Mack stormed into the recovery area looking mad enough to kill. He rushed over to where Rachel stood. “What the hell is going on? I get a call that my brother’s in a coma and I didn’t even know he was having surgerytoday.”
Rachel stared, dumbfounded. “How did you get heresofast?”
“I was in Bozeman picking up a new air compressor. What the hell isgoingon?”
As she relayed the story of her son’s illness and everything that had led up to Brady falling into a coma, Mack’s expressiondarkened.
When she finished he said, “You’d better hope to God he’s not dead. If he dies, it’s yourfault.”
June stepped forward. “He’s not going to die. I can’t have you scaring my grandson when he wakes up, so we’re going to the lobbytowait.”
With that, she grabbed his upper arm and half-dragged him down the hall. Gratitude for her mother’s strength warmed her heart. At least she had her mom onherside.
A tiny voice came from behind her. “Mommy?”
Chapter9
Rachel perchedon the edge of her son’s bed. “How are you doing,sweetie?”
“Dr. Jennifer said I can have alollipop.”
She smiled. “I’m sure you can have one as soon as she comes to checkonyou.”
“My hand hurts,” he said as he pointed attheIV.
“We’ll be able to take it out soon, but right now we have to leaveitin.”
“I don’t like it,” he said withapout.
Her throat swelled. “I know you don’t. I promise, once this is all over, I’ll take you to the ice cream store and you can get any flavoryouwant.”
His eyes drooped as if he was struggling to keep them open. “Evenbubblegum?”
She flashed back to the last time she’d let him have bubblegum. It had taken two weeks to get the gum out of the upholstery in her car. She didn’t care. She’d give him anything he wanted. He’d been sobrave.
“Even bubblegum,”shesaid.
He smiled slightly and with great effort. “Where’s myfriend?”
“Whichone?”
“The bad man who camewithme.”
Confused, she said, “Do you mean my friendBrady?”
He nodded slightly. “He’s not a bad man. He’sreallynice.”
Relief washed over her. “He’s recovering inanotherroom.”
“He should get bubblegum too.” His eyesclosed.
“Yes, heshould.”
She checked to make sure he was sleeping. The slow rise and fall of his chest accompanied by his soft breaths helped calm her. He’dsurvived.
June walked in from the hall. “How’s hedoing?”
“Better. He’ssleeping.”
