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I nod again.
“Make sure you do what the doctors tell you to do, especially wearing the mask. That’s what’s going to help you recover the fastest, okay?”
I nod.
“I know your throat must be sore, but the nurses upstairs will switch you to a more comfortable humidifier, and that should help.”
I give her a small smile. That would be great, as everything is dry in my mouth, my throat, and my lips.
Sunni smiles, “You’re a survivor, girl. A fighter. I’m proud of you.” She straightens my sheets and blankets quietly. “I’ll see you later.”
I nod as she closes the door, and I look up at the clock. It’s almost six in the morning. I decide to give Hudson five more minutes of sleep before I stroke his hair with my right hand.
He starts to stir, but startles me when he jumps up. “Kate! What’s wrong? Are you okay? What do you need?” He’s standing looking around at all the monitors and the IV pumps. I suppose he knows what he’s looking at since he is a paramedic. It’s all mumbo jumbo to me.
I smooth my hand down his arm. “I’m okay.” I whisper. “They’re about to move me upstairs.” I pat the empty space on the bed next to me, indicating for him to sit.
Leaning on my bed, he looks at me, and I see his love. “I was so scared. I felt helpless.”
I feel his unshaven cheek as I try to comfort him as our eyes speak volumes to each other. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” He leans down and kisses my forehead just as the orderly opens the door.
“Miss Benson?”
I nod as Hudson moves out of the way.
“Great. We’re moving you to the seventh floor.”
The orderly transfers all the gadgets over to the portable units and wheels me into my new room as Hudson follows along.
The orderly gives my new nursing team all my history and Hudson moves me from the gurney to a much more comfortable, although not my own, bed. I don’t even flinch when he picks me up. I’m just appreciating me not having to exert myself to move over.
Hudson stands off to the side as the nurses ask me a bunch of questions, which I’m glad to realize that even though I’m talking softly, I’m not coughing. They then transfer my monitors and IVs to the holders behind me and settle all of my blankets.
“I’m Jackie and I’ll be your nurse for the next forty-five minutes until the new shift comes on. Dr. Larson called this morning and said he’s on his way in to see you now and that since your levels from the last blood draw were improving, I can switch you over to a nasal cannula.”
“Thank you.” I smile at her. Honestly, I’m ready to take this thing off. It’s irritating.
Nurse Jackie smiles. “I thought you’d like that.” She pulls out a new cannula, switches over the tubing and I’m free of the mask. “There you go. Also, I’m going to order you breakfast and it should be here in about a half hour or so, okay?”
“I’m not really hungry.”
“She’ll eat. I promise.” Hudson interrupts me and then looks at me. “You need the nutrients so I can bust you out of this place.”
He’s right, but I’m still not hungry, so I nod and smile at the nurse.
“Okay then, I’ll leave you two alone.” She smiles and then leaves the room, closing the door behind her.
Hudson drags the big lounge-like chair next to me, sits down, and takes my hand. “When I couldn’t get a hold of you last night… I was so panicked. Then to see you being rolled into the ER…”
“Why were you in the ER when I was brought in?” He takes a deep breath and I know that this can’t be good. “Hudson, what’s wrong? Is everyone okay?” Maybe one of his crew got hurt? His mom? Him?
“Kate, everyone’s fine, but something happened yesterday.”
“What?”
“Someone burned your house down. There’s nothing left. The Fire Marshal is ruling it arson.”
