Chapter 23 #2
“Yes, honey. Don’t worry. It’s normal to forget things like that. But you had to have surgery on your arm and the doctor also stitched your cheek.”
She could feel the panic rising again. There was no way she could do this.
But Devi knew she shouldn’t rely on Hayes to take over. What happened when he left?
Just for a short time. It might be the only way she got through.
“How bad is it?” she asked.
The nurse gave her a look filled with sympathy, which told her everything she needed to know.
Just hold on, Devi. Things could be worse.
“The doctor will be in soon to talk to you. He’s a man, are you okay with him in there?”
“Um, yes. I’ll be okay, thanks for warning me.” She was feeling calmer now.
She left and Devi looked up at Hayes. “How bad?”
“It will be all right.”
“Hayes,” she said firmly. “Don’t placate me and don’t lie to me. How. Bad?”
“Bad, baby. The knife damaged tendons and ligaments. You’re going to need physical therapy. Maybe another surgery on your arm.”
Oh God.
She thought she might vomit. Before she could decide if she was going to throw up or faint, the doctor stepped into the room.
“It’s good to see you awake, Devi. How are you feeling?”
How did he think she was feeling?
“Right,” the doctor said with more sympathy.
Awesome.
“I’m sure you’re aware that you came in with knife wounds. The one to your face was superficial, but it is likely to scar. I gave your fiancé a couple of names of plastic surgeons who can help fix that.”
Fiancé? Who was that? Then she noticed he was looking at Hayes. Wait. Hadn’t Mac called him that too? She pushed those thoughts aside. That hardly mattered right now.
What did matter was concentrating on what the doctor said. She thought she only caught every second or third word. But the gist of it was that her arm was fucked.
And she wouldn’t be doing any pottery for a long, long time.
“Do you have any questions?” the doctor asked her.
Devi knew it was wrong to lean on him. But he’d offered and she felt so overwhelmed that she couldn’t breathe.
“Croissants,” she said.
“What?” the doctor asked. “She wants a croissant?”
“Um, yes. Maybe later she’ll have one,” Hayes said. “Thank you, doctor. I think she’s a bit overwhelmed and just needs some timeout.”
She nearly snorted at his choice of words. Timeout.
Yeah. Timeout from the world.
Devi stared up at the ceiling. What was she going to do? Her pottery was her ticket out of here. And it was gone. How would she support herself now?
There was no one to help her. There was no way she could afford this hospital bill let alone rehab and a plastic surgeon.
A small sob escaped her.
“Devi, he’s gone. Talk to me, baby. It’s just you and me.” Hayes sat on the side of the bed, facing her.
“I know . . . I know it’s stupid to be so upset over my arm when Derick . . . when my father might be . . . but creating art . . . making vases and bowls . . . it was everything. It was my escape. My happy place. It’s all gone.”
“Hey, look at me. It’s not gone.” He cupped the side of her face, turning her head so she had no choice but to look at him. “It’s just temporary. You’re going to be able to do anything that you want eventually.”
She let out a small bark of laughter. “Should have known. Got so close to escaping. And he ruined it. He ruins everything.”
Devi could hear the bitterness in her voice.
“Who does? Your father? Did he have something to do with what happened?” he asked sharply.
She couldn’t answer . . . she didn’t know what to say.
“Okay, baby. Just breathe. I shouldn’t have asked. You gave control to me. I’m going to take care of you. I don’t take that lightly.”
“What about when I want to come back?”
“Well, then you say parsnip, huh?”
“All right,” she said.
“What I want you to do right now is just relax. I’m going to rub your head. Help you relax.”
“Why are you helping me?” she asked.
“Uh-uh, no serious questions right now. You’ve reached your limit. Now, close your eyes. I want you to think about something nice. What else do you like to do besides pottery?”
“Nothing. I don’t have anything else.”
“Well, we’ll have to remedy that. Hmm, what would you like to do?”
How could she do anything with a wrecked arm?
She tried to push the bitter thought out of her mind as he massaged her head.
God. Was it bad that she was so upset over her arm when her father could be dead? But she couldn’t seem to work up much horror or outrage.
You should tell someone. You can trust Hayes.
“Why are you doing this? Helping me? Is it because you’re my friend?”
A strange look passed through his face and he paused, no longer massaging her head.
Darn it. That had been the only thing keeping the headache at bay. She wanted to beg him not to stop, but she wasn’t going to force him to touch her.
“Let’s talk about that later, okay?” he finally said. “Right now, you should rest.”
Right. Probably because he didn’t want to upset her right now since she was in a hospital bed.
But she knew he didn’t really want more.
There was a knock on the door and Kent appeared.
Hayes got up and they started speaking quietly. She strained to hear them.
“Just tell them to wait,” Hayes said. “Devi’s not up to talking to the cops yet.”
No. She didn’t want to do that.
“They’re getting insistent,” Kent warned. “The trailer is being processed as a crime scene. Once we’re free to go in we’ll get anything we can that Devi might want and get someone to clean it for when she returns.”
Devi tensed. Return? She couldn’t go back there. Her breathing started growing faster.
Why did this keep happening? What was wrong with her?
“She won’t be returning,” Hayes said firmly.
Immediately, the panic dissipated.
No, she wouldn’t be returning. She couldn’t go back there.
And Hayes was in charge right now. So her only job was to do what he said.
God. What a relief that was.
“I thought you’d say that. We’ll get her stuff for you.”
“Thanks, man. Appreciate it.”
Where were they going to put her stuff?
It doesn’t matter. You don’t have to think right now.
“It’s okay, baby. You just relax,” he murmured as he returned to her. “I’ve got you. All you have to do is rest and Daddy has this. Daddy will take care of you.”
She closed her eyes, drifting off.
Daddy had this.