Chapter One #2
Not wanting to dwell too much on that depressing thought, I lift Harper again and head back to the reception desk to hand in her paperwork. I fumble for a moment as I swing Harper’s backpack off my shoulder and onto my chest, then root around for her health card.
The receptionist raises one eyebrow in judgment at me as I slide everything through the slot in the Plexiglas.
Do we… I point back to the chair I was sitting in, not sure if we should stand here or move to a different section. The woman just nods, still not looking away as I back up slowly.
By a miracle, or possibly by sheer dumb luck, we only wait twenty minutes before Harper’s name is called by a nurse at the far end of the room.
Harper Crane-Mayfield?
We’re up in a flash. The receptionist watches us go with the same expression someone wears when they think they know a secret but aren’t quite confident enough to say it out loud.
Good. If she doesn’t ask for a selfie or expose me, I’ll personally donate to the hospital foundation. Or literally give her the sweater off my back.
The nurse leads us into triage, closing the curtain behind us. Harper settles onto the exam table, her lower lip trembling like a cartoon as her wide, teary eyes take in all the jars and equipment around the room.
Hi, sweetie, the nurse says gently. I’m just going to take a quick look at your arm.
I step up to Harper’s side, putting a hand on her back to let her know I’m close. I can feel her tiny body vibrating with nerves. Harper nods bravely, but when the nurse starts to palpate along the forearm, she gasps, tiny and sharp.
My chest tightens. I know the nurse is just doing her job and needs to conduct this test in order to help Harper…but my God, am I being tested today. Every sniffle and cry makes me want to commit murder.
Okay, that’s enough, I say, stepping closer. Harper is crying again, trying her best, but the pain must be too much. She’s hurting.
The nurse nods in understanding. I think we should send her for X-rays to be sure. It might be a buckle fracture.
Harper blinks up at me. My hand has a seat buckle? No, you can’t take it off! Harper begins to struggle on the exam table.
No, I say immediately. No, Moose. That’s just the name of a part of your arm. It doesn’t come off. Your arm is very sturdy. You are so strong. But the nurse thinks that part of your arm is what’s hurting. I search desperately for another explanation, but that seems to do the trick.
She narrows her eyes. Uncle Sid. If they take my arm—
The nurse tries not to laugh as she interrupts Harper’s pending threat to me. We’ll only be gone a few minutes.
Do I just wait here?
Yes, the technician will bring Harper back once the X-ray is done, then the doctor will be in to go over the results.
She reaches out her hand to Harper, wiggling her fingers playfully. Harper doesn’t move, her eyes darting to me.
You got this, Moose. Just a quick picture, and then you’ll be back with me. Maybe then we’ll plan out all the junk food we’ll pick up on the way home, huh? Sound good?
She looks skeptical for a second but gives in to the bribe. A second later, Harper is sliding off the table and taking the nurse’s hand. I stand with them and watch as they walk down the long hall.
The second she disappears around the corner, my stomach drops to the floor. I rub the back of my neck, pacing a tight line in the curtained space.
I hate this part. The waiting. The helplessness. The breathing that suddenly feels too loud in my own ears.
A few minutes. She’ll be fine. She’s always fine.
Closing my eyes, I begin box breathing, focusing my mind on each breath instead of dwelling on the things I can’t control currently. Eventually, my heart rate normalizes, and the tension in my neck is only a slight ache.
By this point, I’m thinking at least thirty minutes have passed, but when I look down at my watch, I see it’s only been fourteen.
Son of a bitch, I hiss out in a sigh.
The curtain rustles. I look over, expecting to see Harper and the nurse again, but…
It’s not the nurse who’s with her.
Harper stands beside another nurse, clutching a tiny hospital gown in one hand…and staring up, wide-eyed, like she’s seeing something magical.
I get it. I totally get it. Because all the air has been sucked out of me, too, at seeing this woman. She’s knocked the wind out of me.
She doesn’t see me at first, her warm eyes focused on Harper. They’re in the middle of a discussion, but I can’t hear a single word they’re saying. I can barely comprehend what I’m seeing, let alone absorb their conversation.
