Resilient (2) (20 page)

“
Your first CT scan showed no swelling of the brain tissue. That’s what we’re most concerned with at this point. We want to keep you here for a few days under observation. I’m going to keep you on a saline drip for 24 hours to make sure you stay hydrated.” She smiled and put the pen light back into her coat pocket.

“Can you send in Teddy and Maddie, please? I need to sleep, but I want to see them first.” They nodded and left the room. Several moments later the door opened and they came in.

Unshed tears hung in Maddie’s eyes and Teddy didn’t look much better. Katrine put her arm out and Teddy was by her side in an instant.

“Hey, my sweet boy, I’m okay, don’t you worry.”

“Momma, your face,” he said before breaking down. The minute she felt his tears hit her skin, her own spilled over.

“Shhh, baby, shhhh. I’m gonna be just fine. Your dad said everything looks good. I’m just a little banged up is all, okay?”

He nodded and took in a large shaky breath. Maddie’s tears were silent, but plentiful. Katrine swung her other hand awkwardly in the air, summoning Maddie over to her side. Her sister and son draped themselves over her and cried.

“Guys, I’m fine, really. Cross my heart. I’m just tired and sore, that’s all.” Sore was putting it mildly, but she wanted to downplay it for their benefit.

“We were so scared, Trine. We don’t work without you.” Maddie sobbed into Katrine’s hospital gown and Teddy squeezed her hand.

“I’m so sorry I scared you guys. I was careless and wasn’t paying attention. It’s my fault.”

“The person who hit you, was a sixteen year old girl. She ran a stop sign because she was sending a text. You were on a crosswalk at a four-way stop, Katrine. It wasn’t your fault! Shawn said we should sue!” Maddie cried. Katrine absorbed that information, but knew that if she’d been paying attention, this could have been avoided. But coulda, shoulda never got anyone anywhere, ever.

“Did you call Ian?”

“Yes, he’s worried sick, like everyone. He’s out in the waiting room with Shawn. Everyone wanted to come up tonight, but I told them to wait until tomorrow.”

“Oh god, I have work and school.” Katrine was starting to get agitated. Her pulse rate increased and she started pulling at the tape on her wrist. She saw a worried look come across Teddy’s face, she stopped and tried to calm her breath.

“Sorry, Teddy, I’m just a little upset about being in here,” she said, cupping his cheek.

“Momma, it’s okay, we’ll take care of you. Won’t we, Aunt Maddie?”

“You bet. I’ve already called Hayden and Anita, so work and school are covered. They wanted to come up, too. You have a lot of people who love you, ya know that?” Katrine nodded and a tear escaped her eye. “Now we’re gonna go and let you get some rest.”

They both kissed her and started for the door. “Mads, will you send Ian in? I want to see him.”

She tried to straighten her gown, but it was as pointless as trying to make a white velour jumpsuit flattering. She touched her hair and cringed. It was caked with all kinds of things.
 

Oh well, if I can’t look like hell after getting hit by a car…

 
Ian approached the bed quickly and kissed her head. He had tears in his eyes. “Hey, Katie-Mac.”

“Not you, too? Please don’t cry. I hate that I’m making everyone so upset.”

“You got hit by a car, Katrine. I’ve never been so scared in my life.” Her throat closed up, but she blinked away the tears.
 

“I think the trauma of it all is starting to take its toll. I can’t seem to keep my peepers dry.” Her smile was weak, but it made him grin.

“I’m so glad you’re all right. You’re tough for a shrimp.” That made her laugh.
 

“I know. People always underestimate the shrimps.”

He kissed her softly and she wished he could climb in bed with her. They always do that in books, but really, with all of the wires and the IV, there was no way.

“Oh, Ian, if my breath smells even half as bad as I think it does, you might be taking your life into your own hands.”

“Well, it does smell like you ate road kill.”

“Eating road kill, being road kill. The results are the same.”
 

“I love you and I’m so glad you’re okay.”

“Love you.”

The night shift nurse came in and wrote Gwen up on a dry erase board. A short silver bob framed round cheeks.

“I’ll be taking care of you tonight. Can I get you anything?”

