pressure is elevated.”
Julie’s eyes filled and she blinked rapidly. What if Dade didn’t
make it? She couldn’t imagine a world without him. He couldn’t
be gone forever.
“Can I speak to him? Maybe a familiar voice would help.”
“It wouldn’t hurt,” the doctor said, then turned toward the
door. “I’ll be back later to check on him.”
How could he abandon Dade? Anything could happen. Of course, other
patients needed the doctor, but still, she wanted him here every
minute just in case.
She’d stay. Dade would not be left alone, no matter how long it
took. He had to get better. She’d see to it.
Julie leaned over the bed. The cold railing dug into her abdomen, but
she ignored it. Careful not to disturb the IV hose carrying the
precious fluids to Dade’s ravaged body, she lightly pressed his
right hand.
“Dade, it’s Julie. Can you hear me?”
He lay unmoving.
Julie bit her lip. She’d almost expected him to speak, as if
nothing had happened. It was unnerving to see him so unresponsive
She wouldn’t give up.
“Dade, please, I’m worried. Can you hear me? If it’s too hard
to talk, can you move your finger or a toe?”
Nothing. Julie fought back hot tears. Could he hear her? Could he
tell what she was saying? She had to reach him somehow.
Somewhere, deep inside of his brain, did he even register what she
was saying? She had to bring him back. A past memory might help.
Her mind went blank. All she could think of was Dade lying still
forever, never waking up. What could she say to make a difference?
A bittersweet smile escaped her. If he were functioning at all, he’d
remember this.
“Dade, remember the day my parents died in the plane crash? Avery
tried to make me feel better, but it was you who really helped. You
took out your handkerchief, wiped my tears and said, ‘Julie, you’re
a Donovan now. We’ll be there for you, no matter what.’”
She choked back a sob. “Dade, don’t break your promise. You’ve
got to come back. You’re a part of me.”
It tore at her to see him like this. And the worst wasn’t over.
Taking a shaky breath, she reached for the phone by the bed. Avery’s
cheerful voice answered.
God, she hated to destroy her friend’s happiness.
“Avery, I had to call. Something terrible has happened. Dade was in
an accident. He’s in a coma at Northwestern Memorial. You and
Marcia need to get here. Promise you’ll drive carefully.”
“We’re on our way,” Avery answered, the life drained from her
voice.
Chapter Thirteen
With chest crushed and head pounding, Dade swam through the murky
waters. He had to reach Julie. She needed him.
Her fresh floral scent filled his nostrils. Her stifled sobs
penetrated his ears. Someone was hurting her. He had to protect her.
It was his job.
With his last ounce of willpower, Dade commanded his eyelids to open.
They refused to obey, but he would not give up. He’d keep trying
until they did.
When he finally did manage to pry his lids open, he was greeted by a
blurry white world.
A band of searing pain flashed across his forehead, stealing his
breath and making his stomach turn. Every part of his body clamored
for attention, but he had only one focus: Julie. Where was she?
He skimmed the area until he caught sight of her standing to the
left. Her eyes were puffy and red. Who was hurting her? He’d
promised to take care of her and he would. Dade forced his lips to
move. “Don’tttt crrry, JJJJulie.”
“Oh my God, Dade. You’ve done it. You’re awake.”
Of course. What was the big deal?
He watched in amazement as she reached over the side of the bed and
pressed the call button.
“You have no idea how scared I was,” she said.
Before he could begin to form a response, a nurse and a doctor rushed
in. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Julie leave the room.
Who’d guess that a tiny bright light could hurt like a cleaver
slicing his brain?
The doctor poked and prodded, then asked,
Julie’s eyes filled and she blinked rapidly. What if Dade didn’t
make it? She couldn’t imagine a world without him. He couldn’t
be gone forever.
“Can I speak to him? Maybe a familiar voice would help.”
“It wouldn’t hurt,” the doctor said, then turned toward the
door. “I’ll be back later to check on him.”
How could he abandon Dade? Anything could happen. Of course, other
patients needed the doctor, but still, she wanted him here every
minute just in case.
She’d stay. Dade would not be left alone, no matter how long it
took. He had to get better. She’d see to it.
Julie leaned over the bed. The cold railing dug into her abdomen, but
she ignored it. Careful not to disturb the IV hose carrying the
precious fluids to Dade’s ravaged body, she lightly pressed his
right hand.
“Dade, it’s Julie. Can you hear me?”
He lay unmoving.
Julie bit her lip. She’d almost expected him to speak, as if
nothing had happened. It was unnerving to see him so unresponsive
She wouldn’t give up.
“Dade, please, I’m worried. Can you hear me? If it’s too hard
to talk, can you move your finger or a toe?”
Nothing. Julie fought back hot tears. Could he hear her? Could he
tell what she was saying? She had to reach him somehow.
Somewhere, deep inside of his brain, did he even register what she
was saying? She had to bring him back. A past memory might help.
Her mind went blank. All she could think of was Dade lying still
forever, never waking up. What could she say to make a difference?
A bittersweet smile escaped her. If he were functioning at all, he’d
remember this.
“Dade, remember the day my parents died in the plane crash? Avery
tried to make me feel better, but it was you who really helped. You
took out your handkerchief, wiped my tears and said, ‘Julie, you’re
a Donovan now. We’ll be there for you, no matter what.’”
She choked back a sob. “Dade, don’t break your promise. You’ve
got to come back. You’re a part of me.”
It tore at her to see him like this. And the worst wasn’t over.
Taking a shaky breath, she reached for the phone by the bed. Avery’s
cheerful voice answered.
God, she hated to destroy her friend’s happiness.
“Avery, I had to call. Something terrible has happened. Dade was in
an accident. He’s in a coma at Northwestern Memorial. You and
Marcia need to get here. Promise you’ll drive carefully.”
“We’re on our way,” Avery answered, the life drained from her
voice.
Chapter Thirteen
With chest crushed and head pounding, Dade swam through the murky
waters. He had to reach Julie. She needed him.
Her fresh floral scent filled his nostrils. Her stifled sobs
penetrated his ears. Someone was hurting her. He had to protect her.
It was his job.
With his last ounce of willpower, Dade commanded his eyelids to open.
They refused to obey, but he would not give up. He’d keep trying
until they did.
When he finally did manage to pry his lids open, he was greeted by a
blurry white world.
A band of searing pain flashed across his forehead, stealing his
breath and making his stomach turn. Every part of his body clamored
for attention, but he had only one focus: Julie. Where was she?
He skimmed the area until he caught sight of her standing to the
left. Her eyes were puffy and red. Who was hurting her? He’d
promised to take care of her and he would. Dade forced his lips to
move. “Don’tttt crrry, JJJJulie.”
“Oh my God, Dade. You’ve done it. You’re awake.”
Of course. What was the big deal?
He watched in amazement as she reached over the side of the bed and
pressed the call button.
“You have no idea how scared I was,” she said.
Before he could begin to form a response, a nurse and a doctor rushed
in. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Julie leave the room.
Who’d guess that a tiny bright light could hurt like a cleaver
slicing his brain?
The doctor poked and prodded, then asked,
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