by DL Gallie
“Okay, Nanna.”
Lexi skips off. Momma Cress looks down at us, shakes her head, and smirks. She follows after Lexi while Cress and I continue to laugh. I feel like a teenager getting busted again.
Once composed, Cress and I hop up. Pulling her into my arms, I hug her. “I love you,” I whisper into her hair.
“I love you too.” She kisses my cheek and heads into the kitchen to prepare Lexi her snack.
Taking a seat at the island, I watch Cress flit about the kitchen. She looks happy, and I realize I don’t want to ever see her unhappy again. I don’t think I’m going to accept Boston. But before I make up my mind, I need to talk to Dr. Jenkins and see if she was serious. I think I have an idea that will benefit both myself and the hospital.
“Cress,” I say. “I need to go. I’ll call you later.”
Placing a kiss on her cheek, I squeeze her ass and walk out, passing Lexi and Momma Cress on the way. “I’ll see you ladies later.”
Racing down the path to my car, I look up and see Creed leaning against the hood. “Creed.” I growl, anger building as he pushes off and steps toward me.
“Clearly my words the other week fell on deaf ears and that bitch, or you, haven’t heeded any of my messages. Stay the fuck away.”
“And if I remember correctly, I told you to stay away. Cress and Lexi are better off without you in their life.”
“I’m her father, you can’t stop me from seeing Lexi and if you try, I will make life difficult for the bitch, and you. Last chance, fucker.”
“You don’t scare me, Creed.”
“You should be scared, Doc. I know people and with one call, I can make you disappear, or even better, I can ruin your career. Don’t test me.”
“Warning noted. Now, get the fuck off my car.”
Not wanting to engage with him any further, I walk around to the driver’s side and unlock my car. I stare at him over the roof of my car. “Maybe it’s you who needs to stay the fuck away. Leave Cress and Lexi alone to live their lives.”
“Fuck you, asshole.” He flips me the bird and saunters down the street like his shit don’t stink.
Climbing into my car, I sit and watch him slither into his piece of shit car and drive away. With a sigh, I start my car and head to the hospital. Once I’ve spoken with Dr. Jenkins, I’ll deal with Creed and his threats. I will not let him or anyone hurt those I love.
26
Cress
Preston has stayed at my place every night this week and each night after making love, I’ve fallen asleep wrapped in his arms. Thankfully, I haven’t had that horrible nightmare. He has slipped into our life perfectly. It’s like he’s always been a part of our family. Watching him with Lexi fills my heart with so much joy.
Each morning, we make breakfast together and then go our separate ways. I’m in the middle of the grocery store on Tuesday when I get a phone call from Lexi’s school, telling me she’s unwell and I need to come and get her.
Abandoning my shopping cart, I race to the school to pick her up. As soon as I see her, I know something is terribly wrong. She’s clammy and pale. Her breathing is labored and her heart is racing. I take her straight to Western General and call Preston on the way.
As soon as we arrive, like when she cut herself, he’s waiting for us. He opens the back door and I swear I hear him mumble, “Shit.” Lexi is whisked inside, I leave my car out front, I don’t care if it gets towed; my daughter needs me.
It’s chaotic, Preston and Andi immediately spring into action. The two of them work in sync like a well-oiled machine. I watch from the sidelines, helpless to do anything. Lexi is admitted to the children’s ward immediately and when this happens, I know it’s bad. They insert an IV, run tests and other things, but I’m too emotional to focus right now.
Things have settled down and now we wait for the results to come in. I sit by her bed and stare at her little body in the bed, biting my thumbnail. It’s amazing how quickly she got sicker, I feel like a crap mom for not focusing on her more. I should have known something was up when I dropped her at school this morning. I should have known. Lexi is sound asleep right now. Her chest rising and falling as she breathes. Her skin is so pale and she looks sick, really really sick.
How did I miss this?
A few hours later, Preston enters Lexi’s room. From the look on his face, I know it’s not good. My world crumbles around me when Preston says, “Cress, Lexi has sepsis.”
