Revved Up Hearts (36 page)

“How long have I been
out?”

He glanced at his watch. “About five hours. The accident happened just after six, and it’s almost eleven now. You kinda woke up a couple of times, but they had given you something for pain so you went right back to
sleep.”

“I don’t remember what
happened.”

“The toolbox fell on you. The good news is that it was almost completely empty so it was lighter than it could have been. The bad news is that one of the drawers opened as it fell. It hit you in the head first, and the rest of the toolbox followed. You got a double whammy that left you with a nasty
concussion.”

“Nothing else is
broken?”

“No.”

“Why are you here? You hate hospitals. This must be horrible for
you.”

“It’s horrible because I thought I was losing the woman that I love. I heard the sirens at the track and someone said there had been an accident. I didn’t think too much of it because I was busy. But then I heard that a woman had been hurt at Bryan Richardson’s stall. I felt my heart jump into my throat. I ran over and saw Travis and the guys standing around and praying. Bryan was kneeling beside you, holding your hand while the paramedics checked you out. Ted was leaning against a wall saying ‘I’m sorry. I’m sorry.’ That guy is so torn up about what happened. Anyway, I haven’t left your
side.”

“You didn’t freak out when you came into the
hospital?”

He thought about that one for a moment. “Now that you mention it, I never even thought about it. I was only thinking about you.” While he had been speaking, he had moved to sit on the bed and lean closer to her. “Are you
okay?”

“Other than a major headache, I’m
fine.”

“I’ll call the nurse to have her bring you something for pain.” He hit the call button that was attached to the bed rail. He spoke to the nurse and then turned back to Dawn. “They’ll be here in a
minute.”

“Can I have something to
drink?”

“The nurse will bring you something to take your pill with.” He pushed a stray piece of hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear, leaned in until his forehead was resting against hers. “I love you. You scared me out of ten years of my life, and I can’t afford to lose them.” He laughed. “But I love you
anyway.”

“I love you too.” He leaned in to kiss her, but the nurse walked in just as his lips touched hers. She gave Dawn a pill and checked her vital signs. Dawn was still thirsty, but the nurse said she only needed ice chips for now because of the medicine she was taking. Too much water might make Dawn
sick.

“Do you want your mom to come out? I’ll fly her here if you need
her.”

Dawn hadn’t thought about her family yet. Tears came to her eyes as she thought about the phone call they got a few hours ago. “No. She needs to stay with Dad. Who called her? How is
she?”

Just like Dawn to think of someone else
, Jeremiah thought. “Bryan talked to her. She was upset. She wants to come here to see you, but she wants to stay with your dad, too.”

“I’ll call her first thing in the morning,” Dawn said as she
yawned.

“It didn’t take that little pill very long to work, did
it?”

“Nope,” she said around another
yawn.

“Do you need anything else?” She shook her head. He leaned in to fluff her pillow and to give her the kiss that had been interrupted earlier. “Good night, sleepyhead.”

The last thing she saw before going back to sleep was the gorgeous smile that she loved so
much.

Dawn awoke the next morning, and Jeremiah was gone. The phone was on the nightstand, just out of reach. She called the nurse to help her get it. She called home and tried to assure her mom that she was okay, but Dawn knew her mom wouldn’t be assured that easily. She talked to her dad. He repeated her earlier advice to him about doing what the doctors told her. Both of her brothers were at work, but her dad promised to let them know that she was
okay.

She was talking to her mom again when Jeremiah came in. He smiled when he saw that she was awake. He sat on the side of the bed and waited while she talked. Dawn handed the phone to him so that he could promise that all really was okay. He also swore that they were not keeping anything from her. He handed the phone back to Dawn. She said her good-byes and hung
up.

“I hoped you wouldn’t wake up before I got back. I went downstairs to grab a bite of breakfast,” he told
her.

Dawn’s stomach rumbled at the mention of food. She tried to remember the last time she had eaten.
Lunch yesterday
, she remembered. “What time is
it?”

“Quarter after seven. The nurse was in earlier to check on you. I ordered you some biscuits and gravy. Is that
okay?”

“Yes,” she told him as her stomach rumbled again. They both
laughed.

