Nia wasn’t so sure that Sky wasn’t hurt. It was genuinely hard to tell since she hid her feelings so well. “We are still trying to find a time that works with both of our schedules.”
“Mmmhmm.” Sky took another bite of her food.
“I won’t let you deflect. Noah’s betrayal has got to make you feel some kind of way.”
“It does. Angry. Seriously, I was uncomfortable for all of five minutes. Noah did exactly what I expected. I dodged a bullet. He’s a narcissistic social-climbing ball of phlegm. I don’t need him in my life.”
“That’s um . . . Disgusting. You work with the man. How do you plan to avoid him?”
“I’m a professional. I can separate my work from my personal life.”
Nia’s voice softened. “Did he apologize?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“Yes, it does. We all make mistakes.”
Sky wasn’t settling for the bullshit like Nia. “I don’t. If I give you my word or make a commitment, I keep it. I also don’t put my career ahead of doing what’s right.”
“Well, that sounds–Cryptic. Even so, we all can’t be as perfect as you.”
“I’m not perfect, just consistent.”
“That was sarcasm. No, you are not perfect. That’s my point.”
A deep male voice boomed throughout Sky’s office interrupting their conversation. “Dr. Kirby . . .”
Sky almost dropped her phone. It took her by surprise because it was late, and she wasn’t expecting anyone. She bobbled the cell in her hand before getting control of it. Her eyes locked on to the face of an incredibly handsome man standing in her office doorway. Her mouth went dry and her insides clenched. Sky had never had this visceral of a reaction to a man before in her life. I didn’t matter that his suit was wrinkled and his face had day old growth on it.
He repeated her name. “Dr. Sky Kirby?” His voice was familiar, and then she remembered Remington Kneeland.
Sky scrambled to make sure her face was blank as she swallowed. Then she remembered Nia was on the phone. Sky wasn’t sure how much if anything he may have heard of their conversation but refused to give anything away by her expression. Sky whispered into the receiver. “Nia, I’ll have to call you back.” She disconnected the line and slid the phone back into her pocket. Then, stood.
“Yes, I’m Dr. Kirby.” She extended her hand.
He shook it. “I’m Remington Kneeland, Charlie’s father. They told me I should find you before going to the I.C.U.” Worry lines were etched all over his face. “I came straight from the airport. How is she?”
Talking to him in person was much different than over the phone. The anguish on his face made her feel the compassion she hadn’t felt enough of earlier. “Please have a seat.”
“I’d rather stand, thank you.” His voice was gruff. Even though his body language screamed exhaustion, Remington straightened his six-foot-three-inch frame as if bracing for the worst.
Sky nodded. “Charlie is holding her own. She’s in critical but stable condition. Dr. Bridges performed a craniectomy and assisted me in the spinal cord by-pass procedure.”
“Can you explain that to me in lamens terms?”
“I’m sorry. A craniectomy had to be performed to relieve the pressure on Charlie’s brain. That is where a small portion of the skull is removed due to severe swelling. A separate procedure was necessary to repair some damaged nerves. We attempted to fuse them back together. Unfortunately, some of them were damaged beyond repair. However, I was able to take intact peripheral nerves rostral to the level of injury and transfer them into the spinal cord below the injury. I tried to call you once the procedure was finished but your phone went to voicemail.”
“We must have been flying over a blind spot, and I haven’t checked my messages. That all sounds complicated.”
“It is very complicated. I don’t leave those kinds of messages.”
He nodded. “Not sure I understand all of what you just explained. I’ll have to research it.”
“Charlie is currently in the I.C.U. and has been placed in a medical coma. That was necessary to assist in her recovery. We need her completely still for a while. However, both procedures seemed to go very well.”
“Seemed? When will we know for sure?”
“I will be honest with you, Mr. Kneeland. Charlie’s injuries are life-threatening. The next several hours are going to be critical. Every hour that she can hang on is crucial. The longer she remains stable, the better her chances.”
Remington couldn’t wrap his mind around Sky’s words. How was it possible one minute Charlie and him were Skyping and the next, he could lose her?
His anguish was hard to ignore. It was written all over him, and Sky’s heart softened. It was apparent that Remington was trying to be strong when Sky saw his Adam’s apple move up and down as he swallowed.
“What are the chances of a full recovery?”
“I wish I could give you that information. We just won’t have any idea of what we are dealing with until the swelling goes down, and if, or when, Charlie regains consciousness. As of now, we are taking it one step at a time. With each success, we can focus on any necessary rehabilitation.”
Remington was anxious. “In cases like this, what is considered a normal amount of time to regain
