Fall for You

by Behon, Susan

  Before she knew it, Sophie was sitting on the uncomfortable plastic couch again. Tracy and Ben must have led her here, but she didn't remember it. Her pop can was in her hands again. She didn't remember picking it up either.

  Ben stood right in front of her as if he weren't bruised and bleeding and in need of medical attention himself. “He's alive, Sophie. He's alive.”

  She tried not to cry, but her emotions were everywhere. “What happened?”

  He grimaced in pain then explained the accident to her. “Reed pulled up in his truck to help me handle another situation with safety protocol. I was walking toward him when I saw him talking on the phone. He must have dropped it because his head dipped out of view, probably to grab it. That's when I saw the scaffolding. I yelled to him, but it was too late. Part of it had broken off from the seventh floor and landed on the cab of his truck. If he wouldn't have bent down to get his phone, the crash would have killed him.”

  Sophie had never heard Ben say so much at one time, but the words kept pouring out of him. “He got hit in the head with the crumpled metal. There was just enough space that his body wasn't crushed. The impact knocked him unconscious and I think they said his shoulder was dislocated. That's all I know for now.”

  “Are you okay, Ben? You should go get checked out.”

  He wiped his hand across his forehead and looked surprised when he saw all of the blood. “I guess I do. I think I caught some of it too.”

  Tracy took him by the arm. “Sophie, I'll be right back. I'm going to make sure Ben sees a doctor. I don't think he realizes how much he's hurt. Will you be okay?”

  Sophie nodded. “Get him to a doctor. I'll be right here.” Tracy led a docile Ben to the front desk to get him checked in. Numb, Sophie sat on her aqua green cushion and waited.

  She'd started counting the framed portraits of the Med Center's illustrious MDs for the third time. Sophie had to do something to keep the panic at bay. In between counting sessions, she prayed. This was too much like the day her dad died. The sights, the sounds, and the overwhelming feeling of helplessness were like a horrific nightmare repeating itself.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a group of people rush into the waiting room. “Sophie!” Jack pulled her into a strong hug before letting go. “How is he? What happened?”

  She related the story Ben told her, then said, “They won't tell me anything specific since I'm not family. All I know is that he's banged up but alive.”

  Dot was standing behind Jack. She looked drawn and shaky. “Sophie, I'll find out what's going on. One of these doctors will talk to me. Everything will be okay.” Sophie didn't know if she was saying that last part to her or herself.

  Keith sat next to her on the other side and put a big hand on her shoulder. “If I know anything, it's that my brother has a hard head. He's stubborn as hell too so I know he'll make it out of this okay.” He said it with conviction, but she saw the worry in his deep blue eyes.

  Sophie was sitting between Jack and Keith when Dot came in pulling a young, bespectacled doctor along by the arm. He seemed to be allowing it for the sake of peace. “Tell them what's going on with our boy.”

  The doctor opened a clipboard and looked down at his notes. “I'm Dr. Anthony.”

  He looked around. “Are you all family of the patient?”

  Before Sophie could say anything, Dot said, “Yes.” Pointing at Sophie, she said, “That's my son's fiancée. She's family too.”

  Didn't see that one coming.

  The doctor looked back at his notes, clearly not as shocked by that announcement as Sophie was. “Yes, well, Reed has suffered injuries from blunt force trauma. He arrived with a dislocated shoulder and some lacerations and contusions. He was lucky nothing was broken. Our main concern right now is the blow he took to the side of his skull. The CT scan shows the presence of an acute subdural hematoma.” Everyone looked at him in confusion. Dr. Anthony explained in layman's terms. “This is bleeding around the brain that compresses the brain tissue. We have him on a course of corticosteroids in an attempt to reduce the swelling. We'll need to monitor his condition and the extent of the swelling.”

  Jack asked, “What if the steroids don't work?”

  The doctor sighed as if not wanting to impart this part of the prognosis. “If the swelling increases, he will need surgery immediately to relieve the pressure on the brain. Unfortunately, too much pressure unrelieved could cause a certain amount of brain damage.”

  Dot asked, “How will we know the medicine is working?”

