“Blayne, no!” Kaylee dropped the gun and struggled to turn him on his back with one arm. He groaned—and her frozen heart started beating again at the sound of life. He rolled over, his shirt now drenched in blood, his own and Aaron’s. Kaylee pressed her hand to his wound to stop the bleeding.
“Ouch,” he mumbled. He raised his tremulous right hand to her face and touched her cheek before letting it drop.
“Blayne, just hold on, okay. Just hold on.” She needed to find a phone. Her eyes searched his pockets, but she didn’t want to remove the pressure from his wound.
Sirens echoed in the distance. Kaylee cocked her head. Were they coming closer? She leaned in next to Blayne’s ear. “Hang on. Help is coming.” Her tears fell on his face as she brushed her lips against his. “Please, Blayne, look at me. Stay with me.”
He grunted and opened his eyes with apparent effort.
“I love you, too,” she whispered. “Do you hear me? I love you, too.”
His pale lips curved into a feeble smile.
The sirens grew louder and cars screeched to a stop outside the bowling alley.
Beeping. What was that beeping sound? Kaylee opened her eyes with effort, it felt like a ten-pound weight was attached to each eyelid. Her mouth felt like she’d been sucking on cotton balls. Bright light stung her eyes, making her blink.
“Miss Burke? Glad to see you’re waking up. My name is Denise, how are you feeling?”
Kaylee focused on the nurse at her bedside and the events that brought her there flooded her mind. “Blayne. How’s Blayne?” She tried to sit up but found she couldn’t use her left arm. Looking down, she saw that it was in a sling with a band wrapped around her arm and body, keeping it from moving. Her shoulder had been dislocated, and they’d sedated her to put it back in place.
“Mr. Ellis is still in surgery,” Denise smiled sadly. “I’m afraid that’s all I can tell you.”
Kaylee nodded. She knew all about HIPAA, it’s why Max couldn’t tell them all the cool stuff he saw at the hospital. “Can I see him when he gets out of recovery?” She wouldn’t even consider the idea that he wouldn’t make it.
The nurse nodded. “As long as he consents. I’m going to sit you up and give you some water. You’ve gotten two liters of IV fluids because of your extreme dehydration, but we need to make sure you can hold down liquids, and then some real food.” She pushed a button on the side of the bed that raised Kaylee to a semi-sitting position.
“Okay.” It had been well over twenty-four hours since she’d last eaten or drunk anything, yet she had zero appetite. Her worry about Blayne took care of that.
Denise headed toward the curtain, but before she reached it, another thought struck Kaylee and she blurted out, “Mama C.”
The nurse turned back to her, forehead scrunched in confusion. “What?”
“Mama C. Before I got taken, I called an ambulance to have a friend, Claire Watson, brought in.” She was afraid to ask the next question. She swallowed. “Can you please check on her? And let me know if she’s alive?”
That sad smile touched the nurse’s face again. “I will. I’ll be back in just a minute.”
Kaylee laid her head back and closed her eyes, allowing a tear to trickle down her face.
Denise returned with a Styrofoam cup of ice water and a straw. Kaylee took it from her and took a few sips. The cold water felt good on her parched mouth. “Did you find out anything?”
Taking the cup from her, Denise said, “Mrs. Watson is alive. But she isn’t doing well. Do you know if she has any family?”
As much as Kaylee wanted to press the nurse for more information, she knew Denise wouldn’t be able to tell her more. She shook her head. “She has no one. Well, no living relatives. She does have a family though, just not one made with blood.”
“Unfortunately, that doesn’t count in the eyes of the law.” She glanced at the curtain as it parted. “It looks like Dr. Ekins is here to let you know the plan.”
“Hi Kaylee, I’m Dr. Ekins, or Lisa if you prefer. The shoulder reduction went well. I was a little worried that it would be difficult because of the extended amount of time it was dislocated. We’re going to leave it in a sling and swath for several weeks, keep icing it for the next two days, and have you follow up with an Orthopedic doctor.”
“When can I be discharged?” Kaylee asked, anxious to go visit Mama C.
“Well,” the doctor said, “if it were just your shoulder injury we had to worry about, I’d let you go as soon as we make sure you can hold down some fluids. But you’ve also had a pretty serious head injury. So, the plan is to move you out of the ER and admit you to the neuro unit so they can monitor you for the next twenty-four hours.”
Kaylee frowned. “Will I be able to visit another patient while I’m admitted?” Two other patients, she thought.
“That will be up to the attending on neuro, but I don’t see why not.” Dr. Ekins laid her hand on Kaylee’s arm, warmth radiated from the doctor’s face and touch. “You’ve been through quite a lot, Kaylee. I can see that you’re a strong woman.” She paused. “But please give yourself some time to heal. Not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. Be kind to yourself when you have a bad moment or a bad day in the coming weeks. Allow yourself to cry if you need to. Lean on your friends—one of which is in the waiting room, eager to see you.”
Kaylee perked up. “Allie?”
Dr. Ekins nodded. “I’ll send her in now, and she can follow