“How about a glass of wine and a cheese burger?”

“I’ll see what I can do, but don’t hold your breath.” She patted her hand and smiled, displaying a row of perfect white teeth. Katrine liked her smile; it was comforting. Some nurses were Ratchets and some were Nightingales. Lucky for Katrine, Gwen was definitely the latter.

“Didn’t your momma ever tell you to look both ways before you cross the street?” Gwen said as she checked the bag hanging from the IV pole.

“Yes, ma’am, but I’ve always been rebellious.”
 

Gwen winked at her and said she would be back later. “You press that button if you need anything, sugar.”

“Thank you. I think I’m
 
just going to pass out for a while.”

“You do that. They’ll be in bright and early to take you down for your CT scan.”

“Another one? How early is early?” she asked, feeling exhaustion seeping into her bones.

“Don’t worry. Just get some rest. I’ll help you wash your hair before you go.”

As soon as Gwen left her room, maybe even before, Katrine was out.

Katrine was eating her breakfast when the barrage of visitors started to arrive. Tristan was the first. And when he saw her in the hospital bed he had the same reaction as everyone else had up to this point, tears and gratitude that she was okay.

“Don’t you ever do that to me again. If anything had happened to you, I just don’t know…”

“Please don’t cry, handsome. I’m okay.” She was determined to act as cheerful as she could. Pain she could deal with, but tears from the people she loved most, not so much.

“Soooo, did you bring me a treat?”

“How did you know?” he said, wiping his eyes.

“I just know you,” she smiled and looked at the messenger bag he had across his torso. He reached in and pulled out her e-reader and a chocolate croissant from her favorite French bakery. She beamed and clapped her hands together.

“You are my hero. I could just kiss you!” He bent down and did it for her. “I love you, Tristan.”

“Me too, gorgeous.”

About an hour later the room was full. She was surrounded by her crew and they had all cried and gently hugged her. She knew she was loved, but sometimes it took a traumatic event to remind everyone how much they meant to each other.

“Isn’t there a visitor limit in this joint?” Katrine teased.

“Apparently your ex is good for something, because I think you can pretty much do whatever the hell you want,” Charlie snipped. They stayed for most of the morning, but when Katrine was being examined for the umpteenth time, they dispersed, giving her a chance for a much needed snooze.
 

After class, Mila and Hayden came by. It was funny how they had come to mean so much to each other in such a short time. But Katrine had always had that effect on people. Maddie used to tease her about it. “Nobody else got free Christmas cookies from the lunch ladies, Katrine. And when you twisted your ankle on the playground, the janitor carried you the entire way to the nurse’s office.” She just wanted everyone to know kindness and she always stood up for the under dog. Some made the mistake to interpret her kindness as weakness. Those individuals learned the hard way that if you messed with the people she cared about, her hugs could turn into a verbal bitch slap.
 

Anita and Darren came on their lunch break, which Katrine really appreciated.

“Aw, thanks for coming, guys. You didn’t have to do that.”

“Of course we did, you’re our third amigo. Besides, everyone is so worried about you. We just had to see you in person. They’ll expect an update. Jaimie tried to come, but I told her you could only have two visitors at a time.” Anita winked.

“Thank you. Getting hit by a car was bad enough!”

“So how are you? What happened and when do you get out?” Darren asked.

“I was out running and wasn’t paying attention; at the same time a teenage girl was running a stop sign. She was only going 20 miles per hour, so it could have been worse. I only have a mild concussion. I’m swollen and bruised, but I’ll live. I should get out in a day or two, if my scans are clear.” She gave them the short and sweet version. She had told the story too many times already. They had to get back to work and Katrine thanked them for the beautiful flowers they’d given her. In fact, her room was covered in various floral arrangements. When at last her room was empty, she was grateful. Her head was pounding and she needed another nap.
 

She snuggled into her pillow and pulled up her favorite blanket Maddie had brought the night before. Just as she was falling asleep, the day shift nurse came in to check her vitals. Thankfully, they’d taken out her IV that morning. She was able to take a shower and put on a tank top and pajama pants. One minute she felt like she could go home, but then she would get a dizzy spell and have to lay down. Her walk was labored as well and it took her twice as long to get to the bathroom. But all things considered, she was doing pretty well.