The doctor came in then with the nurse behind him. They ushered Jeremiah out while they examined Dawn. He was standing in the hall waiting when Bryan and Valerie stepped off the elevator. “What’s up?” Valerie asked when they got to
Jeremiah.

“The doctor is checking
her.”

“What time did she wake
up?”

“Around 7:15 a.m. I guess. She was asleep when I went to breakfast at 6:30 a.m., and she was awake when I got back at 7:15 a.m.”

Valerie shot him a dirty look. “You were supposed to stay with
her.”

“I know, but I was starving. I didn’t think she would wake up this
early.”

“Dawn is a tough cookie. I’m sure she was okay by herself for a few minutes,” Bryan spoke
up.

“Thanks,” Jeremiah
said.

The door opened and the doctor came out. “She looks good. Her pupils are back to normal, and she is very alert. If she keeps her breakfast down, she can go home later this morning.” They all breathed a sigh of relief at the good news. “She’ll have to take it easy for a few days and come see me in my office next week. No driving or heavy lifting. I’ll leave detailed instructions at the nurses’ desk. Give them a call if you need anything else. He shook hands with everyone and then left to see his next
patient.

Valerie and Jeremiah had tried to get Dawn to stay at Bryan’s house again, but this time she wouldn’t hear of it. She wanted her own bed. She promised to keep the phone within arms’ reach and to call if she needed anything. Dawn wanted a hot shower too. She hadn’t had one since yesterday morning. They compromised on a bath instead. Dawn was still a little groggy and unsteady from the pain medicine. They couldn’t risk her falling and hurting herself again. Valerie stayed until Dawn was safely out of the tub. Bryan and Jeremiah had already left because qualifying was this afternoon. Dawn didn’t want to go to bed in the middle of the day so Valerie helped her get comfortable on the couch. Dawn took another pain pill and settled in. Valerie put the phone and the TV remote on the coffee table in front of the couch. After Dawn assured her for the tenth time that she was okay, Valerie went home but promised to come back in a few hours to check on
her.

Dawn woke up and looked at the clock. She had slept through qualifying. She wondered how Jeremiah and Bryan had done. She heard someone in the kitchen. “Valerie?” she
called.

“No, it’s me,” Jeremiah said as a cabinet door banged shut. That made her head hurt. “Sorry ’bout that. How are you feeling?” he asked as he stepped around the corner so that he could see
her.

“Better I guess. What are you
doing?”

“Trying to fix you something to eat. Valerie said you slept through lunch. Where do you keep your
skillet?”

“In the oven. I’ll help you,” she said as she moved to get off the
couch.

“No, you won’t.” He put up a hand to stop her. “The doc said for you to take it easy. I’m going to make you one of my world-famous hamburgers. You’re going to sit there and let me take care of you,” He told her and then walked back into the
kitchen.

“A
hamburger?”

“I can make two things. Do you want hamburgers or mac and
cheese?”

“A
hamburger.”

“Coming up,” he called as she heard the oven door open and then slam shut. “Oops!”

The hamburger wasn’t bad, but she would have to teach him more things to cook. Over dinner, Jeremiah told her that he qualified tenth and Bryan qualified third. Jeremiah said that Bryan had held the pole position for a little while, but Jayvin Daniels and Sean Vaughn had been among the last to go and had barely edged Bryan out of the top starting spot. Jeremiah also said that several people had asked about her and wanted him to pass along their best
wishes.

Valerie called as they finished eating. She offered to bring Dawn some of the pot roast and potatoes she had made. Dawn told her that Jeremiah had cooked for her. Valerie was surprised at that. Bryan had originally planned on staying at the track but had changed his mind. Dawn told them to come over. The four of them had Bible study and then played board games. Bryan wanted to play again because he lost, but the baby was already asleep on the couch. Dawn was getting really tired too. Bryan and Jeremiah cleaned up while Valerie helped Dawn into bed. The Richardsons took their sleeping baby home while she and Jeremiah said their good-nights. He offered to stay on the couch but Dawn told him to go home. She would call Valerie if she needed anything. She heard the front door lock behind him right before she traveled off to
dreamland.