Samantha
SAMANTHA
T he tires screech when we park in the hospital parking lot. We both jump out of the car, and Chandler grips my hand tightly, running toward the hospital doors. We navigate through the corridors until we make it to the ICU waiting room. His sister is sitting on one of the black plastic chairs with her children, Daniel and Sophie, on either side of her. She stands when she sees us rushing toward her, her eyes red and watery. His grip on my hand releases so he can pull her into a hug.
“I don’t know what happened," she cries. “I took the kids to the grocery store with me, and when he came back, he was on the floor in the living room. I think he fell.”
Chandler rubs her back for a moment, remaining stoic, but I know he’s panicking. He sped all the way here, only stopping once at a red light and looking in the rearview mirror for any sign of red and blue flashing lights that might slow him down. He pulls away from her and rests his hands on her shoulders.
“What did they say? ”
Cheyenne shook her head, releasing a shaky breath. “They haven’t said anything yet.”
Chandler frowns and looks at Cheyenne, then at the kids, who are watching a show on their iPads. “Where’s Derrick?”
“He’s on his way here. He had a meeting in Raleigh. He should be here soon.”
The doors to the waiting room open, and Derrick walks in, heading straight toward us. He pulls Cheyenne into his arms, and my heart aches when Cheyenne buries her head in his chest and lets out a sob.
“I got here as soon as I could," he says to her and kisses her head.
“What’s wrong, Mommy?” Sophie, obviously confused as to why her mother is crying, is looking up from her iPad, her headphones still over her ears. This makes Cheyenne cry harder.
“Mommy’s okay, Soph,” Chandler says softly.
He crouches down to meet her eyes, trying to give her a soft smile, then taps Daniels on his knee. Daniel looks up at him with big, innocent blue eyes. “I saw a vending machine outside the door. And I also happen to have a few dollars. They have gummy bears. Want to come with me to get some?”
They both smile wide with a nod, oblivious to the possible tragedy around them. Chandler takes both of their hands, and I follow them out of the waiting room and to the vending machines that are right outside the door.
“Uncle Channie, I want gummy bears!”
“Me too!”
“Two gummy bears got it.”
He puts the money in the vending machine, and the kids press their hands on the glass, watching as the candy falls from the top shelf to the bin. They each grab their bag of sweets, smiling brightly at their uncle .
“Thank you, Uncle Channie!” Sophie says sweetly. It makes my heart ache even more when her smile falls. She looks up at Chandler with big blue eyes, her lips quivering. “Channie? Is Grandpa going to be okay?”
Chandler doesn’t miss a beat. “I hope so, kid. Let’s get back to your mom and dad. We’ll know more later, okay?”
She nods and follows her brother through the doors to sit with their parents again.
“Chandler," I say before he can walk back into the waiting room.
“Yeah?” He turns to me, frowning.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine," he says, taking my hand to lead me with him back to his family. He doesn’t seem fine. He seems like he’s trying to stay strong for his family, which is understandable, but he does not seem fine at all. We sit and wait for the news, and the kids are back on their iPads, their hands sticky from their gummy bears. Chandler hasn’t let go of my hand since we sat down, and I want to ask him again if he’s okay, but I know he’s not. I know internally, his mind is probably racing with thoughts on what kind of condition his grandfather will be in. I know he’s probably scared shitless. I let my thumb rub along his knuckles in some attempt to comfort him, but I doubt it’s doing much for him. Still, he doesn’t let go, not until a nurse walks through the doors and calls for them. “Family of Leon Randall?” Cheyenne and Chandler stand from their seats and follow the Doctor to the other side of the doors that lead to the ICU. I can see their faces through the window of the door and watch Cheyenne's shoulders shake with sobs as the nurse speaks to them. Chandler's expression is unreadable, but when the nurse walks away, he pinches the bridge of his nose, and I know he’s trying not to cry. My stomach drops. Whatever the news is, it isn’t good. They come back out into the waiting room, and Cheyenne wipes her eyes.
“What is it?” Derrick asks.
“He’s…” Cheyenne can’t finish.
“He’s in a coma,” Chandler says. “He hit his head. They said he’s stable for now, but they think he’ll be out for a few more days.”
Derrick shakes his head, and I look down at my hands in my lap, unsure of what to say.
“They said they don’t know how bad it’ll be until he wakes up, but they’ll know more soon.”
Cheyenne sniffles and wipes her eyes again. “I should have taken him with us to the store," she cries.
Chandler shakes his head. “It’s not your fault, Cheyenne.”
Derrick stands from his seat and grabs Cheyennes' hand. “Do you want to stay a little longer?”
She looks at Daniel and Sophia and sighs, shaking her head. “No, we should get the kids home. It’s getting late.”
Derrick nods, and Chandler hugs his sister one last time before they leave.
He doesn’t grab my hand this time when we leave the hospital. He doesn’t say anything when we get into the truck and start the drive back to the house. His Grandfather’s house. I finally break the silence after 5 minutes of driving in complete silence.
“I’m sorry, Chandler.”
He doesn’t look at me. “Me too.”
When we get back to the house, there’s an awkwardness as we stand in the living room.
I ask, “Do you want me to leave you alone for a while?”
He looks at me intensely and shakes his head. “No, I don’t.”
“Okay.”
He plops down onto the couch and pats the spot next to him. I sit next to him on the couch, and he pulls me into his arms so my head is resting on his chest. I wrap my arm around his torso and listen to the rapid beat of his heart.
“Sam?” I feel the words rumble in his chest against my ear.
“Yes?”
“I’m gonna have to stay here until Gramps wakes up.”
“I know.” I nod my head. I knew this already. I knew he wouldn’t be going back to Florida with me tomorrow.
“I’ll take you to the hotel tomorrow morning, then to the airport, and I’ll take care of the rental car. I’ve already emailed Ken.”
I nod again and listen to his heart start to slow just a bit.
My heart breaks for him. It’s very obvious that he takes care of everyone else before himself, and I want to do anything I can to help while I’m still here. I lift my head from his chest to look into his eyes. “Do you need anything? Anything at all?”
He yawns and says, “Right now. I just want to sleep.”