She’s dressed in dark scrubs, similar to the previous nurse, but there’s something a bit more formal about her outfit. I can’t place it, but it’s there. Soft brown curls escape her bun that have my fingers itching to tuck behind her cute little ears.
Goddamn it. I’m even noticing how cute her ears are. What is happening to me?
Then, finally, feeling as if I’ve been waiting a hundred years to catch her attention, her eyes, warm and sharp all at once, turn to me.
I’m struck again. She has the kind of face that makes the fluorescent lighting look flattering, which should be impossible.
My world tilts, just slightly, like I missed a step.
Hi, she says, voice calm and steady as she looks right at me. You must be Uncle Sid.
And for one ridiculous second, I genuinely forget how to speak.
Harper releases the woman’s hand and comes to me. She nudges me with her good hand when I continue to silently stare. Uncle Sid. Say words.
Right. Words.
Hi, I manage, sounding absolutely nothing like a functioning adult. Hello. Yeah. I’m—Sid. Sidney. I mean, yes. The uncle.
Her lips tip at the corner, amused.
A pressure I wasn’t aware of in my chest dissipates—warmth slipping in where panic usually lives. With just one look, one smile, this mysterious woman has calmed me like no breathing technique or cold plunge ever has.
I should be confused about my reaction to her. The fact that she’s affecting me so viscerally should have me in a panic, not in this Zenlike, mute state. I’ve been in plenty of relationships and met a lot of women, but I can’t recall ever being hypnotized like this.
Well, Uncle Sid, Harper here has been exceptionally brave today. Her X-rays were a breeze, and the doctor should be in soon with the final results.
My mouth opens, but no words come out. Again.
Feeling my cheeks redden, I shake my head and try to get it together.
That’s my girl, I finally wheeze out. Turning to Harper, I extend my hand for a low five. Her good hand smacks mine, just not with her usual strength.
Eddie made it fun. Even though the room was kinda scary. The machine was huge.
Eddie. Fuck me, I love it. I have a name to put to this incredible woman now.
Thank you—Eddie, was it? For taking such good care of her.
Yeah, she says slowly, her hands clasping in front of her as she stares just as intently at me. It’s Edith, but everyone calls me Eddie.
I like it, I find myself admitting to her before I can stop myself. Her eyes widen for a second before an amused smile spreads over her face. I smile back, not able to stop myself. She’s so beautiful.
You both are being weird, Harper states when the room goes quiet. Can we go now?
Eddie shakes out of it first and smiles down at Harper. Not yet. You still need to meet the—
Hello, everyone, another voice calls seconds before the curtain is pulled back again. A man with bright green-rimmed glasses, holding a tablet, smiles at all of us. I’m Dr. Pacheco.
—doctor, Eddie finishes with a laugh. Perfect timing, Dr. P.
I’m nothing if not prompt, the man jokes back to her. So, Harper, I see we’ve had a bit of an accident today.
With one last smile at Harper and a quick nod my way, Eddie slips back and leaves the area. I instantly feel the loss of her presence.
I want to follow her. I want to chat with her more, maybe steal a couple more smiles and then ask her out. I want nothing but to be in her presence for a little bit longer.
But Harper needs me.
So I stay where I am, focusing on what I’m being told and the next steps to put a cast around Harper’s wrist and forearm. Harper needs me right now.
Yet you better believe as soon as we’re out of the woods and Harper is back home, safe and sound, I’m putting all my focus back into Eddie and how I can see her again.
Outside of the hospital setting, that is. I don’t want injury rumours to start.
I’m plotting all the different ways I can find out more about her and set up a not-so-spontaneous meet-cute when Harper bursts my bubble.
Do you think Mom will like my orange cast?
Okay, so maybe I have a couple more hurdles to jump before I’m out of the woods. If my sister doesn’t kill me, then there’s no stopping me from meeting Eddie again I correct myself.
I swallow the lump in my throat and force a grin at Harper. I’m sure she’ll love it, I lie. She’s going to fucking hate it. And then she’s going to murder me.