Chapter 58 Allie
FIFTY-EIGHT
ALLIE
LEVI Levi was free. I was free. So we could be tied up together forever. Sigh.
Our group stopped when we hit the sidewalk.
Will rubbed his hands together. “Well, since we have the afternoon free, should we hit the brewery in town? Online I saw they have a variety of Christmas beers. Spiced ales and winter warmers if anyone’s interested.”
Levi’s dirty grin hit me as his eyes locked with mine. His wink reminded me that I was his.
Clint reached over and grabbed my hand as Rachel pulled on her gloves. “I have ninety-nine problems but I’m going to have some alcohol and ignore every single one.”
Will pointed. “It’s right down the street so we can walk.”
We all strolled down the sidewalk.
“Wait.” It was Levi’s deep voice.
We all stopped, turned, and his grin tickled my tummy.
He nodded as he took a step in my direction. “Allie, marry me.”
A collective gasp came as Kristina started jumping and clapping.
“I love you, Langley. Marry me today.”
Clint released my hand and took a step toward Levi. “What the fuck are you doing?”
I screamed. “I’ll marry you right now!”
One hand went over his heart and the other punched the air. “Yes!”
Rachel grabbed my hand. “Allie, what are you doing?”
My heart did a triple back handspring with a twist. “I’m marrying the only man I’ve ever loved.”
Will shook his head. “This is not happening.”
I threw my arms in the air. “I don’t care what you or anyone thinks.”
Levi took a step and grabbed my hand. A second later Clint had Levi by his coat and pushed him hard. “Get the fuck out of here! You’re not marrying anyone.”
Levi leaned in. “Watch me.”
With that Clint punched Levi in the jaw and he stumbled back.
Levi let out a sarcastic laugh. “That all you got? She’s always been mine, we all know that.”
Levi nailed Clint in the face as Rachel screamed. Clint stood, lunged forward, grabbed Levi by the jacket, and pushed him so hard he went off of the sidewalk and into the street.
My heart stopped when a passing car hit Levi and sent him onto the hood of the car and over the top. I heard screams and tore into the street behind the car to find Levi lying on his side. My heart beat violently, with a frantic pounding in my ears. What?
I dropped to my knees, everything being hyper-slow, as fragmented thoughts tried to comprehend what was happening. His eyes closed, how still he was, the blood coming from his head.
A numbness wrapped around me; this wasn’t happening. Was this real? It couldn’t be.
There was commotion all around me but in the space between Levi and me, there was silence. I leaned down and cradled his head in my arms as my white coat was turning red. I took my scarf and held it against his head and my vision blurred.
I couldn’t lose him.
* * *
They’d just rolled him into the hospital room after surgery and my soul ached looking at him. Evan sat in the corner of the room and Will was smart enough to be in the waiting area outside after the girls sent Clint away.
Kristina knocked and walked in. “Hey. Can I get you some coffee or water?”
I shook my head as a nurse entered and checked the machines next to Levi’s bed. “The doctor will be in soon to discuss the surgery.”
Kristina leaned down. “What can we do? Anything you want, I’ll do.”
“Bring a Christmas tree here. And lights, lots of lights.”
“What?”
I wiped my eyes. “He loves Christmas, it’s his favorite. And tomorrow is Christmas.”
Kristina squeezed my arm. “Honey, I don’t think they allow that in ICU.”
The nurse looked over. “Normally not.” Her eyes told me the chances weren’t good. “But I think a small tree would be just fine.”
“The girls and I will go get one right now, okay?”
I nodded as I looked at Levi. His face was calm while all hell was breaking loose inside him.
I stood when a man in blue scrubs and a white doctor’s coat entered and extended his hand. “I’m Dr. Ferguson.”
“I’m Allie.”
“Please have a seat.” He sat in the empty chair beside me. “I apologize I wasn’t able to speak with you prior to the surgery. We wanted to get in there as soon as possible.”
He motioned to Levi. “He has a condition known as a cerebral edema. It’s something that turns our most precious organ into a battleground.”
My agonizing heart twisted so hard I saw quick spots in front of my eyes. “What is a cerebral edema?”
He spoke with his hands. “Imagine your brain as a delicate sponge, normally content within the bony skull we all have. Because of the accident, the sponge has slowly expanded, pressing against the unyielding skull. Basically, it’s a buildup of fluid that causes the brain to swell, and, unfortunately, can lead to a cascade of neurological concerns. ”
The back of my eyes burned as I attempted to blink back tears. He grabbed a box of tissues from the counter behind him and handed it to me.
“Thank you.”
“The acute phase of brain swelling is like a high-stake drama on TV. His brain is in full crisis mode right now. It was kicked off when the accident occurred, making the next twenty-four hours very crucial. His accident, colliding with the car, was the equivalent to a motorcycle accident where the rider had no helmet on with the trauma he’s experienced.
We acted fast with the surgery to try to relieve some of the pressure, which is good, but, uh, things are up in the air right now.
We’re monitoring and trying to control the intracranial pressure.
It’s like a fire and we’re coming at it from all angles, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens in the next day. ”
His eyes were telling me things I didn’t want to know.
He was going to die.
* * *
An hour later Kristina, Lexi, and Rachel had a Christmas tree in the corner filled with white lights which put a soft glow in the room. The red and green balls reflected, and it was beautiful.
Levi would love it.
Lexi set a little speaker on the table next to Levi’s bed, hit a button, and I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas softly filled the space. She pulled me to my feet, wrapped her arms around me, and we cried together. After a long moment she pulled back and dabbed my eyes with a tissue.
“I’m sorry, Allie. For then and now. I didn’t give him the chance I should’ve.” She pushed hair over my shoulder. “Please forgive me.”
I kissed her cheek. “I love you.”
“I’m going to go get you some food.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Too bad. You will eat. Don’t flip my bitch switch.” She squeezed me. “I stole your line.”
She left, and I took his hand in mine and prayed. I prayed for strength and healing and for a Christmas miracle. I hated the doubt I had that anything could save him as his head bleeding in the street was running through me.
There was a knock at the door and Will entered.
“Not now, Will. I don’t want you here.”
“Allie, nobody meant for this to happen.”