After a much needed snooze, Maddie and Teddy came back to visit. “Katrine, you better call Mom and Dad. They’re about to book a flight, and unless you want Mom descending upon Dallas like the plague, they need to hear your voice,” Maddie said.

“Phone, please.” She held out her hand. Katrine loved her parents, but the last thing she needed was her mom making a fuss, in person.

“Mom.” She held the phone away from her ear. Her mom was a little high pitched. That might have been an understatement. She could have been communicating with dolphins right now.

“Mom, Mom, calm down. I’m okay. Hi, Dad, yes, Dad, I’m okay. I’m fine.” Maddie laughed, knowing both of their parents were talking over each other on different phones, from different sides of the house.
 

“Please don’t worry. No…no need to come out here. I have tons of help. My scans have been clear. Yes…mild concussion. You spoke to David? Yes, he
is
a doctor. He did? Okay…okay.” This one word dialogue went on for thirty minutes. Maddie just rolled her eyes every few minutes.

“I love you guys and I know you’re worried, but I’m going to be fine. Save your money. We’re coming to visit in a few months, so you guys can smother me then, okay? Okay…Yes, I know…Yes, I love you, too. Okay, bye Dad…bye Mom.”

“I need another nap.” Katrine sighed and handed her phone back to Maddie.

Ian came by after work and they ate dinner together. Now that her tubes were gone he did get into bed with her. They watched some crappy reality show and snuggled. He offered to sleep on the couch, that was not really a couch. Katrine absolutely refused.

“Please go home and get a good night’s sleep. Plus what about Ruby?” She knew bringing up his four-legged woman would be the clincher.

“Okay. I just hate the thought of you here alone.” She kissed him softly.
 
Ian started to push her onto her back and she grimaced. She had a few bruised ribs to add to the list of injuries.
 

“Sorry!”

“It’s all right. There aren’t many spots you could touch right now that doesn’t have a bruise on it.”

“What about here?” he asked, kissing her left temple.

“No, that’s okay.”

“Here?” he asked, kissing her nose.

“Nose is okay.”

“And here?” Left cheek.

“That particular one is bruise free.”

“And here?” His voice lowered as he kissed her mouth. She didn’t answer because her mother always told her not to talk with her mouth full.
 

Ian left around ten and Katrine got herself ready for bed, which entailed hobbling over to the bathroom and brushing her teeth. Gwen was on the board once again, so Katrine knew she would be well taken care of. Once she got comfortable, her e-reader made its first appearance. Her day had consisted of sleeping or talking to visitors.
 

It was quiet and dark in her room, save the light by her bed. She heard the door open and assumed it was Gwen, so she continued to read. When the figure didn’t enter the room, Katrine looked over towards the small dim-lit
 
hallway.

“Katrine.”

Her heart seized for a moment. She pushed the call button by her bed.

“Can I get you something?” Gwen’s voice came over the speaker.

“Drugs, I need drugs.”

“Are you in pain?”

“Not at this very second, but I will be.”

She closed her eyes and let her head fall back onto her pillow. She’d always had an inkling, that nagging voice in the back of her mind. It was never loud, but also never completely mute, either. She pushed that notion away and did her best to bury it whenever it surfaced. But it wasn’t until this moment, this very second that she allowed the truth of the matter to wash over her. She was too beaten down and too tired to fight it.

She was still in love with him. The heart stopping, nausea-inducing kind of love.
 

And wasn’t that just a bitch…

Chapter 20

His steps were slow, she could tell by the click of his shoes on the hard floor.

Katrine was staring up at the ceiling when he made it to her bedside. She didn’t say a word. The only sound was their breathing and the muffled noises coming from the hallway. She knew the moment he saw her face when he took in a quick hissing breath. It was loud and jarring in the silence of the room.

“So you come now? When I have no chance to escape.” Of all the things she thought she would say to him if she ever had the chance, that was not high on her list. But that’s what spilled out. She could blame the pain killers for her clipped tone, but that would have been a lie. Her emotions were frayed. Too many people, too much pain, it was just all too much.