“I don’t think I can just go home,” Hadley said, finally. “Not until I know more.”
Isabel returned to her original chair in the waiting area and took a seat. “Me neither.”
“Then we’re all in agreement,” Gia said. “Let’s order in some food. Could be a long night.”
When she reflected on it, staying wasn’t even a question in their minds, really. Gia understood that her friend was in trouble, and it wasn’t an option for her to go about her day as if that weren’t the case. With her shoulder, she nudged Hadley, who nudged her back. Isabel smiled over at them. She would sit here with Hadley and Isabel, and they would be there…just to be there.
It’s what friends did.
* * *
Two hours later, after a round of Chinese delivery, the three of them recessed to the quiet of their own thoughts and keeping-busy tasks. Hadley read a mystery novel. Isabel tick-tacked away on her laptop, most likely writing something brilliant, and Gia kept herself occupied on her phone. She returned some email, looked over her most recent stats, and headed over to Surfline.com to catch up on the latest round of projections and interviews with her competitors and colleagues. She didn’t get very far. The headline, splashed big and bold across the top of her screen, brought the world to a stop. She slid to the edge of her chair and blinked hard to be sure she’d read it correctly.
Elle Britton Rushed to Hospital in Ambulance from Hermosa Beach
She stood up and reread the headline. It didn’t fully compute until it did, and she couldn’t find her breath. She opened her mouth to tell her friends, but the words failed her. She closed it again.
“G, what’s wrong?” Hadley asked, looking alarmed.
Isabel stood up next to Gia. “Hey, you’re white as a sheet. Paler than me. Say something.”
She thrust the phone at them. “I think something bad happened,” she finally choked out.
Hadley took the phone as Isabel peered over her shoulder at the headline. Gia felt their sympathetic stares turn to her, but all she could concentrate on was the fact that the floor felt uneven and the air had disappeared. Or maybe her throat had constricted. She looked around for help, but what help would there be? “It doesn’t say much other than there was a surfing accident, and an ambulance on scene that left with lights and sirens,” Hadley told them.
“Does it say where they took her?” Gia asked, attempting to establish logical thought progression.
“She could be here,” Hadley offered.
“What do I do? How do I find out?” Gia asked. Her brain wasn’t hers. She needed guidance. She needed information. She needed Elle. God, hadn’t she always?
Isabel leapt into action. “Let’s do this. Had, stay here in case there’s word about Autumn. Text me if there’s anything. I’ll walk with Gia to the admissions desk and see what we can find out.”
“Okay, but let me know,” Hadley said. “I’m just going to be sitting here worried.”
“Will do.”
Gia followed Isabel down the hall like a lost child following a dependable adult. Her hands were numb, and her thoughts jumped from one awful conclusion to another, never settling for long. She flashed on happier images, too. Of Elle, her face when she smiled, her fist curled beneath her chin as she slept. If anything happened to her, Gia wouldn’t recover. There would be no point. If she was hurt, Gia wasn’t sure how she’d cope. The idea alone had her feeling nauseous. She wanted to trade places with her, to do something to erase whatever horrible thing had happened and take it on herself. God, what in the world had happened out there anyway?
“Hi,” Isabel said, to the woman at the circular desk in the lobby of the hospital. “Hoping you can help us. We were told our friend had been brought in following a surfing accident.”
The woman nodded, as if confirming the information, but offered nothing further.
“Can you tell us where we’d find her?”
“Relationship?”
“I’m a close friend.”
The woman sighed, as if Isabel had just lost the grand prize on an all-important game show. “I’m afraid I’m not authorized to release that information.”
“But her sister is here, too,” Isabel said quickly, and grabbed Gia, dragging her front and center. “Right here. Certainly that rule doesn’t apply to family.”
“You’re the sister?” the woman asked, clearly skeptical.
“Yes. I’m the sister. Can you tell me how she is?”
“All I know is that particular patient is in intensive care on the fourth floor. They can tell you more about her condition there.”
Gia’s heart fell further. Intensive care? She looked to Isabel, who squeezed her hand.