Collapsing to the floor, the tears break free. “Nooooo,” I cry.
Preston takes me into his arms and I cry. “Cress,” he quietly says, “we need to move Lexi up to ICU. Then we will need to do a spinal tap so we know exactly what infection we are working with. While we wait for the sepsis workup, we will administer a broad spectrum antibiotic and as soon as we get the results, we will change her antibiotic to treat the specific infection.” I listen to him speak but nothing he says really registers, he’s in full-on doctor mode right now. He’s serious and to see him like this, adds to my fears for Lexi.
“Will she be okay?” I ask.
He looks at me. “I will do everything I can to make sure she is.”
“Will. She. Be. Okay?” I ask again. “Preston, tell me the truth,” I snap.
“I can’t tell you what you want to hear right now, Cress, but know that I’m doing everything I can.”
“Well, do more!” I shout. “I can’t lose her, Preston. I just can’t.”
“Cress,” he pleads.
“Preston. You need to fix her. Please.” Walking away from him, I sit next to her bed until Andi returns with an orderly so they can move her up to ICU.
Once she’s settled in ICU, I take a breather. I step outside and lean against the wall, sliding down I sigh. I need my mom. Grabbing my phone, I call her. “Hi, Cress,” Mom says when she answers.
“Mom,” I blubber.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s Lex, she in ICU.”
“What’s happened?”
Tears pour down my cheeks. “She has sepsis, Mom. How did I not know she was so sick? I’m the worst mom ever.”
“Stop that nonsense,” Mom says. “I’ll swing by your place and pack you both some things. I’ll be there soon. And, Cress?”
“Yeah?”
“She’s strong. She’s a Bayliss. Give her a kiss from Nanna and tell her I’ll be there soon.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
Hanging up, I head back into ICU and I sit next to my little girl. Taking her little hand in mine, I bring it to my lips and kiss her knuckles. Her eyes flutter but she’s so exhausted she can’t open them. Running my hand across her forehead, I lean down and press my lips to her temple. “I love you, Munchkin. Please get better. Please.”
Closing my eyes, I rest my head on the bed next to her and holding her hand in mine, I drift off to sleep. I’m woken when someone squeezes my shoulder. Turning my head, I see Creed standing there, the look on his face is murderous.
“Thanks for fucking letting me know she was in the hospital,” he snarls.
“Creed.”
“What lame-ass excuse do you have, huh? I had to find out from your mom that she was here. What the fuck, Cress?”
“Excuse me, sir,” Andi says, “You need to calm down and curb the language.”
“Ohh fuck off,” he sneers. “This bitch here didn’t tell me that my daughter was in the hospital.”
“This woman,” Andi says, “hasn’t had a chance to.”
“She called her fucking mother, she had time to call me. She’s just being a bitch.”
“Last warning, sir, you use language like that again and I will have no choice but to call security. Now, I suggest you leave and calm down. Once you are calm, you can come back. Lexi doesn’t need this right now.”
“Everything okay here?” Preston asks, as he walks in.
Creed looks to Preston and his face turns red. “I want a new fucking doctor,” he snarls.
“Dr. Knight is the bes
t that we have, sir,” Andi says. “I assure you, your daughter is in excellent hands.”
“As is my wife when it comes to this fucker.”
“Creed,” I snap. “Now is not the ducking time. Lexi needs us. If you want to stay, stop being a jackass and focus on her.”
“Fuck this shit,” he bellows and storms out of ICU, passing Mom in the doorway.
“Cress,” Mom says, and as soon as I hear her voice, the tears start again.
“Mom,” I cry, standing up I race over to her. Mom wraps her arms around me in the way only a mom can. Wrapping mine around hers, I cry into her shoulder.
“Shhhh,” she coos. “It’s all going to be okay.”
“It’s not, Mom, my baby is sick, so so sick and I missed it. I’m a shit mom.”
“No, you are not. I won’t let you talk like that. Now, you are going to go to the bathroom and wash your face. Then you will go to the cafeteria, get a coffee, and once you are calm, you will come back and be strong for your daughter.”
