“I have the ring,” Jack said, relieved he could give that back to her. “The paramedics were concerned about her swollen hands, so we pried it off her in the ambulance.”
“She wants it back. In fact, she’s quite adamant about getting it back.”
“I’ll be sure to give it to her as soon as you let me see her. How is she? What kind of damage did he do to her?”
Summer grabbed Lily and walked down to the nurse’s station away from the doctor and his evaluation of Jenna’s injuries.
“She’s severely dehydrated. We’re giving her IV fluids, and she should recover from that quickly. She’s got two severe lacerations along her ribs on her left side that took quite a few stitches to close up. She has a gash on the back of her head, which also required several stitches. The head injury resulted in a severe concussion and a cracked skull. I don’t know how she’s survived that injury out in the woods overnight in the cold. Those are her worst injuries. Other than that, she has bruises and cuts all over. The bruises and abrasions around her throat are particularly severe. She’s in a lot of pain.”
“You’ve given her something for the pain though, right?” Jack didn’t want Jenna to suffer anymore. He couldn’t stand to think of her enduring any more pain.
“Acetaminophen. She simply refused anything more. She’s very strong and seems to be enduring the pain. I have to go by her wishes.”
“Why won’t she take anything? Can’t you put it in her IV? Take the pain away. That’s your job!”
Undeterred by Jack’s outburst, the doctor simply answered, “I have to go with what she wants. Maybe once you talk to her, you’ll understand. You can go in and see her now. She’s extremely tired and might not wake up, but I think it would do her a world of good to see Lily and the rest of you.
“Also, she needs rest, so only two visitors at a time and for a few minutes only. We’ve cleaned her up and bandaged all the wounds. You may want to warn Lily again before bringing her in.”
“Thanks, Doc. Is there anything else we should know? I feel like you’re holding something back.” He just wasn’t sure what it was, or why.
“She’ll have to tell you the rest, doctor-patient confidentiality. She’ll need to stay here for a few days, at least until we’re sure her concussion is healed.”
The doctor left the waiting room, onto his next patient, leaving Jack confused about the things he hadn’t said. Patient confidentiality. Bullshit. Jack needed to know what wasn’t said.
Chapter Forty-Five
* * *
JACK HELD LILY’S hand and walked to Jenna’s room. They entered quietly and found Jenna asleep in the bed. A bandage covered the back of her head and more were wrapped around her wrists. The sheet covered her body and all the other injuries. Nothing he could see should scare Lily.
If not for Lily, Jack would have cried at the sight of her. Pale, her eyes sunken with black circles marring her translucent skin. The cut above her eye had small bandages keeping it closed, and the cut on her swollen lip would heal on its own. Jack’s heart sank at the sight of her. He’d failed her. His mind wouldn’t let him forget, he didn’t protect her after he’d promised no one would hurt her again. Now, look at her, in the hospital, having come too close to dying. Again.
Lily scooted around the bed and touched Jenna’s hand with her tiny fingertips.
Jenna’s eyes fluttered open at the touch. At the sight of Lily, tears filled her eyes and skated down her cheeks. “Come here, Sunshine.” Barely able to hear Jenna, her voice came out like a hoarse croak.
Jack lifted Lily onto the bed and Lily laid her head on the pillow next to Jenna’s. Jenna winced when Lily bumped her. She tried not to show the pain etched on her face.
“You’re okay, right?” Lily asked.
“Yes,” Jenna answered, her voice no more than a rasp. Tears rolled down her cheeks. She couldn’t seem to stop them, so relieved to see Lily safe and sound. Unable to concentrate very well, her head pounded and ached, but Lily was okay and that’s all that mattered.
“I’m having a baby,” Lily announced. “Mommy told me I’m going to be a big sister. Maybe Uncle Jack can get another puppy when Mommy has the baby like he did when mommy