“That’s my sister, Shae,” I said, not wanting Sophia to think I was shallow enough to bring another woman there.
“Oh, okay.” She sniffed. “Anyway, Kacie came running, Fred came running and then everything started moving so fast.”
The doors leading to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit swung open and Kacie walked through them, her face as white as I’d ever seen it. Her t-shirt was splattered with the blood of her daughter and she was barefoot. I didn’t even realize she’d left with no shoes on, I wish I’d thought to grab some for her.
She walked a straight path right into my arms, crashing hard against my chest as her knees buckled.
“Kacie, talk to me, what’s going on?” I rushed out as Fred stood and came next to me to help balance her.
She didn’t talk, she just sobbed, scrunching my t-shirt in her fist as she buried her face and wailed. My heart dropped.
Why is she not saying anything? Jesus, please say something.
I didn’t know what to do so I just stood there and let her cry on me, gently rubbing her back and kissing the top of her head.
“Honey, what’s going on?” Sophia begged in a loud whisper, trying not to wake Lucy. “Please … talk to us.”
Kacie pulled back as Fred handed her a box of tissues. “Thanks,” she muttered quietly. “Um, I don’t really know yet. They closed her head … it took 23 staples. She’s going in for a CT scan now so they can see how severe the swelling in her brain is.”
“Was she conscious?” Fred asked.
Kacie shook her head. “They gave her medicine to keep her asleep for now.”
“Oh my God,” Sophia cried as she covered her face with her free hand.
Fred rushed over and put his arm around her, tears falling from his face.
“How are you? Can I get you anything?” I asked, desperate for her to need me.
“I’m … awful, I’m overwhelmed, I’m freaking out. I just want her to be okay.” Her voice trailed off as the tears came back.
“She will be.” I pulled her against me. “She’s got a strong mama who taught her to fight like hell, she’ll be okay.” My words only made her cry harder.
“I need to sit,” she said after a few more minutes of tears. She limped exhaustedly over to the chair next to her mom, leaning over and kissing Lucy’s cheek. “How has she been?”
“She was pretty upset, not talking much, just crying.” Sophia smiled at me. “She’s actually been with Brody almost the whole time.”
Kacie looked at me and smiled, exhaustion covering her face.
“Kacie Jensen?” a nurse said from the doorway.
“Yes.” Kacie stood up and leaned against me.
“She’s out of CT, you can sit with her again if you’d like.”
“Okay, thank you.” Kacie hugged her mom, kissed Fred’s cheek and walked by me. Before she got all the way to the doors, she turned and rushed back to me, rose up on her tippy toes and kissed my lips. It wasn’t a sexual kiss by any means; she just pressed her warm lips against mine and sighed, seemingly happy that I was there.
“Thank you,” she said softly against my mouth before she disappeared through the doors. I didn’t exactly know what for, but she was so welcome.
Shae came back a few minutes later with water bottles and juice boxes for everyone and the waiting began.
After an hour or so of torture, the door swung open again, startling all of us as the nurse ushered another group in. My mouth fell open when I saw my parents.
“What are you guys doing here?” I asked incredulously, hugging them both at the same time.
“Shae called and told us what happened. We felt helpless, we didn’t know what to do.” My mom had tears in her eyes. “So we got in the car and came.”
“Thanks,” I sighed. “I don’t know what to do either.”
I felt bad that they had driven all this way, especially since I hadn’t exactly been honest with my mom and told her about what was going on, or not going on, between Kacie and me. A little hand wrapped around my fingers and I looked down at Lucy standing next to me. “Hey,” I said, squatting down to her level. “You okay?”
She nodded and held her arms up. I scooped her up in my arms and faced my mom. “Lucy, this is my mom and dad. Can you say hi?”
“Hi,” Lucy said quietly, laying her head on my shoulder.
“Hi Lucy, it’s so nice to meet you.” My mom’s voice shook, clearly overwhelmed.
Lucy peeked at her and smiled, then she cupped her hands around my ear and whispered. “Brody, I’m hungry.”
“You are? Okay, want me to go get you something?”
She nodded and squirmed to get down.
I finished introductions with my parents and Fred and Sophia, waited patiently as Sophia and my mom hugged and cried together, and then excused myself to go find something for Lucy to munch on.
“Brody? Hang on.” My mom peeked her head out of the waiting room. I stopped so she could catch up, hooking her arm through mine.
“So there aren’t any updates?”