Savin' Me (24 page)

Erik stood, dumbfounded and angered by the
woman’s lack of concern. Kat’s grandfather had been the only one to
approach Kat’s bed. Initially, Erik thought maybe her parents were
in shock and overwhelmed and just hadn’t known what to do. Now he
wasn’t so sure.

Her grandfather, sitting on the edge of the
bed holding Kat’s hand, seemed less inclined to leave. “We jus’ got
here. Don’t ya think we should stay a while?”

Kat’s mother pressed her lips together and
crossed her arms. “Whatever for? The doctor said she won’t be awake
for days. What’s the point of staying here? We’ve had a long drive,
and I need sleep. I have an early morning conference call.”

Holy shit. Erik never would’ve believed it
possible, but Kat’s mother was cut from the same bad cloth as his,
maybe even worse. How could she be more concerned about a
conference call than her daughter, who was lying in a hospital bed
in a coma? Now wasn’t the time to point out what a bitch Mrs. Owens
was, but Erik filed the incident away for the future.

Kat’s grandfather remained uneasy, but
agreed. “I guess I’ll be more use to Katydid rested than dead on my
feet.” He wrapped Kat in a gentle hug, then stood to address Erik.
“Young man, I assume yer not leavin’?”

“No, sir.”

He gave Erik’s arm a reassuring squeeze, and
said, “Then I’ll see ya bright an' early in the mornin’.”

***

True to his word, Kat’s grandfather arrived
at the hospital a few minutes before seven. “I woulda been here
sooner, but it took me longer to walk from the hotel than I’d
expected. Guess I’m not as fast as I used to be.”

Disgust that the older man had to walk filled
Erik as he sat upright in the recliner, then stood to shake her
grandfather’s hand. “Good morning, sir. I’m sorry you had to walk.”
His annoyance with Kat’s parents was evident in his tone, and her
grandfather smiled while squeezing his hand.

“I coulda insisted on a ride, but sometimes
it’s easier to leave well enough alone.”

Kat’s grandfather sat in the chair next to
her bed and studied the various tubes and wires trailing to the
machines scattered around her. The ventilator made a steady
whooshing sound, and several monitors beeped and occasionally
pinged. Overnight, Erik had grown accustomed to each of the sounds,
and knew it would take her grandfather a while to do the same.

After several minutes, he turned his
attention to Erik. “You the young man that took my Katydid to the
beach?”

Erik smiled, wondering what Kat thought of
being called a bug. “Yes, sir.”

“Thanks for that. She works too hard. Those
parents of hers have always made her feel like she didn’t measure
up. But lately, she’s spent too much time tryin’ to prove ‘em wrong
and not enough time makin’ herself happy.”

Guilt had Erik diverting his gaze. He sure as
shit hadn’t done much to make her happy over the last forty-eight
hours. He sat here all night, beating himself to a bloody,
emotional pulp for doing exactly what he most feared.

Hurting her.

If he hadn’t been such an asshole, she
would’ve been at his house, wrapped up safe and sound with him in
his bed, rather than out running.

He shuddered as he considered how close he
came to losing her. And if he had, she would’ve died just like
Lindsey—thinking he didn’t love her.

But by the grace of God, Kat had been spared,
and he wasn’t leaving this room until he told her how much he loved
her, and how sorry he was for hurting her. He’d spend the next
twenty years on his knees, begging her forgiveness, if that’s what
it took.

“Good morning, gentlemen.”

Startled by the appearance of Daniel Sturgis
in Kat’s doorway, Erik jumped. He was so lost in thought, he forgot
he and Kat weren’t alone in the world.

After looking over Kat’s chart and checking
the monitors, Daniel—who Erik assumed was the day-shift
neurologist—said, “She’s doing fine. She’s stable and recovering
exactly as we’d expect. But we’re still going to keep her heavily
sedated, basically in a coma, for several days to allow the
swelling in her brain to recede.”

“Thank you for takin’ such good care of my
Katydid.” The old man’s eyes clouded as he gazed at Kat’s still
form. “I don’t know what I’d do without her.”

“Yes, sir. I’m sorry to have to do it, but
I’m glad to be here for her.” He turned his attention to Erik. “You
look like hell.”

Erik chuckled. “Awww… Daniel, you say the
nicest things. You have an outstanding bedside manner.”

