“My name is Jenny. I’m Ryan’s nurse,” she smiled. “He’s awake. He’s asking for you.”
I stood up and walked with her to the double doors. Before we made it through, a disheveled woman scampered down the hall toward us. She wore a brown waitress’ uniform and her frizzy black hair failed miserably at staying in the messy bun she’d fashioned.
“I’m looking for Ryan Scott! I was told he’s in ICU?” she puffed.
Jenny looked at me and then back to her. “Are you his…?”
“Mother! I’m his mom. He’s here? Is he okay?” she said, breathless. “I’m Callie Scott. I’d like to see him, please.”
Jenny extended an apologetic smile and then turned to Callie. “He’s here, Ms. Scott. I’ll show you to his room.”
I trudged back to my seat, glancing at my watch. According to Cynthia, I had less than an hour to make my way home to rest. Unable to comply, I pulled my phone from my pocket to call in an explanation.
As I dialed, Jenny poked her head into the waiting room doorway. “Nina?”
“Yes?”
She smiled. “He would still like to see you.”
“Oh!” I said, surprised. I followed quickly behind her through the double doors and we stopped three rooms down. When she pulled back the heavy curtain, the rings grated across the metal bar.
She smiled to her left. “I found her. She didn’t leave.”
I peered into the room and inwardly cringed at the tubes and wires leading from Ryan’s body.
“Hey, Nigh,” he rasped.
I managed a half grin. “Today is the only day I’ll let you get away with that.”
Ryan laughed and then winced.
“Take it easy, Baby,” Callie said, searching for a place to touch him that wasn’t attached to a monitor or IV pump. She settled on brushing back his hair.
“Mom, don’t fuss,” he whispered, leaning away from her nervous stroking.
“Chad, Beth and Josh were here earlier; they’ll be back,” I said, touching his foot.
Ryan nodded. “Is Jared still here?”
I shook my head, making the corners of Ryan’s mouth turn up. I wasn’t sure how much he had seen, or how much he remembered.
“It’s a good thing he’s stalking you.”
I rolled my eyes. “He’s not stalking me.”
“How else do you explain him showing up out of nowhere?” Ryan pressed.
“Who’s stalking you? Is this the man that attacked my son?” Callie’s face compressed with concern.
“No, Mom. He’s the guy that kept us all from getting killed,” Ryan said, watching my face.
Callie looked to me, still wanting answers.
I fidgeted under her stare. “He’s a friend of mine that came just in time.”
“As usual,” Ryan frowned. “You look like hell. Get some sleep.”
“I can sleep later,” I argued. Of course he would be worried about me while he was lying in a hospital bed.
“You can sleep now. My mom’s here, I don’t need both of you whining over every little thing.”
“I don’t whine,” I said, feigning insult.
“You can be kinda whiny,” he smiled and tapped his cheek. I maneuvered around the tubes and wires to kiss the spot he had indicated. Being this close to someone covered in hospital paraphernalia caused my ribs to wrench in an all too familiar way. I bit my lip with apprehension.
“Hey,” he reached up an arm to brush my cheek with the back of his fingers. “I’m going to be fine. I’d do it again if I had to.”
My face fell at his words. I knew how he felt about me, and how it would end. I couldn’t stand it if I ever hurt Ryan enough for him to hate me.
My hands grabbed his. “You just concentrate on getting well before you start planning more knife fights, all right?”
He grinned. “Sweet dreams, Nina.”
I walked into the dark, curtains drawn and all bulbs extinguished. Beth was still cocooned inside her comforter breathing heavily. I peeled off my coat and fell face down onto my bed.
I tried to lay as still as possible; I didn’t want to let my mind wander. Allowing thoughts would mean envisioning the attack, the blood, the eyes of the man that would cut off my hand to take my ring; the chilling sound of Ryan’s cry when he was impaled and Kim’s horrified expression in the car. I didn’t even want to dwell on Jared’s lips. I just wanted to sleep.
My eyes shot open to the sound of the door quietly pulling closed.
“Beth?” I called, listening for any motion from her side of the room. She didn’t answer.
I leaned up on my elbows and blinked my eyes several times until I could see clearly that Beth’s bed was empty and made. A note was on the back of the door, so I pushed myself slowly from the bed and ambled across the cold floor.
Went with Chad and Josh to the hospital. See you there. ~Beth
Ryan wouldn’t be at the hospital alone. Of course his mother might still be there, but it was good that he would have his friends around him. Beth would be home late, I assumed. I looked at the clock.