“I’m not leaving her.”
“Yes, you are,” Mom says. “I will call security myself if I have to. You need to look after you too. Now go. Coffee. Now.”
“Come on,” Preston says. “I could do with a coffee too.” He looks to Andi. “Please page me as soon as the results are in, or if anything changes.”
“Can do, Bossman.” She turns to walk way and then looks over her shoulder. “And take her across the road for coffee, the stuff in the cafeteria is shit.”
He nods and takes my hand, normally that calms me but not this time. I’m so highly strung. All I want right now is for Lexi to get better. Reluctantly, I let him escort me over to the coffee shop because I know my mom, she really will call security if I don’t go. Deep down, I know she’s right. I need to calm down so I can focus and be here for Lexi.
27
Preston
Cress and I are sitting in the coffee shop across the road from the hospital, waiting for our drinks. She’s biting her thumbnail, something I’ve noticed she does when she’s anxious, sad, or her anxiety is through the roof. They call my name and I go get our drinks. I place Cress’s coffee in front of her, she looks at it but doesn’t pick it up. She goes back to staring into space. Her refusing coffee proves that she’s not okay.
“Cress, Love, talk to me?” She looks at me, her mouth opens and closes a few times. “Please,” I beg.
“You really want to know what I’m thinking right now?” I nod my head. “My daughter is in the in ICU,” she sneers, “‘cause I missed the signs. I’m her mom for fuck’s sake. I should have known something was up. It’s my fault. I should—”
“Cress, it's no one’s fault.”
“I’m not finished,” she snaps. “I should have paid more attention. I should have been focusing on her one-hundred-percent of the time, not spending it with you.” She pauses, takes a deep breath, and from the look in her eye, she’s moved from anger to rage. “And then there’s you. You’re a fucking doctor, and you didn’t see this happening right under your nose. How? How did you not see what was happening to my baby girl?” She pauses and swallows. “Preston,” she cries. “How did this happen? How did we both miss this?”
Tears are pouring down her face. Hopping up from my chair, I walk over to her lift her up, sit back down, and wrap my arms around her. “Shhhh,” I whisper. “Cress, you need to keep thinking positive. Lexi is tough. I will do everything I can to get her better.”
“You promise?”
“Yes, I promise to do everything I can.”
“No, promise me she will be okay?”
Shaking my head, I tell her honestly, “I can’t promise she will be okay but, Cress, I won’t rest until she’s better.”
“That’s not enough. She needs more. I need more.” She hops off my lap, walks out of the coffee shop, crosses the road, and heads back to the hospital.
Rubbing my forehead, I sigh. I want so much to tell her it will all be okay, but I can’t. I never make a promise like that because I cannot guarantee it will be okay, but I promise I will do everything humanly possible to get Lexi well again. I wish I could promise what she wants, but I can’t promise that, I just can’t.
A voice from behind snarls, “Ohh look, she’s finally seeing that you really are a fucking piece of shit.”
“Creed,” I say through clenched teeth. “Fuck off, I’m not in the mood for your shit.”
“And I’m not in the mood to sit around a hospital waiting for my daughter to get better ‘cause you fucked up.”
Standing up, I get in his face. “I didn’t fuck up. This is no one’s fault. Kids get sick, it's a part of life.”
“You were too busy fucking that slut to see what was happening. You didn’t see her getting sick right before your eyes ‘cause that woman’s cunt was all you could think about.” The coffee shop falls silent, everyone’s eyes are on Creed and me. He steps closer, his nose millimeters from mine. “You missed this, Knight, this is on you.” He pokes my chest. “If my little girl dies, I will sue your ass for everything you have, and I’ll make sure that Cress hates you with a vengeance.”
Shoving him, he stumbles backward. I step toward him, my heart racing as my anger rises. I want to knock this fucker out. My blood is boiling at the words coming from his mouth. “Fuck off, you piece of shit. You don’t care about Lexi or Cress.” My fist clenches and I’m so close to hitting him. “Do everyone a favor and fuck off.”