The doctor laughed, then grew serious. “Erik,
she’s not going to be alert for several more days. The nurses said
they’ve tried to get you to go eat, or even just walk around, but
you refuse to leave.” The corner of his mouth lifted in a smirk.
“Lots of hearts breaking out there in that nurse’s station, by the
way.”

Erik laughed, then settled his gaze back on
Kat.

“Her grandfather’s here with her,” Daniel
continued. “You should go home, get some rest, get something to
eat. Take a shower.”

“I appreciate the concern, but no can
do.”

Daniel crossed his arms over his chest and
leaned against the doorframe. “I could order you to leave.”

Erik cut his gaze to Daniel and narrowed his
eyes. They went to school together most of their lives, and as life
in a small town would have it, spent a lot of time hanging out with
the same crowd. They weren’t close friends, but they knew each
other well enough. “I wouldn’t advise it,” Erik said, making sure
Daniel knew he wouldn’t be swayed.

Daniel sighed and looked at Kat’s
grandfather. “I’ve known Erik long enough to know I’m fighting a
losing battle and asking you to do the same. But if you can, get
him to leave, at least for a little while.” Speaking to both men,
he said, “This isn’t a sprint. Her recovery is going to be a
marathon, and you’re not going to do her any good if you’re
exhausted.”

Kat’s grandfather nodded.

Erik said, “Understood.”

When the doctor left, her grandfather said,
“He’s right, ya know. I didn’t wanta leave last night, but I knew
it was for the best.”

“I can’t leave until…” He paused, swallowed,
and tried again. “I have to be here when she wakes up. I have some
things to tell her.”

The older man studied Erik for the longest
time, then smiled, giving Erik the impression he passed some kind
of test. “Stubborn. That’s good. Katy needs someone as strong
willed and determined as she is.”

The two men spent the next several hours
talking and getting to know each other, while staring at Kat and
wishing they could do something to change the situation.
Midmorning, her parents arrived. Kat’s mother was dressed in
another power suit. Her father was dressed slightly more
casual.

Granddad, as Erik had been instructed to call
him, filled Kat’s parents in on the doctor’s course of action.

Kat’s mother sighed and rolled her eyes.
“Well, she’s certainly made a mess of things this time.”

Erik, dozing in and out of sleep in the
recliner, became instantly alert. The tone, the words, everything
about Kat’s mother’s statement flew through him like a wildfire out
of control. But before he could get out of the chair and onto his
feet, Kat’s grandfather said, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Kat’s mom huffed in disbelief. “I have to
state the obvious? She moved to this nothing town at the edge of
the earth and got herself hit by a car. She’s going to be in the
hospital for who knows how long, and then it’ll take months for her
to fully recover. She can’t possibly take care of herself, let
alone work, so we’re going to have to move her back to Charlotte
with us.” She made an it’s-all-so-obvious expression. “Like I said,
she’s certainly made a mess of things.”

Color rose high in Granddad’s cheeks and his
breathing grew labored as he glanced at Kat. He and Erik had a
lengthy conversation about how much Kat might be able to hear, and
Erik knew the old man was concerned about her hearing this
bullshit.

Having heard enough himself, Erik kicked the
footrest of the recliner down and stood. “I’ll take care of
her.”

Kat’s mother swung her condescending gaze to
him. “Excuse me?”

He loved Kat, and if she’d have him, he
intended to marry her. The vows he hoped to take included for
better or worse, in sickness and in health. He hadn’t said them to
her yet, but he felt them nonetheless. And he’d start acting on
them now.

However, before he could explain any of that,
Kat’s mother turned her back on him and resumed her verbal tirade.
“She’s always been so irresponsible.” She turned on Granddad. “This
happened in the middle of the day. Why wasn’t she at work?”

A growl built in the back of Erik’s throat,
but Granddad was quicker with the attack. “Leah, you’re my only
child, and I love ya. But I don’ know where your mother and I went
wrong. I thought we raised ya to be a good and caring person. I
thought wrong.”

Kat’s mother bristled, but quickly regained
her composure. “What are you babbling about?”

“Somewhere along the lines, your priorities
got all outta whack. Katy’s lyin’ there in a coma, and you’ve been
back at the hotel on the phone. You're complainin’ because her
condition is an inconvenience for ya. The only thing that oughtta
matter is her. But you’re so wrapped up in yourself, you can’t see
that.”

