“Charlotte, what am I going to do? I can’t do this.”
“Come home with me, have a shower and something to eat. You may be able to face it with a clear head. Nathan and Jesse are here.”
He shook his head.
“I’m not taking no for an answer. I deal with a stubborn Montgomery every day so there is no getting around me.”
“OK, you’re right. We will come straight back though?”
“Of course.”
“Why aren’t you at work?”
“You need your family, honey and it was easier for me to get away then Jared, so I am his substitute.” She smirked and his resolve began to return.
“You’re better looking than him.” He managed a small smile.
When Mitch returned an hour later, Nathan and Jesse were still in Isabelle’s room. He gestured to Nathan towards the corridor so they could talk in private.
“How is he?” Mitch asked.
“He’s doing better than you. Kids are more resilient.”
“That’s good. Do you want to take him back to your house now? That way he can be distracted by Mabel and Tommy.”
“Sure thing. I was waiting for you to come back.”
Jesse still sat perched on the edge of the bed, his small hands clasping one of hers. His continued bravado renewed Mitch’s own strength.
“Jesse, would you like to go and play with Mabel and Tommy again?” Mitch said placing a hand on his shoulder for comfort: for Jesse as well as himself.
“Yes but mummy needs me.”
“I’ll stay with her.”
“When she wakes up, will you tell her I miss her?”
“Of course, buddy.”
As Mitch watched Jesse leave with Nathan, he wondered how they were all going to get through this if she didn’t wake up. He vowed then and there to take care of Jesse if their worst nightmare became a reality.
All night Mitch slept in erratic spurts in the chair by her bed. Nurses came and went through the night checking her vital signs but there had been no change. Dr Greene had checked on her earlier in the night before leaving for the evening and was concerned about her lack of response. Even though he said nothing to Mitch, he assumed from Dr Greene’s grim expression that the situation was much more dire than he imagined.
Early the next morning the sound of alarms woke him from his light slumber. Disorientation confused him for a moment until he realized the sound came from the machine monitoring her heart. Hospital staff raced into the room with Dr Greene in the lead pushing a trolley full of equipment. One of the nurses asked him to step outside while they worked on her and promptly shut the door behind him before closing the blinds.
Nathan found Mitch slumped on the floor against the wall with his head in his hands.
“Mitch.” He didn’t lift his head. “Has something happened?”
“She … the alarms … I don’t know.”
“Did she crash?” Nathan asked deciphering Mitch’s halted speech.
“I think that’s what happened. No-one has come out yet. She can’t die, Nathan.”
With one swift pull, Nathan hauled Mitch to his feet and ushered him over to a seat where he slumped again with head in hands.
Several minutes later Dr Greene strode into the waiting room. Mitch leapt out of his seat and held his breath.
“I don’t have good news I’m afraid.”
“Oh no ...” Mitch breathed out.
“She’s still with us but critical. Isabelle went into sinus tachycardia. What this means is her heartbeat became irregular and we needed to return it to a normal rhythm. We gave her an anti-arrhythmic agent, and when that didn’t work, we had to use electrical cardioversion which has stabilized her. She is being taken up to surgery now to find the cause of the tachycardia. It’s sometimes caused by internal bleeding, perhaps caused by the impact of the vehicle hitting the guard rail or the water. Once the surgeons investigate we’ll know more.”
“So you had to shock her?” Nathan asked.
“Yes.”
“Surgery will stop this from happening again?” Nathan continued to ask the questions his brother was incapable of doing. His pale, blood-drained face said what he couldn’t.
“It should if internal bleeding is the cause. I’ll keep you updated as I learn more.”
“Thank you, Dr Greene.”
“This can’t be happening,” Mitch said.
“She’s alive. That’s the most important thing right now.” Mitch’s only response was to stare at his brother. “Come and sit down,” he said guiding Mitch to a chair. “I’ll get us some crappy coffee from the machine.”
Mitch sagged further into the hard uncomfortable seat and his torment at the prospect of life without Isabelle drained the last of his composure.
Several cups of coffee later, Dr Greene returned and his concerned look sent Mitch’s heart plunging to the floor.
“Is she ...?” Mitch asked in a wavering tone.
“She’s stable but critical. The good news is Dr Simmons located the source of the bleeding, a ruptured spleen. Thankfully the damage was repaired and the bleeding has stopped. She’s in recovery at the moment and we’ll bring her back to her room in intensive care shortly. The first twenty-four hours are crucial, and if she makes it through the night, her chances are better. She’s not out of the woods yet but she is stable, which is important. I’ll let you know when she has returned to the ward. Sorry I don’t have better news.”
Silence followed. Nathan and Jared - who had since joined them with Charlotte - saw the signs of Mitch being about to have a meltdown. His usual relaxed manner had been replaced by clenched fists and a thin-lipped expression.
“That son of a bitch!” Mitch shouted, startling other loved ones in the room waiting for news. “He’s lucky he’s dead or I would kill him myself.”
The black look in his eyes needed to be controlled, as his brothers were all too aware. Mitch might be a laid back person under normal circumstances but on the rare occasions he became angry, it wasn’t a pretty sight.
