Chapter 19
NASH
For the first time in days, I feel hopeful.
Yes, Sadie still doesn’t remember me.
Yes, I’m living in a hospital waiting room.
But we talked last night.
I cannot tell you how good it felt to spend some alone time with her. My ability to cope with this whole situation was running threadbare, but that conversation with Sadie breathed new life into me. Even if she’s skeptical of us, it’s a start, and I’ll gladly take it.
I drag my eyes back to my laptop, trying to refocus and get some stuff done.
I’ve been working remotely since the accident. It’s not ideal, but nobody questions it when you’re the boss. Really, no one at work would give me crap for being at the hospital for Sadie. They care about her. For the last three years, she’s been running Superior Health alongside me, taking us to the next level. She’s one of us, whether she remembers it or not.
“One lukewarm coffee.”
I turn my head just as Lindy sits in the chair next to mine. She extends the white paper cup toward me, courtesy of the hospital cafeteria.
“Thanks.” I take a slow sip. Maybe if I concentrate enough, I can pretend it came from Starbucks.
“Is Annie still in with Sadie?”
“Yeah, I think she’s helping her shave or wax or something.”
Lindy leans back into her chair, staring straight ahead. “You were supposed to leave on your trip today.”
“I know.”
Christmas in Switzerland—see the flying Santa at Noёl Montreux, ride on the Glacier Express, sleep in a chalet in Zermatt, visit the Christmas markets, and go skiing at Lake Oeschinen. A month-long trip of a lifetime that we were finally going on. It’s hard not to feel depressed about where we’re at instead.
“At least Sadie doesn’t remember her magical Swiss Christmas and therefore can’t feel bad about missing it.” A goofy smile covers her mouth.
Same old Lindy. Always looking on the bright side. I remember when my mom left, and Nolan and I moved in with Lindy’s family. I was eleven and didn’t see any good in my mother ditching me and my brother for her career. But Lindy kept saying how great it was because she’d always wanted older brothers. Her positivity eventually rubbed off on me in that situation. I hope it does the same here.
Lindy is hurting too. Sadie is the sister she never had, and right now, she doesn’t even know Lindy exists. But Lindy’s handling it with a smile, supporting me where she can, patiently waiting her turn to talk to Sadie.
She twists her blonde hair and drops it over one shoulder. “Where are Sadie’s parents?”
I look down the hall. “I think they went for a walk around the hospital to get some exercise.” At least, that’s what I heard Lynette suggest to Jay. They don’t typically keep me in the loop with their plans.
Tense is a good way to describe my relationship with the Bradleys. I don’t recommend meeting your in-laws for only the second time when your wife is in a coma. It adds another layer to the strain that was already there.
Perception is reality, and the Bradleys perceive me as the enemy who stole their daughter from them—a tough prejudice to overcome.
“Do you think Sadie will ever go skiing again?” Lindy’s question and tone are innocent enough, but a heaviness constricts my chest.
I’ll never forget watching Sadie get cut off on the slope and lose control. Her body flung through the air like a rag doll until she slammed head-first into a tree. My whole world flatlined at that moment. It was like my pulse stopped right alongside hers.
“Sorry.” Lindy studies my pained expression. “That was an insensitive question.”
“No, don’t worry about it. It wasn’t insensitive, just a little too soon.”
“I never think before I talk.”
I nudge her shoulder. “It’s one of the reasons I hang out with you. Your entertainment value is through the roof.”
“That sounds like you only hang out with me because you like watching me stick my foot in my mouth.”
I smile back at her. “You offer a little more value than that.”
“Har har.” She pushes my shoulder.
“Lindy, how kind of you to stop by the hospital again,” Lynette says as she sinks into the chair across from us. “It’s good to see you.”
“Thanks, Mrs. Bradley.”
“Lynette. We’ve been through enough to be on a first-name basis.”
“I just came to check on Nash.” Lindy scrunches her nose up to me. “Make sure he’s eating.”
“It’s good he has you.” Jay grunts as he sits.
“Well, now that you’re fed”—Lindy hops to her feet—“I better get going. Call me if anything exciting happens.” She waves at the Bradleys before taking off down the hall.
Without Lindy’s carefree personality here to ease the tension, silence ensues.
Lynette’s eyes drift to her husband like some kind of signal for him to start. He clears his throat, catching on to her hint.
Jay leans forward, diving into his speech. “Since Sadie will be discharged this weekend, we?—”
“Wait, who told you she was getting released?”
“Dr. Basu.”
I fight the negative thoughts, hating that Dr. Basu gave the Bradleys the good news before me. I’m glad her parents are here for their daughter, but I’m the one who should hear important information first.
It’s like when Sadie and her parents decided without me that she’d go home to Skaneateles to spend Christmas there this year. I wasn’t even part of that conversation.