“It’s gonna be okay. It will. You need to be strong right now. Can you do that?”
Gia nodded, but didn’t believe it for a moment.
By the time they arrived on the fourth floor, Gia was a basket case, watching her entire journey with Elle play back in her mind like a cherished home movie. This couldn’t be the end. They’d barely even had a beginning.
“Hi,” Isabel said to the woman behind the nurse’s station. “We’re looking for my friend’s sister, Elle Britton. She was brought in a short time ago.”
The nurse squinted back at Isabel. “One moment.” After a quick perusal of her screen, she came back to them. “No patient by that name.”
“Are you sure?” Gia asked.
“Positive.”
“Maybe they have her listed under another name for privacy,” Gia offered. “Is that possible?”
“Not that I’m aware of.”
“She was in a surfing accident,” Isabel said.
“Oh! Well, why didn’t you say so?” The nurse pointed with her chin down the hall. “Four-eleven.”
Isabel tapped on the counter. “Thank you.” She headed off in the direction the nurse indicated, but turned back when she realized Gia was not with her. “You coming?” Isabel asked gently.
But Gia couldn’t move. Nope. In this moment, as far as Gia knew, Elle was going to be okay. If she walked down that hall and learned the reality of the situation, that might no longer be the case. She just needed to hang on to this moment for a beat longer. It was all she had.
Isabel returned to her. “Whatever we’re facing, I’m right here with you. Look at me. Not going anywhere.”
Gia nodded and accepted Isabel’s offered hand. With each step toward room 411, Gia’s fear catapulted. Tears pooled in her eyes, and her stomach dropped out from beneath her.
“Gia?”
She knew that voice as intimately as her own. She turned around. Was she hallucinating? The image was too beautiful to be real. Too wonderful, which meant her mind was playing tricks on her. She was afraid to believe what was right there. Elle walked toward them, wearing a pair of scrubs, a curious look on her face. Her hair was damp and her eyes were red. “What are you guys doing here?”
It took Gia a moment to speak. She was too overcome with emotion. Before she knew it, she was moving to Elle and pulling her into a crushing hug, which Elle slowly returned. Gia heard the sounds then and realized they came from her. She was sobbing, unable hold back the flood of emotion a moment longer. She gripped the back of Elle’s scrubs and held on, crying into the crook of her neck. “Are you okay?” she sobbed, pulling Elle in tighter, inhaling her scent.
“Hey, hey, hey,” Elle whispered to her. She stepped back and took Gia’s face in her hands. “Look at me. I’m okay. See? I promise.”
“I thought you were badly hurt. I thought maybe it was worse than that.” Gia began to cry again, this time from relief as the understanding that Elle was all right slowly crept in.
“Shhh,” Elle said, steadying her by the shoulders. “I’m right here, and not going anywhere. Please don’t cry.” With her thumbs, Elle gently swept away the tears on Gia’s cheeks. “I can’t stand to see you cry.”
Gia nodded, slowly finding her footing. She took a deep breath and found her still-shak
y voice. “I still don’t understand. What happened?”
The reassuring smile on Elle’s face dimmed, a clue that everything wasn’t okay. “It’s Holly. We were surfing and took the Jet Ski quite a way out. She wiped out pretty hard and her leash got caught on a reef. She was under for too long.”
“Oh, God. Is she okay?” Gia asked, glancing behind her at room 411.
“She has to be,” Elle said with determination, tears appearing in her eyes this time. “But they’re not sure of the extent of the damage. She lost consciousness and her brain was deprived of oxygen. They have her sedated and on a ventilator until they can run more tests. Figure out if there’s any cognitive impairment. An MRI will tell us more. I just…” She shook her head, looking lost. “I don’t know what to do.”
“You were there?” Isabel asked gently.
Elle nodded. “It was like an awful dream. I pulled her out as fast as I could, but it took a while to get the damn leash free. I did CPR until she sputtered and threw up a bunch of water while some guys on the beach called nine-one-one.”
