Hummingbird Lake Page 0,100

significant risks. Moving even a few millimeters during surgery could injure her spinal cord or cause the kinked artery to push a clot into her brain, resulting in a stroke. Yet surgery had been her only option.

Every so often, a nurse arrived with updates. Each time the Raffertys spotted her face through the window in the door to the surgical suite, they held their collective breath. After the third such event, Colt realized that seeing the nurse was a good sign. If something bad happened, it would be the doctor who came out to meet them.

When the surgery passed the six-hour mark, Ann let out a frustrated wail: “Why is it taking so long?” Then she burst into tears.

Her husband sat beside her, took her into his arms, and spoke quietly, reassuring her, drawing strength from her and offering her his. They leaned on each other, supported each other during this, the most challenging moment of their lives. Watching the couple, Colt was reminded that this was what he wanted in a relationship. Shared burdens were eased burdens. Why couldn’t Sage see that?

Seven hours after the surgery began, Rachel’s doctor walked into the waiting room, a big smile on his face. Seeing it, a knot of tension released inside Colt.

“She did great,” the surgeon said. “We’re not out of the woods yet, but I have to say I’m much more optimistic than I was the first time I saw her X-rays.”

He summarized the procedure in detail, then ended by saying, “So she has a titanium plate, ten screws, and two rods in the back of her neck to hold it in place. We won’t know how badly the spinal cord has been damaged for a while yet. The next seventy-two hours will be key.”

“What about the stroke risk?” Jason Rafferty asked.

The doctor hesitated. “I’ll feel better about everything after those seventy-two hours.”

“Can we see her?” Ann asked.

The doctor nodded. “One at a time and only for a few minutes.”

After Rachel’s parents spent their allotted time with her, Colt paid a brief visit, then almost wished he hadn’t. Seeing her lying in bed, pale and immobilized, all but broke his heart. He could only imagine how Jason and Ann felt.

He’d spent his fair share of time in hospitals as part of his job, and the visits had all been tough. This was different. Having the patient in the bed be one of your own took the horror to a whole other level. He wanted this child to recover, to walk again, to continue those piano lessons she’d begun at the beginning of summer. Most of all, he wanted her to live.

Blinking back the wetness that pooled in his eyes, he gently placed his hand atop hers. “You be a fighter, Rach. We are all counting on that. I love you, sweet pea.”

The nurse shooed him out of the recovery room, and he found his brother and sister-in-law in each other’s arms once again. This time, Jason was the one who’d broken down and Ann the one offering comfort. Again, thoughts of Sage whispered across his mind. He wished she were here.

Had he expected too much of her? Was Celeste right? Maybe so, but that didn’t negate the fact that he needed her with him. He could use a shoulder to lean on right now. Hospitals were lousy places to visit alone. Shoot, he didn’t even have his dog to support him—Shadow was now boarded at a vet clinic that Nic had arranged for him not far from the hospital.

What’s with the pity party, Rafferty? Stop it. Just stop it. Rachel didn’t stroke out, and she might have dodged the paralysis bullet. You should be on your knees thanking the good Lord.

He gave his head a shake. He was getting loopy. Standing, he dragged a hand down his face and spoke to his brother. “I’m going to hunt up some caffeine. Can I bring you guys anything?”

Jason looked at his wife, who shook her head. “Maybe a soda?” he asked.

“Sure.”

As Colt roamed the hospital halls, his thoughts drifted back to his old job. How many hospitals had he visited over the years? Dozens, certainly. He’d done hundreds of interviews. But very few of children. Never in a children’s hospital. He couldn’t imagine working around seriously ill children all day, every day. It would wear down a man’s soul.

Or a woman’s. Ah, Sage.

The stained-glass windows of the hospital chapel caught his attention, and something compelled him to open the door and step inside.