Awake My Heart (The Bentini Brothers Book 3) (2 page)

Chapter 2

     “Are you fucking serious, you called Security?!”

     “As you are not willing to leave this room, you left us no
choice.”

     “You’re damn right I won’t go!”

     “Will please, calm down,” his sister, Gabby tries to reason
with him, placing a restraining hand on his arm, that he quickly shakes off.  “You’re
not helping Kathy by acting this way.  Let Dr. Campbell and Dr. Hill do their
job.  We can wait out in the waiting room until they’re finished.”

     “I’m not leaving her,” Will snarls stubbornly, setting his
cerulean gaze back on the woman laying so still on the hospital bed.

     “Sir, you are not her immediate family and therefore are not permitted
to be in this room, nor are you privy to her medical information,” Dr.
Campbell, the older of the two doctors and the doctor in charge, states resolutely. 
It is apparent that this is not the first time he has had to deal with a
situation such as this.

     “We are the only family she has here at the moment and we
aren’t going anywhere,” Will argues, not budging an inch.

     Gabby tries again, “Will please, mom and dad are on their way,
don’t let them see you being escorted off the premises by Security.”  She glances
over at the two security guards standing anxiously alert just inside the door
waiting for a signal from the doctors.  “Will, let’s go to the waiting room,” she
pleads insistently, tugging on his arm.  It’s times like these when she wishes
her brothers weren’t such big men with fire coursing through their veins when
riled.

     “We understand your concern Mr. Bentini, but it’s hospital
policy that only the patient’s immediate family be allowed—”

     William cuts off young Dr. Hill with a fierce wave of his hand
while simultaneously piercing Dr. Campbell with a murderous look. “Apparently
you don’t know who you are speaking too.”  He whips out his cell phone and
quickly punches in a number.  “I’m leaving, but I’ll be right outside this
room.  You should expect to hear from Marla Charmers, the director of this
hospital,” he barks, meeting the eyes of the two security guards as he allows
Gabby to usher him out of the room.

     Dr. Campbell did indeed receive an urgent demand to report to
Ms. Charmers’s office up on the top floor where all the big shot administrator’s
offices are located.  He isn’t offered a warm greeting or a seat when he enters. 
Instead, Marla Charmers immediately gets to her feet, posturing authoritatively. 
“Look, Nelson, the Bentinis are a very important family, not only in this city,
but especially to this hospital.”  She holds up a red-tipped manicured finger
forestalling whatever he is about to say.  “I know and understand how you
feel.  But I also know that you’ve been around long enough to be fully aware of
how this game is played.”  Arching a brow at him, she continues, “For the past
decade Lake Mary Hospital has maintained its number one position in this region
and it’s not by handing out free band aids and lollipops.  The Bentinis are one
of our major benefactors and we want to keep them in a giving spirit.  Therefore,
we are going to need you to fall in line and give them
whatever
they
want.  Do we understand each other?” 

     Their gazes lock until Dr. Campbell breaks contact first by
lowering his.  Exhaling a breath of pure affront at being taken to task for
doing his job, he grates out a reply, “Yes, I understand exactly what you’re
saying.  They are big money and so I have to kiss ass and play nice.”  Ignoring
his mutinous expression, the director continues as they walk out of her office
and to the elevators.  “See, we do understand each other perfectly,” she declares
with a wintery tilt of her red-coated thin lips.  “I won’t take up any more of
your valuable time Doctor.  I’ll head on down to the Bentinis and let them know
that
we
will do what we can to accommodate them in their desperate time
of need.”

***

     Gabby glances sideways at her brother speculatively.  “You
know, I always suspected that there was something going on between you and
Kathy.”

     Not in the mood to discuss his private life with his nosy
little sister, Will replies noncommittally, “Oh yeah.” 

     Gabby smiles at her tight-lipped brother.  “Yeah.  Sparks have
been flying between you two for years.  Remember that fight you had when Nick
first brought her home?”  Will winces at the memory.  “How the hell do you know
about that?” he demands distractedly, recalling how Kathy had come out of
nowhere and given him a piece of her mind during an argument he was having with
his brother Nick.  There she was five-feet nothing, hissing up at him like an
enraged tabby.  He was a gonner from that very moment he just didn’t know it.  “I’m
ashamed to say that I’ve treated her abominably.”  Gabby leans close to catch
his whispered words.  “But I mean to make it up to her.”  Then casting his
liquid gaze upward, he pleads, “Dear God, please let her wake up!…let her be
okay, she deserves so much more than this!”  Gabby throws her arms around
Will’s big shoulders, relieved when he accepts comfort from her.  “Kathy’s
going to recover Will, you have to believe that!”  Before either of them can
say another word, they look up to see their parents entering the private
waiting room that Gabby was finally able to coax him to.

     “William, what are you doing here?”  Mrs. Bentini asks
surprised to see her son.  “He gave me a ride, mom,” Gabby quickly volunteers.

      “How is Kathy?”  Mr. Bentini inquires, sincere concern etched
in every line of his face.  “Yes, how is she?”  Mrs. Bentini adds.

     “Still unconscious, I’m afraid.  They kicked us out of the
room while the doctors examine her again.  But I have Dr. Phillips in there
with her this time; he’ll tell me exactly what’s going on.”  William frowns as
he stares out the window, missing the perplexed looks passing between Mr. and
Mrs. Bentini.

     Once again, Gabby quickly intercedes to distract their
parents.  “Mom, do you know how to get in touch with Kathy’s family?  No one
seems to have any contact information for her parents, not even Ms. Carlito.”

     “I’ll take care of that.  I’m sure Antonio will be able to get
me their contact information,” Will offers adamantly as he turns from the
window.

     Mrs. Bentini stiffens at the mention of Antonio’s name,
vividly recalling his cool reception yesterday here in this very room.