“I can’t even imagine,” Gia said. It was a nightmare scenario. Something they all looked out for and feared.
“The ambulance came, and they’ve had her on oxygen ever since. She was in and out on the ride to the hospital, but never said anything. I’m not sure she could.” She shifted her focus between Gia and Isabel, her eyes a little wild with fear. “The doctors are worried about something called brain hypoxia. The damage could be extensive or none at all.” She shrugged helplessly as the tears fell. “We just don’t know yet.”
Isabel took Elle’s hand. “Your friend sounds strong.”
“She is. She always has been.” Elle seemed to seize on this notion like a much-needed lifeline.
“Remember that. She’s gonna fight this.”
Elle nodded. “Thanks, Isabel. I called her parents in North Carolina. They’re hopping a flight but won’t be here until tomorrow. Dash is in with her now. So I guess I’m just waiting.”
“We’re just waiting,” Gia corrected. She needed Elle to know that she wasn’t alone in this. She didn’t plan on going anywhere.
Isabel looked from Gia to Elle. “I’m gonna check on Autumn. Give you guys some space. I’ll check in a little later.”
Gia nodded. “Thanks, Iz. I mean it. Please keep me updated. I’ll be down to check in in a little while.”
Isabel nodded. “I’ll check in on you soon, too.”
When they were alone, Elle turned to Gia. “What is she referencing? Is Autumn here?”
“Admitted downstairs for false contractions and low blood pressure. They’re keeping her overnight. That was horrific scare number one.”
“Really?” Elle shook her head. “I can’t believe all of this happened in one day.” She reached for Gia’s hand. “I’m sorry you were worried about me on top of everything, but I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t happy that you’re here. It helps so much just to see your face right now.”
“I’m glad.” Gia inhaled deeply, still feeling shaky and off-kilter from the shock. It was awful that Holly was hurt, but knowing Elle was okay was the only thing holding her together. She turned to Elle with forceful purpose. “Listen, you gotta stay safe, okay? Always. No matter what the cost. No getting hurt, because that?” She shook her head and placed a hand over her still delicate heart. “I can’t take.”
Elle smiled and touched Gia’s cheek softly. “I will do my very best.”
“No, not good enough. I’m serious. I don’t know what I would do if something happened to you, logistics of the word aside. You’re too important.”
Elle softened. “I feel the same way. I get it.”
“Do you?” Gia said, unrelenting.
Elle took her hand. “I do.”
Maybe it was because they were alone in the hallway and her emotions hung so plainly on her sleeve, but Gia couldn’t stop herself from taking Elle’s face in her hands and kissing her. In her current reality, restraining herself was not an option. Not on a day like today, and what point would that serve anyway? For one moment in time, her career could kick rocks. Elle was what mattered. She had Gia’s focus, and through that kiss, she made a point to channel every iota of feeling she had for Elle, which was staggering. Elle didn’t stop her, didn’t pull away or merely accept the kiss. In fact, she kissed her back with the same urgency and cradled the back of her head.
“God, I miss you,” Elle whispered into her hair, which prompted Gia to hold her tighter, never wanting to let go. But underneath, she knew their circumstances hadn’t changed. This was about raw and honest emotion, what they felt for each other, and her feelings for Elle hadn’t wavered. In fact, she loved her. She knew that as true as what day it was.
“I miss you, too,” she whispered. “I keep thinking it’s going to get easier.” Gia pulled back and lifted Elle’s chin. “Listen to me. Holly’s going to be okay. I can feel it.”
Elle offered a wobbly smile. “Thank you for saying that. I think it’s going to be a long night.”
“We’ll get through it together,” Gia said, and wrapped an arm around Elle as the routine sounds of the hospital continued around them.
“You’re really going to stay?”
“Would you if it were me?”
“Without hesitation,” Elle said.
“Exactly,” Gia said, kissing the top of Elle’s head. “I’ve got you. You’re not alone.”
