was in the bed, lying as still as before. A nurse was attending to her.
“Has there been any news yet?” Chase asked the nurse.
“No, I’m sorry, not yet. Dr. Jessup will be in as soon as he knows anything. He knows how anxious you are.”
Chase pulled a chair close to the bed and picked up Sunny’s hand again. He placed it inside his own larger hand and said, “I’m here, baby, and I’m not leaving your side. I love you, Sunny Drake Dupont, and I’m not letting you go.”
Marty sat down and began to pray.
An hour later, Dr. Jessup entered the room. “I’m so sorry for the delay. I wanted to go over everything before I spoke with you.”
“What can you tell us about my wife’s condition?”
“We were correct in thinking her arm is fractured. I’ve arranged for it to be casted. I don’t believe she’ll need surgery, which is good, because of the head injury.”
“What about the head injury, Dr. Jessup?” Marty asked.
“Sunny has a concussion. There doesn’t appear to be any bleeding on the brain at this time. We’ve already cleaned up the cut and stitched it. That was done in the ER. As far as her being unconscious, we wait. We have IV fluids going into her body, as well as antibiotics, and an anti-inflammatory drug. She’ll be monitored closely for the next twenty-four hours. I’m assuming you plan to spend the night in that chair?”
“I’d like to stay with her.”
“Of course, but I’ll have the staff get a recliner in here for you. I’ll be on call. If there are any changes in her condition during the night, they’ll page me. Otherwise, I’ll be in to see you in the morning.”
“Thank you, Dr. Jessup.”
By the time Brenda and Jay returned with dinner, Laura had arrived.
“Oh, Laura, thank God you’re here.” Marty got up and hugged her. “I’ll go out and let you sit with them for a while. Chase will fill you in.”
Marty walked out to the lounge to eat her dinner. Brenda and Jay sat with her. She told them everything Dr. Jessup had told them.
George had joined them and said, “I’ll go back to the house. The children were asleep when I left for the airport.”
“Thank you, George. Chase, Laura, and I will be staying here overnight.”
“Alma and I will see to the children, ma’am.”
“Thank you so much.”
Chase looked at Laura. “I’m so sorry.”
“It wasn’t your fault. From what I know, she was walking and fell. You weren’t even aware she wasn’t in the house.” Laura placed her hand on his shoulder. “Go ahead and eat your dinner, son. Then you can fill me in on the rest.”
She walked over to Sunny’s bedside. Leaning over, she spoke softly to her daughter. “Sunny Jo, Mommy’s here. You need to wake up now, baby girl. Your husband is here too and so is Marty. I think your friends are here, too. We all need you, especially little Ali and Brice.” She leaned over and kissed Sunny’s cheek, then sat down to listen to what the doctor had told Chase and Marty.
After he’d told her everything he knew, Laura said, “I’ll call Dr. Rose in the morning and ask him some questions about head injuries.”
“Someone needs to tell the kids. I wonder if Mom would go over there in the morning and do it.”
“I’m sure she will.”
“You knew that their mother, my first wife, died after suffering from a fall.”
“I knew she died. What happened, Chase?”
“She was at the office. She had stopped in to tell me something. When she got on the elevator, she must have fainted, hitting her head. They found her in the elevator, but it was too late. She was bleeding internally.”
“I’m so sorry, Chase.”
“Laura, I love Sunny more than I’ve ever loved anyone in my life. I can’t lose her.”
“Don’t talk like that. Just because your first wife couldn’t be saved, doesn’t mean the same thing will happen to Sunny. You said they didn’t suspect any bleeding at this time.”
“You’re right.”
“Try and rest, Chase, I’ll be right here. I’ll wake you if anything happens.”
“All right, I’ll try to close my eyes. I’ll need to be alert when she wakes up.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
“Here are some clean clothes, a razor, and a few other things, Chase. I’m sure you can use the bathroom in here to freshen up.” Marty handed him the bag of toiletries she’d collected when she’d gone to the house to freshen up.
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Have you eaten?”
“We’ve arranged for one of his restaurants