His eyes drop to my fist, his lip lifts in an evil smirk. “Go on, hit me. Just another thing to add to the list of things that you are going to go down for.”
Raising my arm, I pull back ready to knock him out but someone covers my hand and stops me. “I don’t know who you are,” Flynn says, “but you need to walk away.”
“Fuck you both,” Creed snaps. “Enjoy your last days as a doctor, Knight.” He storms out of the coffee shop. My eyes follow him as he walks down the street and away from the hospital.
Flynn stands in front of me and squeezes my shoulder. “You good?”
Looking at him, I shake my head side to side. “Not really, no.”
“Wanna talk about it?”
“Not really, but I know you, you’ll make me talk.”
“Good, now start talking.”
“I did fuck up, Flynn. I missed this. I’m a doctor for fuck’s sake, how did I miss her being this sick?”
“I don’t know the specifics but I do know you, you are a fucking great doctor, Preston.”
“Tell that to that little girl in that hospital. To Cress, the woman I love. Lexi is in the ICU ‘cause I didn’t pick up on the signs. I should have looked at her cuts more. I should have done more. I should have—”
“Should have what?” Flynn snaps. He stares at me and I shrug because I really don’t know what I could have done. “Exactly. Now, pull your head out of your ass and focus. There’s no point in going over what-ifs right now. Right now, you need to concentrate on what you can see and do. Be the best doctor for Lexi and be there for Cress.”
“She hates me right now.”
“She doesn’t hate you. She’s just a mom who’s worried about her daughter.”
I stare at my best friend and process his words, I don’t agree with him at all. “You’re right,” I say to placate him. “Lexi and Cress need me right now. They need me to be on top of my game so I can get her through this.”
“That’s the Preston I know.”
We exit the coffee shop and head back to the hospital. I check in on Lexi, but there’s been no change and until we get the work up, we won’t know how to treat whatever she has effectively.
It’s been two days since Lexi was admitted and I think I’ve slept for maybe four hours. I’ve set up camp in the doctors’ lounge. Lexi is my only case right now, until she is out of the woods she is going to have all my attention. To make matters worse, my princess now has pneumonia too. Her little body is wilting away and it’s all my fault. I should have picked up that Lexi w
asn’t well. This is on me and no matter what anyone says, this is my fault, but I will do everything in my power to make sure she makes a full recovery.
28
Cress
I’ve lost count as to how many days it's been now; I think it’s three, no four days, and there’s been no improvement. Not only does my baby girl have sepsis from the cut on her arm, not her leg like I thought since that was the one she was complaining about. She now has pneumonia due to her already compromised respiratory system; damn the asthma that runs in the family.
I’ve just had a shower, at the insistance of Andi, Mom, and Ave. Avery and I have been texting constantly, I told her not to come. I can’t handle seeing the anguish in her face too, and thankfully, she’s doing as I asked. Earning her the title of ‘bestest friend in the world.’
Walking back into Lexi’s room, I lean against the doorframe and stare at her little body hooked up to all the machines. Emotion overcomes me at the sight of her. Racing to the side of the bed, I take a seat and stare down at her. Her cheeks have color today but she still sleeps a lot. “I’m so sorry, Munchkin,” I whisper, brushing a tendril of hair off her face. “I’ve let you down. I will never let you down again, just please, please pull through. Please get better, please, Munchkin, please.” Lowering my head to her bed, I cry. Gut-wrenching sobs break free as I let it all out.
This is all my fault.
This is all my fault.
This is all my fault.
This is all my fault.
I keep repeating this over and over as the tears continue to fall. A hand touches my back and I know whose hand it is. Lifting my head, I turn my head to see Preston staring down at me. He’s got that ‘I’m sorry’ look and I’m sick of seeing that look on everyone’s face.
“Cress—”
“No,” I snap, standing up, I turn and face him, “If I hadn’t have been fucking around with you,” I poke him in the chest, “Lex would not be in that bed right now. This is all my fault.” I pause. “Actually, it's all your fault.”
