about anything you might... feel for me.”
He searched her face. “You were willing to go through with the wedding even believing that?”
She didn’t answer. Instead she crossed the room and picked up the cordless telephone. “Here. Make your calls. The doctor said she would be in momentarily to examine you, and Chief Wheatly is next in line. Now that I know you’re all right, I’m going out to join the search.”
She turned and started for the door, almost tripping over her skirts, having forgotten their presence.
“Kara, please. Please don’t go. I need to get out of here, I need to search for my son. But I don’t imagine the chief is going to let me until I give him the full account of what happened this morning. And there are things you need to hear, too.”
She heaved a sigh, so disappointed she could barely hold her head upright. She had so wanted to think her misgivings were completely off target. She’d expected him to deny it all, to tell her he loved her. But he hadn’t done those things. Instead he had only confirmed her worst fears.
