Page 80 of Grumpy

Kelly shook her head. “Nothing on Jackson yet either. I think the main ER is sick of me asking if anyone’s seen him.”

“What if he’s…” Maddie’s chin quivered. “What if he’s gone?”

Kelly reached forward, careful not to squeeze Maddie’s hand too hard. “Then we honor him as best we can, and live every day knowing what he sacrificed for us.”

Maddie nodded slowly, visibly fighting back tears. “Do you know what I keep thinking about?”

Kelly reached up to smooth back Maddie’s hair. “What’s that?”

“That I don’t even know his last name.”

Kelly’s hand froze, partway lifted. Then she lowered it down to the bed with an aghast smack. “I know, right?! Like, he’s been traveling with me all week. Probably knows way too much about my bathroom schedule and eating habits and love life. And I don’t even know his name! Is Jackson first or last? Does he have parents or anyone we need to call?”

Maddie’s laugh was light. “Oh, good. It’s not just me.”

Kelly gave her a sympathetic smile. “Not just you.”

“How’re you? Dr. Lisbon said you were waiting for x-rays?”

Kelly nodded, wincing slightly. “For my shoulder. I think shock made me forget about it, but ever since they mentioned it, it’s been killing me. Thankfully they gave me something to take the edge off.”

“Good. I’m glad you’re okay, Kelly.”

“It was you and the babies I was really worried about. Your lips were blue when we finally came out of that ditch!”

Maddie cringed, likely at the memory. “Yeah. Let’s not go swimming in any more ditches. Okay?”

“Deal,” Kelly chuckled. She looked to her right where some cartoons were playing muted on the television. “How about we turn that up and try to get our minds off things?”

Maddie shifted, patting the bed beside her. Smiling at the invitation, Kelly tossed the blankets she had on her own lap on top of the ones already on the bed. As Maddie pulled back the covers, Kelly carefully slid beneath. They both wiggled themselves down further.

Reaching for the remote, Maddie said softly, “I really appreciate you being here, you know. Like, you really don’t have to be.”

Kelly leaned her head over to gently rest against Maddie’s. “No place I’d rather be.”

* * *

It was nearly an hour later when Dr. Hardwick tracked down Kelly. She did not look any happier since the last time Kelly saw the woman, and Kelly did feel bad that she made the doctor basically go on a wild goose chase to find her.

“Your left shoulder has a Grade II AC separation, Mrs. Bell. That’s the acromioclavicular joint where your collarbone meets your shoulder blade. It’ll be painful, but it doesn’t require surgery or manipulation. You’ll need a sling for four to six weeks and physical therapy after that. I’m going to write you a referral to follow up with an orthopedist and get you discharged.”

Kelly smiled at the surly doctor. “Thank you. I didn’t mean for you to chase me down all the way up here.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not exactly about to tell my wife ‘no’,” the woman replied. She honestly looked exhausted, but given the catastrophe that just hit her—town? Home? City? Come to think of it, Kelly didn’t actually know where they were—place of employment, Kelly really couldn’t blame the woman her tiredness.

Behind Dr. Hardwick, Dr. Lisbon gave them a conspiratorial wink from the doorway. Kelly and Maddie exchanged a look, both trying to keep a straight face to not give the other woman away.

Kelly cleared her throat. “Well, thank you anyway.”

Dr. Hardwick nodded. “I also wanted to let you know that Mr. Bell is still in surgery. The team is addressing the wounds on his back, and someone will update you as soon as there’s anything more to tell you.”

Maddie’s and Kelly’s hands found each other’s under the covers.

“Thank you,” Kelly repeated.

Her piece said, the doctor turned on her heel and walked out the door.

It was another two hours before another doctor came in, this one wearing green scrubs and a hat with anatomical hearts on it. He looked even worse for wear than Dr. Hardwick had. By now, Kelly had been fitted into a sling and her discharge papers were sitting on Maddie’s hospital table. Maddie had two more mild contractions since Kelly had come into her room, but per Dr. Lisbon, they were slowing.