medication but able to talk. “Sweetie, I’m so sorry you’re hurt. I wish I could take away your pain.”
“I’ll be okay,” she said, though Anna thought she sounded horrible. Alarm bells started to ring. Christina was so out of it, but Anna knew it was the meds talking. She had to stay calm for Christina’s sake.
“Of course you will,” Anna said. She adjusted her pillow and smoothed the sheets. She was totally out from the pain medication.
A small pull-out sofa gave her a bird’s-eye view of Christina in her hospital bed. With a sigh of relief, she sat down and stretched her legs. She still wore the tank top and shorts with her sandals. Not that she cared. Right now, Christina was her only concern. They would get through this, just as Ed had told her.
Though now that she was alone with her thoughts, she couldn’t help but wonder if Renée had had anything to do with Christina’s fall. They’d been in her room for almost an hour. She needed to talk with Mandy. Luckily, there was a phone in the room.
The hospital operator connected her to an outside line. She called Mandy’s cell phone. “I’m on my way to the hospital now. Mona and Jeb are taking care of your place. I’ll see you in half an hour. We need to talk.”
She hung up the phone. So much for asking questions on her terms, but she knew Mandy was concerned about Christina, and they’d talk as soon as she arrived. Meanwhile, Anna went to the small bathroom, leaving the door open, so she could hear her daughter. She washed her face, took her hair out of the topknot, raked her fingers through the tangles, then put her hair up in a messy bun. She rinsed her mouth and looked at herself in the mirror. “What have I done?” she whispered. Just a few months ago, her life was as predictable as the days of the week. She thought back to the cruise. That was when her life started falling apart. She should have gone to Orlando and enjoyed the time with Mandy and Christina.
“Mom,” Christina called. “Can I have some water?”
Anna moved at the speed of light. A pitcher of fresh ice water had been placed on the bedside table minutes after they’d brought her in. Several plastic-wrapped cups were provided. She took the waxy paper off and poured a small amount in the cup so she wouldn’t spill it. “Here, sweetie.” Anna held the cup for Christina, then raised the bed just enough so that she could drink without spilling the water.
“Thanks.”
She lowered the bed and watched her daughter fall back into a drug-induced sleep. Anna dimmed the lights in the room, then positioned herself on the sofa so she could watch Christina.
She must’ve dozed for a few minutes, when she was awakened by a creaking sound. “Mandy,” she said, beyond thrilled to see her best friend.
“How’s she doing?” Mandy whispered.
Anna quickly ran through the list of her injuries. “Ed thinks she’ll be fine in a few weeks. I hate this, Mandy. I feel responsible.”
“Can we sit?”
“Over here.” Anna sat back down, making room for Mandy.
“First things first. I brought your cell phone, purse, a change of clothes, and a toothbrush. You can thank me later. If there’s anything else you need, I’ll call Mona.”
“No, no, this is fine. I wasn’t thinking clearly in the ambulance. That was horrible, seeing her in pain and not being able to do anything about it.” Tears filled her eyes. Mandy gave her a tissue from a box on the small table beside the sofa.
“Thanks.” She blew her nose and balled the tissue up in her hand.
“Anna, I know this isn’t what you want to hear, especially in your condition, but it has to be said. I was on my way upstairs to grab some things I’d left in the room a few nights ago, and it was a good thing I did. Who knows what else would’ve happened had I not been there? I don’t feel good about this. While I didn’t see her actually fall, I saw that little snot standing at the top of the stairs watching Christina just lie at the bottom of the steps. When I screamed out, ‘Call nine-one-one,’ she had a damned cell phone in her hand, yet she just watched, Anna. Do you see where I’m heading with this? I’m not riding any kid’s ass. I’m just giving you my take on what I