     “William?”  Mrs. Bentini begins hesitantly.  “The way you two
work so hard to avoid each other’s company, I was under the impression that you
and Katherine didn’t care for one another.”

     Looking directly at his mother, he tells her the truth, “No mom,
as a matter of fact just the opposite.”

     “I don’t understand.”

     “Mom, dad, you should hear this directly from me.  Kathy and
I…well, we are
involved
…”

     “What do you mean?”

     “We are
involved
with each other and we have been for a
long time now.”

     “William what are you saying,” Mrs. Bentini snaps, fearing she
knows exactly what he’s admitting to.

     “I’m trying to tell you that Kathy and I have been seeing each
other, off and on, for years.”

     When the full impact of what he is saying hits her, she
responds, incredulous.  “But William, that’s not possible.  You and Alison are
engaged to be married.”

     “I’m breaking the engagement as soon as Alison gets back from
Europe.”

     “William Leonardo Bentini.  How could you!”  Mrs. Bentini
demands furiously.

     “Marella, don’t berate the boy.  This is not the time nor the
place.  Can’t you see he’s hurting?”  Without saying another word, Mrs. Bentini
turns to leave the waiting room, practically running into Antonio and Tiressa
as they are entering.

     After a slight pause, Tiressa and Antonio move further into
the room.  “Mother,” Antonio allows his cool gray eyes to rest on her indifferently. 
“Hello Mrs. Bentini,” Tiressa greets warily. Distressed by Mrs. Bentini’s
contemptuous stare, she attempts to loosen her entwined fingers from Antonio’s,
but he holds her hand securely, giving a little squeeze of reassurance.

     With narrowed angry eyes, Mrs. Bentini goes on the attack.  “I
suppose you two knew all about this!” she storms at the couple—one standing
tall and resolute, the other uncertain and unsettled.

     “Leave them alone mom, this has nothing to do with them,” William
immediately comes to their defense.

     “Oh, doesn’t it?!  You were happily engaged to Alison until
these two started carrying on!”

     “I told you that Kathy and I were seeing each other years
before Tiressa ever came into the picture, so you can just stop it!”

     Dr. Phillips clears his throat as he enters the waiting room,
effectively putting an end to the family quarrel.  Everyone gathers around him
anxious to hear what he has to report.  “Ms. Walters has suffered significant
brain trauma that has produced a diffuse cerebral edema.”

     “What does that mean in English?” Will asks tersely.

     “The impact caused bruising and swelling of the brain.  Which
in turn has caused increased pressure on the brain.”

     “So, is Kathy in a coma?”  Gabby rush to ask. 

     “She’s unresponsive.  That’s not a completely bad thing—to a
certain degree—it can be the body’s way of healing itself.”

     “Is there brain damage?”  Mr. Bentini asks.

     “We won’t know if there is permanent brain damage until the
swelling comes down.”

     “What are you doing to reduce the swelling?” Will questions
impatiently.

     “Nothing at this point—”

     “What the hell do you mean nothing?!” Will demands looking
like he wants to grab the doctor by his heavily starched lapels and shake a
more acceptable answer from him.

     “Will take it easy, let the doc explain,” Antonio says with a
supportive hand on his brother’s shoulder.

     “Any attempt at direct treatment can make matters worse,” Dr. Phillips,
explains calmly, having been through this unfortunate scenario numerous times
in his profession.

     “So we stand around and wait?!”  Will’s anger bounces off the
walls, but the experienced doctor remains unfazed.

     “In time the swelling will go down on its own and we’ll have a
better idea of how severe the damage is.”

     “Look Dr. Phillips, I need to know…is Kathy going to be okay? 
Is she going to wake up?”  Although the doctor sympathizes with the grief
stricken man, he can not, will not, give false hope or lie about the young
woman’s dire situation.  “The outcome of Miss Walter’s comatose state will
depend on the cause, location, severity, and the extent of neurological
damage.  I’m sorry William, but the truth is, we don’t know what we are dealing
with right now, and we won’t until we give it more time.”

     “How much time?  A few hours, a day, a week?  What kind of
time are you talking about?” Tiressa exclaims, leaning into Antonio’s solid
strength.

     “Comas can last anywhere from several days to several weeks. 
In more severe cases, a patient can be in a comatose state well over five or
six months…years even.  We will work towards a speedy recovery, while keeping
in mind other probable outcomes.”

     “Shit!”  Will growls, turning away so that no one sees him
blinking away the moisture springing to his eyes.

     “I’m scheduling another MRI and that should give us more
information.  We will continue to monitor brain activity,” Dr. Phillips apprises
them and then asks, “Has Ms. Walters’s family been contacted yet?”

     “We will get them here as soon as possible,” Mr. Bentini
assures.  “Thank you Dr. Phillips, for taking time to speak with us.  We
appreciate all you are doing for Katherine.”  Mr. Bentini and the doctor shake
hands.  “Kathy is very important to our family,” he states capturing his wife’s
attention.  “Isn’t she Marella?”

     “Yes.  Yes, she is.”  Mrs. Bentini agrees, her remorseful gaze
resting on William.

***

     “She looks so peaceful…like she’s sleeping.”  Tiressa whispers,
stroking Kathy’s arm.  As she sits down in the chair at her bedside, she prays
for the tiniest sign that her friend is conscious.

     “Yes,” is the whispered reply from William on the other side
of the hospital bed.  They both stare at Kathy’s still form hooked up to all
manner of devices monitoring her every breath and body’s function.

     “Mr. Bentini—”

     He gently interrupts her, “No, Tiressa, please call me
William.  You are my brother’s girl, pardon me—you are my brother’s lady.”  His
lips lift in a tiny smile.  “You know that’s what he calls you—his lady.”