“Let’s go and get some air,” Jared suggested. When Mitch couldn’t be persuaded, his brothers took one arm each and guided him with gentle force towards the exit. “Charlotte, will you stay and let us know when they bring her back?” She nodded her assent with a worried frown.
Once outside, Mitch stomped his way around the small, private grassed area they located outside the hospital. His anger simmering inside was ready to explode like a volcano.
“Mitch,” Nathan said, “try and calm down. You need to be there for her and you’re no good like this.”
Mitch didn’t reply, just continued to pace, hands clenched and jaw tight. Jared took him by the shoulders and waited for Mitch to meet his eyes. Growing up, Jared had been the only one who could calm Mitch’s storm.
“You need to calm down, Mitchell.”
“Take your hands off me, Jared.”
In a vain attempt Mitch tried to pull away but Jared gripped tighter. If he let him go now Jared couldn’t be sure of exactly what Mitch would do.
“Being angry is not going to help her through this. I know how hard this is, but you have to pull yourself together. For her and for Jesse.”
The anger dissipated from Mitch’s eyes and was replaced with despair. Although this wasn’t an improvement, at least he wouldn’t hurt himself or destroy anything now.
“Thanks, Jared,” Mitch said before hugging his brother. “I’ll be OK. I’m ready to face whatever happens. I kind of lost my head there for a moment.”
“Happens to us all.”
Chapter Twenty Four
Strangers
Jared and Mitch were almost back to the intensive care ward when they ran into Charlotte.
“I was just coming to find you. Isabelle’s back in her room.”
“Has anyone updated Carol yet?” Mitch asked.
“I’ll do it if you want,” she said.
“Thanks, Charlotte. That would be great. I can’t i
magine what she’s going through right now.”
Mitch assured them he would be alright and there was no point in them hanging around as he would be sitting with Isabelle. Once they felt certain he was sure, they both left. Summoning all of his strength, he prepared himself for what he could be about to see.
Upon entering her room, he realized nothing could have prepared him. Her pallor was much whiter than before and the were several more tubes and extra equipment connected to her. The slow hiss of the rise and fall of the machine helping her breath would be something he would never forget. When he sat beside her and took her hand, it was still cold. Leaning forward, he stroked her cheek, hoping the physical contact would help.
All night he sat awake in vigil at her bedside, watching, waiting for her to open her eyes. Memories flooded his mind and he hoped with all he had they wouldn’t be the only ones he would ever have. Her condition remained stable and gave him a glimmer of hope. The doctor had said if she pulled through the night then she had a chance.
When Dr Greene came to see her in the morning, he advised Mitch that her surviving the night was an excellent sign but his concern over her prolonged lack of response to stimuli dampened Mitch’s hope again. Keep talking to her, the doctor had said, it might help.
Carol had mentioned a book that Isabelle had started to read, so Mitch had located it amongst her belongings at her apartment and it now sat on the table beside the bed where he’d placed it the previous day. He picked it up and began to read from the first page. When he came to the erotic parts he smiled at her choice of novel and pictured them playing out the scenes. He swore to himself that he make them a reality when she woke.
On the third day after Isabelle’s operation, Mitch hadn’t moved from her side except when the nurses persuaded him to use the staff facilities to shower and freshen up. He would be forever grateful for their courtesy and compassion. One of his considerate family members had also packed a bag of clean clothes for him.
Mitch spoke to her in a constant stream. Told her how much he loved her and recounted their time together. His hope diminished with each passing hour and began to fade almost completely. When her eyes seemed to flicker, as though trying to open, he wasn’t sure he’d actually seen it. His imagination was taking control of reality.
“Isabelle?” he asked her softly. “Can you hear me?”
She felt like she was swimming through a fog, and as light pierced through her closed eyes, she attempted to open them. It proved to be a struggle and her eyelids felt heavy as though they were weighted down, just like when fatigue overcomes you and you can’t keep them open. She couldn’t understand why she couldn’t force them open and why she felt like she’d slept for an eternity. Something was lodged in her throat. A warm pressure on her hand pacified her fear. Her head thumped out a sharp, piercing beat while one side of her body felt like someone had pounded her with a brick.
As she attempted again to open heavy eyes she heard an unfamiliar voice say her name. Although her vision blurred, she could make out the owner of the deep, pleasant-sounding voice. An attractive blond with beautiful sky-blue eyes stared at her with relief. He also seemed to be the source of the warmth in her hand. Why was this stranger holding her hand? Where was she? Uneasy and confused, she attempted to pull her hand away from the stranger’s.
Mitch watched as her eyes flickered again. A low, muffled groan sounded deep in her throat. When her eyes opened, a tremendous relief washed over him. He’d never been happier to see her lovely green eyes. The look of surprise and confusion in her eyes concerned him but his relief overpowered his anxiety. When she tugged her hand away, however, he knew something wasn’t right. He leaned over and pressed the call button to alert the hospital staff. Dr Greene strode in with one of the nurses and smiled when he saw his patient was awake.