The rest of the evening was quiet. Elle was allowed ten minutes every hour to visit Holly, which she shared with Dash, who mainly stared at the wall and flipped through magazines. Gia stayed close, offering Elle her hand to hold, and made a point to keep their supply of coffee and snacks intact. Somehow having a job made her feel useful. She walked down to check on Autumn every hour or so as well. Isabel and Hadley were adorably snuggled into each other like kittens at her three a.m. check-in.
“I can’t believe you guys stayed,” Kate said, standing in the entryway of the waiting room. She’d spent most of the night at Autumn’s side but looked in on them occasionally. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“Yes, we did,” Gia said, quietly so as not to wake the others.
Kate smiled. “I guess you did. You guys are such great friends. Truly.”
“Any updates?”
She nodded. “The medication seems to be having a positive effect. Autumn’s blood pressure is up a bit. Everyone says this a great sign. We’ll likely go home mid-morning, once the doctor weighs in.”
Gia grinned and placed a hand over her heart. “Best news ever.”
“And Elle’s friend? How is she?”
“Hard to say. She’s still sedated and the doctor won’t be by until morning. Elle’s a wreck.”
“I can relate. Tell her we’re thinking about her.”
“Will do. Thanks, Kate.”
When nine a.m. hit and there was no word from Holly’s doctor, Elle turned to Gia. “If I had only been a little faster.”
“Could you have been?” Gia asked the question not because she was curious, but to make a point.
Elle thought on it and finally shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
“Me neither. And if it had been anyone else out there with her when this awful accident happened, she likely wouldn’t be here anymore. She was so lucky you were the one there.”
“Yeah,” she said, with only slight commitment.
“I’m serious. With your swimming skills, your knowledge of the equipment, and your speed? She won the rescuer lottery.”
“I hadn’t actually thought of it that way.” Elle seemed to ruminate on the comment before going quiet again. She still wore the scrubs the hospital had supplied her, but she now also wore Gia’s maroon hoodie because the waiting room was cold. Elle had snuggled into it almost immediately after Gia offered it, as if the simple garment were a valuable security blanket, her hands disappearing beneath the sleeves.
“You should keep that,” Gia told her hours later.
>
“Thank you,” Elle said, snuggling into it further. “If it’s okay with you, I would like that.”
The automatic doors that separated intensive care from the waiting room opened just before ten, and a male doctor with an iPad emerged. “For Holly Sinclair?”
Elle and Dash, who had just briefly fallen asleep, sat upright. “Over here,” Elle said.
The doctor took a seat in the chair across from them and offered a warm smile. That had to be a decent sign, right? “I’m Dr. Kulka. I believe we met briefly yesterday. Let me tell you where we’re at.” They nodded and sat forward. Elle squeezed Gia’s hand extra tight as the doctor turned the iPad around to show them the images from the MRI. “This is all looking very promising. I’m not seeing any of the standard warning signs on the gray matter structures of the brain. Everything is actually looking quite clear on the scan. Because of that, I’m not anticipating any long-lasting effects from the accident.” Elle exhaled in relief. Dash smiled widely and began nodding. “Though it’s possible Ms. Sinclair could experience some minor difficulties.”
“What kind?” Dash asked. He and Elle exchanged a glance.
“For a while, there may be some short-term memory obstacles, but those will most likely resolve themselves over the next month or two. She’ll also need to continue respiratory therapy to get her lungs back in shape. In fact, we’ll have a therapist with her as early as today to get started.”
Elle and Dash exchanged a hug. “We can deal with those things,” Dash said.
Dr. Kulka nodded. “The nurse will have more information for you, but I’m optimistic, given the test results. She was very lucky. We’ll keep her another night or so to be sure we’re in good shape, and then send her home with you.” He turned to Elle. “You were the one who pulled her from the water?”
“Yes.”
“Your CPR training prevented severe damage and likely saved her life entirely. Without it, we would be having a very different conversation right now. You did a good thing.”
Elle nodded, emotion clearly constricting her throat. Finally, she managed a “Thank you. I’m just glad to hear she’s going to be all right.”
Sparks Like Ours Page 24