  Dr. Anthony gave her an encouraging smile. “The most significant change will be if he wakes up. He's been unconscious since his arrival and the next twenty-four hours will be a critical time in his recovery. Trust me. We will do everything possible to see to the care of your son.”

  Keith asked, “Can we see him?”

  The doctor nodded. “He should have been given a room by now. Reception should have the room number. Due to the seriousness of the injury, only family will be allowed visiting privileges.” He nodded a goodbye to the Sutton family and left the waiting area.

  All Sophie heard was “unconscious” and “possible brain damage.” Her poor Reed. He needed to wake up! Jack pulled her to her feet as Dot left once again to get the room information. She came back only a moment later. “Reed is in room 228. Let's go.”

  Sophie stood there as Jack, Keith, and Dot walked out of the waiting room. After a few steps, Dot turned around. “Come on, Sophie.”

  She swallowed her tears. “But the doctor said it was family only.”

  Reed's mom made a “come here” motion with her hand. “You are family. Let's go.”

  Sophie didn't move. “I don't understand. How am I family if you hate me?”

  Looking ashamed, Dot walked back to her as the men made their way to the elevators. “I'm so sorry, Sophie…for everything. Please, try to forgive me. Reed was right. Family is far more important than a bruised ego.” She looked up at the ceiling in an attempt to keep from crying. Dot took a deep breath and continued. “What does my pride matter without my son? I don't want any more regrets. All that matters is that you love Reed and he loves you. That's what makes you family.”

  Sophie didn't know what to say besides, “Okay, Mrs. Sutton.” At the moment, any other words had completely deserted her.

  Leading Sophie back to the elevators, she said, “Call me Dot.”

  Chapter 21

  Sophie braced for it but seeing Reed in the hospital bed was still a shock. He was pale and incredibly still. She could barely see his chest rise and fall under the thin blue hospital blanket. His left eye was black and swollen shut. It stood out obscenely against the white pallor of his skin. A bandage with a gauze dressing was wrapped around his head. His glossy brown hair was almost completely hidden under it. Reed's arm was in a sling resting against a second pillow and an IV with what looked like a huge needle was taped to his wrist and inner forearm. It connected to thin tubes that led to a few fluid-filled plastic bags hanging near his bed.

  The only part that still looked like Reed were his kissable lips and the slight dimples on either side of his cheeks. Even unconscious, he looked like he was ready to smile or make someone laugh. Sophie wanted to climb in bed next to him and do anything within her power to make him feel better. Never had she felt more helpless. Wake up!

  A few tears slid down her cheeks as she walked toward the bed. She checked herself and looked back at Jack and Dot. Jack put on a brave face. “Go on, Sophie. There's plenty of room for all of us around his bed.”

  Dot walked to the head of the bed and hovered her hand over his forehead like she wanted to brush his hair aside or lay a mother's hand on the part of her child that hurt. Instead, she placed her palm on his right cheek where there was some unbruised skin. “You get better now, Reed Jackson Sutton. A lot of people love you. Come on and wake up so you can see all of us.” Dot kissed him on the cheek and sat on yet another uncomfortable plastic hospital couch, this one wi
th sky blue plastic cushions.

  Jack pressed his hand to Reed's uninjured shoulder. “Come on son, I brought a pretty girl you're going to want to see. Wake up and say hello to Sophie.” He gave Reed's uninjured shoulder a light squeeze and a pat, then sat next to his wife. Sophie saw the shimmer in his eyes and knew he was trying not to cry for his son.

  Keith reached out in an awkward gesture like he didn't know where to touch him, then just let his hand fall to his side. “Come on Reed, you need to get your lazy ass out of that bed or I'm going to steal Sophie away from you. I'll get to eat all of the cookies while you lay here taking a nap. You need to wake up. I mean it.” Keith ran his hand through his shaggy, blond hair and rubbed the back of his neck. Looking bereft, he sat on a hard, plastic chair near Reed's feet and put his head in his hands.

