Page 54 of Beneath The Truth
“I didn’t get all the details.I’m sure your brother will fillyouin.”
I didn’t bother asking any more questions as we hustled back through the doors that led to the exam rooms.Rhett stood outside the third one and I ran to him, throwing myself into his arms.“Thank you.Thank you so much.”Tears spilled down my face, and he huggedmehard.
“He’s gonna be okay, Red.Ipromise.”
I snuffled.“Ihopeso.”
“No hoping.He will be.They’re runningtests.”
I forced myself to let Rhett go and reached for the door handle, but he stopped me with a hand onmyarm.
“He’s a little banged up, so make sure you’re ready.Don’t freak out.He’s gonna bejustfine.”
“Are youcomingin?”
He shook his head.“I’ll be right here.It’s getting a little crowded inthere.”
The dread that had been thrumming through my veins curdled in my stomach as I took a fortifying breath and pushed open the door.When I stepped inside, I was glad Rhett had warned me.My dad’s face was swollen and bruised.Tears burned behind my eyes, and it took everything I had not to letthemfall.
“Daddy?”
My brother was at his side, talking to him as the doctor attended to his hands.Both Heath and my dad looked up when Ispoke.
“Ari?When did yougethere?”
I didn’t know if Dad was asking whether I’d just gotten here from California or when I’d gotten to the hospital.“Just now.How are you doing?”I kept my answer generic, not wanting to confuse himfurther.
“I got a little banged up.I’ll be fine.”His voice sounded strong and sure, which was agoodsign.
I swallowed back the tears and chose my words carefully.“You’ve looked better, but you’re still the most handsome manIknow.”
He tried to smile, but the tug on his split lipstoppedhim.
I cringed at the flash of pain and crossed the room to get closer.I desperately wanted to ask who the hell had done this, but a warning look on Heath’s face stopped me.Instinctively, I knew that keeping the atmosphere light in the room wasparamount.
“You’ve been working too much,” Dad said.“Gotta take time off now and again to spend with youroldman.”
His words almost knocked my tears loose, but I held them in and cleared my throat.“I was just thinking the same thing.I think I’m going to be spending a lot more time in New Orleans from hereonout.”
My dad gave me a half smile, probably the biggest one he could without pain.“I like the soundofthat.”
To see that joy on my father’s face, there wasn’t much I wouldn’t do.“You got it, Daddy.”I looked to the doctor standing near the wall.“Sorry to interrupt.Ijust—”
He waved me off.“Don’t worry about it.As I was telling your brother and father, they’ll be here shortly to get him down for a CT scan, and we’ll go fromthere.”
The panic that was just starting to fade kicked up again.“CT scan?”I jerked to look at Heath andmydad.
Dad answered.“They’re worried about me knocking my head and jacking myhipup.”
“What?”
When no one elaborated further, a tense silence hung in the room.The doctor excused himself, and I drilled Heath with a stare.His look again carried enough warning that I couldn’t miss it.Now wasn’t the time to ask questions.We made small talk with Dad until someone knocked on the door and it opened to reveal a woman dressed inscrubs.
“Mr.Sampson, we’re readyforyou.”
I backed away, hating that they were wheeling him out of sight.The door shut, leaving Heath and me alone intheroom.
“What the hell happened?”I asked as soon as thedoorshut.
