The doctor looked at me, his eyes darkening just slightly. I could see the hesitation in the way he looked at Penelope. I was about to give this doctor an education, a sudden wave of exhaustion shortening my fuse. But then Penelope said, so softly I almost couldn’t hear her, “It’s okay. He’s JT’s biological father.”
That was the first time I heard those words leave her lips. It was like someone had shoved cotton in my head, I was so lost in the wonder of her words. I almost missed the doctor’s next words.
“He’ll need extensive rehab. I would suggest waiting until the bones have begun to calcify, about six to eight weeks. After that, he will require months of therapy. It will be a long, drawn out process.”
Penelope’s shoulders sagged. “And football?” she asked.
The doctor shook his head. “It’s unlikely he’ll ever play again.”
I shook my head. I couldn’t accept that.
“He’s young. If works hard at rehab—“
“The break was significant,” the doctor said, looking me in the eye. “The chances are slim that he’ll be able to walk without a limp, let alone play something as rough as football.”
“You don’t know JT.”
Penelope glanced back at me. I half expected her to be annoyed by the fact that I was arguing about something she could legitimately say I had no knowledge of. Instead, there was gratitude in her eyes.
I’d actually done something right for once.
They let us visit JT the moment he was moved to a private room. I stood at the end of the bed and gazed down at the son I didn’t even know I had until a few months ago. He was pale, an IV still attached to his arm, bandages wrapped around his arm and head, a splint on one wrist. And his leg, covered from foot to knee in plaster, was slightly elevated, his toes a slightly purple color. It was difficult to look at him, to know how much pain he would be in when he finally woke. But what was more difficult was watching Penelope hold his hand and stare at his sleeping form. I wanted to take this from her, to lift the burden that was making her shoulders curve inward. But I couldn’t. All I could do was sit beside her and try to share it.
Libby came into the room after a while and stood at my shoulder.
“Did they say how long he’ll have to be in the hospital?”
Penelope glanced back at her. “He’ll have to stay until he finishes the course of antibiotics the doctor ordered. Probably three days.”
There didn’t seem to be much more to say after that.
A heavy silence settled in the room, unbroken despite the low volume of the television that hung on the front wall.
Libby touched the back of my neck. “Can I talk to you for a sec?”
Penelope didn’t even look up as I stood and followed my sister out into the hallway.
“I talked to mom. She wants to go home in the morning.”
I dragged my fingers through my hair. “I’ll call the pilot.”
“I think I might go with her.”
I took her arm and pulled her into my arms, resting my chin on her head.
“I’m glad you were here.”
“Me too.”
She slipped something into my pocket before she stepped back. “I got everyone hotel rooms at that place where Julia and mom are staying. There’s keys for you and Penelope.”
“Thank you.”
She nodded as she reached up and ran her fingers over my jaw. “Don’t stay too much longer. You need to get some rest.”
I kissed her forehead and turned her away, pushing her gently down the hall. Leave it to Libby to think of all the small details.
I walked back into the room to find Penelope pretty much unchanged from when I left. I stayed with her a few hours more, watching as the nurses came every once in a while to check JT’s vitals. Penelope was clearly exhausted. She rested her head on the edge of JT’s bed, and her eyes began to close. I ran my hand over the center of her back and she immediately sat up again, moving over just slightly so that I’d get the message that she didn’t want to be touched. I dropped my hand to my lap, trying not to let disappointment and frustration turn to anger.
“My mom and sister are flying back home in the morning. I need to make the arrangements, get a little rest before I drive them over to the airport.”
She didn’t even look at me.
“Libby arranged hotel rooms at Overton.” I took one of the key cards out of my pocket and laid it on the bed beside her hand. “You should get some rest. You won’t do JT any good if you don’t take care of yourself.”
Again she didn’t respond. I lifted my hand to touch her, but let it fall to my side instead.
I walked out, but stopped by the nurse’s station to make sure they had my number so they could call me if anything happened. I also left arrangements for a taxi should Penelope decide to take my advice. Then I left, feeling completely useless. It was not a feeling I liked.