Granddad’s misty gaze shifted to Kat. “She’s
spent so many years tryin’ to please ya and make ya happy that
she’s made herself miserable. You’ve criticized her work with
charities and the animal shelter. But ya know what? I’m more proud
of her for being selfless than I could ever be of you, and all that
you’ve accomplished through your selfishness.”

He turned to Kat’s father, who stood off to
the side looking like he’d rather eat a pile of nasty gym socks
than be in this room. “Get my daughter outta here. Take her back to
Charlotte.” He swung his gaze around to Erik, and said, “This fine
young man and I can take care of Katy without ya.”

Kat’s mother glared at her father. “She’s
obviously going to be out of work for a while. Are you going to
take care of the hospital bills? Are you going to let her move in
with you?”

Erik stepped up next to Granddad. “I
will.”

“Oh, really?” Her disgust over the situation
came pouring out in those two little words. “After knowing my
daughter for no more than a few weeks, you’re willing to take full
responsibility for her?”

For the first time in his life, Erik was
grateful he’d been birthed to a mother who was also a first-rate
bitch. Kat’s mother, no doubt, expected Erik to shrivel under her
harsh glare and scolding tone. But he had years of practice dealing
with a woman like her, and he wasn’t the least bit phased. “Yes
ma’am, I am. And if she’ll have me, I’ll happily spend the rest of
my life taking care of her.”

The woman snorted. “You’re obviously as much
of a dreamer as Katherine if you think you know her well enough,
after two weeks, for that kind of commitment.” She flicked a glance
to her father, then to Kat, and finally to her husband. “I guess
we’re no longer needed here. We can go pack our things and get on
with our lives.”

The silence was deafening as Kat’s parents
gathered their briefcases and left the room. As the door shut
behind them, Granddad turned to Erik. He drew in a deep breath,
stood a little taller, and years melted off his face. “That felt
kinda good. I shoulda done that twenty-five years ago.”

He stepped over to the bed and took hold of
Kat’s hand. “Her mama’s right; she is gonna need someone to take
care of her. Katy said she thought I’d like livin’ here, so I
reckon I’ll find out.”

Erik smiled and said, “My house just happens
to have a guesthouse. Consider it yours.”

Chapter Sixteen

Three days turned into four and then into
five. Each time they reduced the sedation, she fought the
ventilator tubing so badly they had to increase it again. Because
of the damage to her lung, they needed to keep her on the
ventilator longer than normal, which Erik understood. But watching
her struggle and fight it pushed the limits of his already taxed
sanity.

He had agreed to share Granddad’s hotel room…
sort of. Granddad spent his days at the hospital, but stayed in the
hotel at night. Erik used the room for showers. He refused to leave
Kat for more than the thirty minutes it took to run to the hotel,
shower, and get back. The nursing staff had come to accept him as a
useless, bulky piece of equipment that needed to be worked
around.

Kevin and Steve brought him clean clothes and
kept him fed, and for the first few nights, alternated staying at
the hospital with him. Finally, on the fifth day, he convinced them
Little Bit needed the attention more than he did and would really
appreciate the company.

Seth and Rusty stopped by several times
throughout each day, and Elise had shown up once. She seemed truly
shaken by Kat’s condition and had tried to offer words of solace to
Erik. Although she seemed genuine in her concern, Erik found
himself standing between her and Kat, like a man protecting
vulnerable prey from a vulture, just waiting to swoop in and finish
the kill.

On the sixth day, they had a breakthrough. As
they eased the sedation, panic once again settled around Kat. But
this time, at the sound of her grandfather’s voice, she flickered
her eyes and followed the sound until she found him standing by her
bed.

Her fight or flight reflex was strong, but
she eventually followed his command to relax and gave up the fight.
They still didn’t know the long-term effects of the head trauma,
but her ability to understand and follow Granddad’s commands made
everyone hopeful.

Kat slept more than she was awake for the
next two days, which made it easy for Erik to stay out of sight.
Because there were still questions about what she would know and
remember when fully conscious, he felt it best to stay hidden to
prevent any additional stress on her. Granddad didn’t know the
details, but knew Erik and Kat had been “arguing,” and that’s why
she’d been running. Because of that, he was content to be Kat’s
focal point each time she roused.