“Welcome back, Isabelle. We were getting a little concerned about you. Do you remember what happened?” She shook her head. “You’re in the hospital. You suffered a severe blow to the head and internal injuries, both sustained from an accident. I’m going to remove the tube from your throat which will make you more comfortable.”
He instructed her to take a deep breath and breath out as he removed the tube. A profuse coughing followed, so the nurse assisted her with some water before administering pain medication. Once her coughing subsided, Dr Greene continued his evaluation of her condition.
“Do you remember who you are?”
“Yes, Isabelle Winters,” she rasped and paused to take several breaths before continuing. “Where’s my mum? Is Adrian here?”
Mitch’s heart lurched when he realized she was remembering another time, a time which definitely wasn’t the present. The doctor turned to Mitch with a questioning look.
“Adrian was Jesse’s father.”
“Who’s Jesse?” she asked.
“Your son, Isabelle,” Dr Greene said.
“I don’t have a son. I’m a student.” Her voice started to sound frantic and confused. “Where’s Adrian?”
“Isabelle,” Dr Greene said in a calm voice, one Mitch didn’t think he could provide, “because of your head injury you are now experiencing post-traumatic amnesia. This is common with an injury of your magnitude. There is a possibility that your memories will come back over time but there is also the chance you will only remember some things. You may not remember anything at all. I don’t want to alarm you as it is early days yet and you have a long way to go.”
Her sharp intake of breath and the plethora of emotions passing over her face almost stopped Mitch’s heart.
“Where are my mum and Adrian?”
“Your lost memories can be filled in over time. I don’t want to overwhelm you all at once as the stress could be detrimental to your recovery.”
“I want to know.”
“Your mum is upstairs on another ward. She was shot when a man kidnapped your son. Her wound was relatively minor and she will make a full recovery. Jesse, your son, was released but Anton abducted you in his place. You went off the South Coast Bridge in the car which ruptured your spleen. You lost consciousness and hit your head on some rocks when you swam to shore.”
Her eyes flicked from one person to the next as she digested the information. Mitch saw confusion rather than recognition when their eyes met for a brief moment.
“Oh … I can’t believe … this is so …” she stopped. “Adrian?”
Again Dr Greene turned to Mitch and he knew he would have to give her the information that the doctor was unaware of.
“I’m sorry, honey but he was killed in a car accident when Jesse was a baby.”
“What?” Shock, grief and confusion forced a single tear down her cheek and Mitch ached to wipe it away, to wipe it all away. “Who are you anyway?”
Her cold tone drove a knife into his already bleeding heart.
“We’ve just bought a house together and were about to move in when this all went down.”
“Adrian’s dead?” she whispered. “I’m a mother? Adrian ...”
Tears now streamed down her face. Mitch attempted to ignore his frustration and hurt by the ignorance of his words by her regarding their life together.
Isabelle struggled to get her head around what they were telling her. They’d only been friends, best friends from children, how was it possible they had a baby together? Now Adrian was dead and she had a child, a child she didn’t even remember. An ache stormed through her chest and hollowed it out. Adrian’s dead. Then, to confuse her even further, there was this man claiming they had some kind of relationship. Frustration and confusion ensured she had no idea what to do next.
“I’ll be back to check on you a bit later, Isabelle,” the doctor said, breaking through her troubled thoughts. “Try to take it slow. This could take some time.”
“Thanks, Dr ...?”
“Greene.”
“Thank you, Dr Greene.” She offered a small smile.
“Don’t overload her,” Dr Greene said to the stranger before h
e left.
“What is your name?” she asked the handsome stranger.
“Mitchell Montgomery.”
“How did we meet?”
“I was the photographer at a modeling shoot you were at.”
“What was I doing at a modeling shoot? Haven’t I finished my degree? Why aren’t I teaching?”
“You were the model. You took up modeling to support your family after Adrian died. You didn’t finish your degree because of this.”
“Is this some kind of joke? Where is this son I’m supposed to have?”
Confusion turned to panic as she studied him and listened to his words. All of this was as unfamiliar to her as the stranger’s face.
“Izzy, it’s not a joke. It would be a cruel one if it was. My brother and his wife are looking after Jesse. I’ll have them bring him in to see you if you would like.”
“I must be dreaming. This isn’t real.”
Silence followed as she absorbed the information. Perhaps seeing Jesse would help her recall all that has supposed to have occurred. It was reasonable to believe that she had lost her memory. Her head certainly hurt and she was in the hospital.
“Yes, I would like to see him.”
When Nathan arrived with Jesse half an hour later, Mitch decided he should warn Jesse about his mother’s condition before going in.
“Jesse,” he began crouching down so they were eye to eye, “before I take you in to see your mum, I have to talk to you about how she is. Sometimes when someone hits their head really hard they can forget things. At the moment your mum has forgotten things. She might not remember who you are but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t love you. Do you understand?”
He nodded. “Will she remember me later?”
“We hope so.”
The rage inside simmered again and his fury over the damage Anton had caused threatened to boil over. Jesse, looking braver than his four years, told Mitch he was ready to see Isabelle.
Womanizer (Spoilt) Page 15