But it’s fine.
Sadie’s alive and awake and going home. That’s all that matters.
Three weeks ago, I would’ve given anything to hear that she was well enough to leave the hospital. I prayed every day, and I’m not even the praying type. I promised God everything if He would just let her get through this. I guess I can never lie, swear, or sin again now that she’s awake and being released—we’ll see how long that lasts.
Because of all that, I drop that I’m the last to know about her discharge and let Jay continue.
“Anyway, I made some arrangements for a physical therapist to come in a few days a week.”
I expected this conversation. Jay Bradley likes to be in control. It’s one of the things Sadie struggles with about her dad. But I don’t need to pick a fight over logistics. If Jay wants to make all the arrangements, I’m fine with that. He forgets that we’re both in the healthcare industry and that I have my own contacts, but it’s not a battle I need to fight—one less thing off my plate.
“That sounds great. Thanks for doing that.”
He nods, pleased with how easily I gave in. “We also booked a flight Saturday night to Syracuse. Lynette will stop by your apartment Friday to pack some things for Sadie.”
“Saturday night is too soon for a flight. If she’s getting released that morning, she’ll be tired and should rest.”
Jay’s expression gets defensive. “It’s only a two-hour flight.”
“Yeah, but there’s driving to the airport and getting through security. I think one big activity a day is plenty for her right now. She can fly on Sunday.”
“But we already canceled our hotel and are booked on the Saturday night flight,” Lynette whines.
“You can rebook for Sunday.”
She looks to her husband for help, and he gladly jumps in.
“Well, with Annie at the hotel too, we’re on top of each other. Sadie won’t be comfortable there.”
“She’s not going to the hotel. She’ll sleep at our apartment with me.”
This should be obvious to them. She’s been living with me for the past three years.
“Well, we just prefer to fly home Saturday night, so you don’t need to worry about playing host.”
“I wouldn’t be playing host. That’s Sadie’s home.” I set my jaw, showing the Bradleys that I mean to stand my ground on this one. “Why don’t you guys keep your flight on Saturday night? Sadie and I will fly in Sunday evening.”
That statement causes Lynette’s mouth to gape open and Jay’s eyes to narrow.
“We assumed you weren’t coming to Skaneateles,” he says. “We don’t need you to. She’ll be well taken care of with us.”
“I’m Sadie’s husband. Naturally, I’d go where she goes.”
Jay shakes his head. “But she doesn’t even remember you.”
Losing my cool in front of the nurse's station isn’t a good look, so I draw in a deep breath, relaxing my clenched fists before I dare speak. “Right now, Sadie might not remember me or the last three and a half years of her life, but eventually, she will, and when she does, she’ll be furious that you used her traumatic brain injury as a way to get close to her again.”
“We all know you’re the reason for the rift between us.” Lynette’s voice shakes with emotion. “It’s your fault she?—”
Jay places a calming hand on his wife’s thigh, stopping her from saying her accusation out loud. “We don’t want to fight with you, Nash. It’s obvious that you care about our daughter. But I think we both know you’re out of your depth here. You haven’t even been spending time with her since she woke up.”
“We talked last night. Had a great conversation.” I leave out how skeptical she was of me. It’s irrelevant to the conversation.
They glance at each other, surprised their daughter didn’t mention our encounter.
“She’s starting to ask questions and wants information about her life the past few years. I’m not going to lie to her. If she asks about Tate, I’ll tell her the truth.”
Jay's expression hardens. “Tate is none of your business. This is a private matter that needs to come from her family.”
“ I’m her family now.” It’s shocking how often they dismiss me as her husband. “I’m loyal to Sadie only.”
“You were her family.” Jay shrugs, his insolence apparent. “But now that she can’t remember her life with you, there’s no place for you in it.”
“Don’t you think that’s up to Sadie to decide?”
“He’s right,” Lynette sighs. “Sadie is the one who needs to decide where Nash fits into everything. If we shut him out and she gets her memory back, we’ll lose her all over again. And I can’t face that. Not when we just barely got her back.”
“Fine.” Jay drops his patronizing tone. “But if she doesn’t want you to come to Skaneateles, I won’t force it. You’ll have to abide by her wishes.”
Not surprising at all.
“I’ll agree to that.” And because I don’t want to be at odds with her parents, I offer a compromise. “And I’ll also agree to let you guys tell her about Tate. But it needs to be sooner rather than later.”
“We were going to wait until we were back home to tell her.” Lynette bites her bottom lip, trying to hide her quiver. “I think it will be best if we break the news when she’s in a familiar place.”
“I can support that if you’ll let me be the one to talk to her about coming to New York.”
They both nod, and it’s settled.
Except, deep down, I know convincing Sadie to let me come might be a lot harder than I’m letting on.
So, nothing about me is settled.