  Sophie took her turn and placed her hand over Reed's heart. She took some comfort in the steady cadence of his heartbeat. Leaning down, she whispered in his ear. “Wake up, Reed. I need you with me. I love you. Come back to me. Come back to us.” She stood up straight and blinked her tears away. She took another chair and pulled it right next to the bed. Sophie tucked her hand in his and held on.

  They sat there for an hour, listening to the beeping drone of the monitors while watching him sleep. Nurses came in twice to take his vitals, typed the results methodically into their rolling computers, then moved on to the next room.

  There was a light tap on the doorframe and to Sophie's surprise, her mom stood in the doorway. Lucy saw Reed and put a fluttering hand to her chest at the sight before her.

  “I'm sorry. I know it's family only, but I need to see Sophie for a few minutes in the hall.” Sophie had no idea what Jack and Dot's reactions were because she stood up right away and met her mom by the door.

  Lucy drew her a few feet down the hall and then enfolded her in a comforting hug. “It's okay, sweetheart.”

  Sophie thought at her age she was too old to need her mom. She was wrong. She took comfort from the loving embrace and let some tears flow. She whispered her fears in the quiet hallway. “Oh, Mom, I'm so scared! What if he doesn't wake up?”

  Lucy patted and soothed her. “He will. He has a lot to wake up for. His family, his friends, and most importantly you and the baby.”

  Sophie was stunned. “How did you know? Did Tracy tell you?”

  Shaking her head, Lucy placed a hand on Sophie's cheek and said, “I told you, honey, a mother always knows. It'll be the same with you and that precious baby. Tracy did call about the accident, though. I came as soon as I could.”

  Looking over Lucy's shoulder and not seeing Sarah, Sophie asked, “Mom, how did you get here? Where's Sarah?”

  Lucy smiled. “I imagine she's at work. My baby girl needed me so I drove myself.”

  There was another shock. “You drove all the way over here on your own? Mom, you haven't driven since Dad died.”

  Looking subdued, she said, “I know that I've spent the last few years depending too much on you girls. I'm sorry for that, Sophie. Instead of you and Sarah holding me up, we should have been leaning on each other. You lost him too.”

  “Oh, Mom.”

  She gave Sophie another quick hug. “Enough of that. I'm here for you. I wanted to tell you that I'm going to your house to stay with Max. I'll take good care of him, Sophie. Don't worry about that. Oh, I'm supposed to tell you that Tracy knows where you are and sends her love and prayers. Since she's not allowed to visit, she's taking care of Ben whether he likes it or not. Her words. Go on back in. Call me if you need anything.” With her car keys jingling in her hand, she was off down the hallway.

  Sophie made her way back into the room and resumed her seat next to Reed's bed. Jack and Dot were holding hands, fretfully watching him for any change. Keith anxiously paced the room, unable to contain his nervous energy. She took Reed's hand once again and prayed for a miracle.

  * * * *

  A few hours crawled by and still there was no change. Nurses came and went and the doctor came and went and Reed remained unconscious. Sophie watched every breath, looking for any telltale sign that he was about to open his eyes. He was motionless, perfectly still except for the rise and fall of his chest.

  After another worry filled hour, Dot, Jack, and Keith went to the cafeteria for a quick coffee infusion. Sophie declined their invitation to join them because she didn't want Reed to be alone in case he woke up.

  Sophie took the opportunity to talk to him privately. “I need you to wake up, Reed. You have a baby on the way. Our baby! We need to talk about this! You can't tell a girl you love her, get her pregnant, then take a nap! This is a big deal here, Reed Sutton! I'm not going to tell your parents that they're going to be grandparents by myself. That's all on you.” She continued to talk about anything she could think of. “By the way, your mom is being nice to me. You definitely don't want to miss that, but you really have to be awake to see it.”

  She lowered her head in despair. “Wake up for me, Reed. Don't make me play hardball.” At his continued silence, she said, “Okay, just so you know, Thursday is coming up. You know what Thursday means, don't you? That's right. Monkey panties. You're going to miss the monkeys, Reed, and those are your favorite.”

  Sophie put her head on the bed next to his and closed her eyes. At first she thought it was her imagination when she felt his hand squeeze hers. She sat straight up when she felt it again. “Reed, wake up. Come on, honey, come back to me.”

  His family came in just in time to see his eyelids flutter open. Reed looked at the ceiling in confusion. He looked down at the hospital bed and then over at Sophie.

  “Sophie?”

  She stood up and hovered over him. “Yes. Reed! I'm right here.”

  He swallowed against a dry throat and Sophie hurried to give him a drink of water. Reed drank deeply and looked up at her with clear, whiskey brown eyes that were wide-awake.

  “Sophie?”

  She nodded.

  Reed smiled. “I want to see the monkeys.”

  She burst into tears of happiness.

  Keith looked at his dad. “Are you sure he doesn't have brain damage?”

  * * * *

  Reed felt like his head had been used as a battering ram. The pain seemed to stab him in the brain to the beat of his pulse. Where was he?

  Sophie's face hovered above his with an anxious, hopeful expression.

  “Where am I?”

  Her look changed to concern. “You're in the hospital. You had an accident. What's the last thing you remember?”

  He searched through the fog of his memory. “I pulled into the job site. Ben was walking up to my truck. Then you called. Is Ben okay? Where's Ben?” Reed tried to sit up, but pain exploded behind his eyes when his head came an inch off the pillow.

  Everyone rushed to the bed. Jack put a restraining hand on his shoulder. “Lay down, son. Ben's fine. He has a few bumps and bruises, but the hospital treated and released him. He's recuperating at home. You're the one who was in danger.”

  Reed couldn't remember why he would be in danger. “Why?”

  Keith came into view. “A scaffolding came loose and fell seven stories onto your truck. You're lucky not to be as flat as a pancake. The cab got crushed.”

  Dot admonished him, “Keith, don't say things like that!”

  His brother shrugged. “Why not? It's true.”

  Jack looked at him in exasperation. “Keith, go get the doctor. Tell him Reed's awake.” He leaned over his bed. “What else do you remember?”

  His brain didn't want to cooperate. He calmed himself and thought back. “Sophie called. She was nervous and excited about something. It was good news and I dropped the phone. I reached over to grab it off the floorboard and…that's the last thing I remember.”

  His dad rubbed both hands briskly over his face. “That phone call saved your life, Reed. If you wouldn't have dropped the phone and leaned over to get it…” He choked up some but pulled himself together. “You would have been killed
instantly.”

  Reed was speechless. He could have died?

  Dot stood on the other side of Jack. “What was the good news?”

  Reed looked over at Sophie. “I was talking to you and…” Her mouth quirked up in a little smile as she waited for him to remember. “Pickles? No, that's not right. It was good news, I know that.” He stretched for the memory. There it was! “You're pregnant! Sophie, you're pregnant!” He tried to sit up again to reach for her, but his dad held him in place. Reed reached for Sophie's hand instead. “You are, right? That wasn't a dream?”

  Everyone looked at Sophie. She appeared a little uneasy under all of the scrutiny but then a smile so joyful, it seemed to light her up from the inside, spread across her face. “Yes, I really am pregnant. You're going to be a father, Reed Sutton.”

  Reed closed his eyes and mumbled, “Thank you. Love you, Sophie.”

  His parents stood in stunned silence and then Dot asked, “Wait! Are you saying that I'm going to have a grandbaby?”

  Sophie nodded and held his hand tighter waiting for the backlash. Dot surprised them all by reaching for Sophie and hugging her tightly. Jack hugged her too. Then he shot a glance at Reed. “When's the wedding?”

  Laughing made his head hurt worse. “We haven't gotten to that part yet. If you haven't noticed, I've been a little out of it.” He pulled on Sophie's arm until her ear was next to his lips. “When I feel better, I promise to do this more romantically. I swear it to you. But I have to know the answer now. You will marry me, won't you?”

  Sophie pulled away and met his gaze. “Because I'm pregnant?”

  He tugged her down again and kissed her with the last ounce of energy he possessed. “No, because I love you.”

  It seemed like forever, but a few seconds later, she answered him. “I love you too. Yes!”