“Oh.” I set the glass of water on the nightstand, my body stiff and my movements awkward.
“It was a totally routine surgery in terms of getting your appendix out.” She patted my shoulder, and her expression turned serious. “I was stitching you up when your fever spiked to over 105, and your body started convulsing. We call this malignant hyperthermia, and it’s extremely dangerous. I couldn’t get you to wake up from the anesthesia, so we packed you in ice to get your fever down.”
I swallowed hard. “I’ve never had any type of surgery before. I had no idea I’d react like that.” I really had been on my deathbed.
She gave me a sympathetic smile. “With a fever that high, I was worried about damage to your brain, so I put you into a medically induced coma.”
I gasped. “How long was I out?”
“Four days. When you stabilized and showed no signs of a fever, I stopped the medication, and then you woke up two days later.”
My head spun. I’d been in a freaking coma! I could have died, just like my mother. Was that my destiny?
“I know this is a lot, but you’re okay now, Chloe. Focus on that.” She took a thermometer from her bag and held it out. “Open up.”
I was silent as she conducted her exam. With each thing she did, she smiled and praised me for how well I was doing. I might be better physically, but my mind was a mess. How had this happened? I’d always been healthy. As a kid, the worst thing I’d ever had was the flu. I’d never even had chickenpox.
“I’m going to check your stitches now.” Doctor Mattias lifted my shirt, bunching it up under my breasts.
I glanced down to find black stitches marring the right side of my stomach. Was that going to leave a scar? Closing my eyes, I let my head fall back against the pillow.
“It’s healing nicely,” she said, pulling my shirt back down. “They should be able to come out in another couple days. In the meantime, try not to scratch them, okay? And keep them covered when you shower.”
I nodded.
Doctor Mattias packed everything back into her medical bag, and then she sat in the chair Trent had pulled up. “Now, tell me how you’re really doing.”
“What?” I jerked my head in her direction and stared at her with confusion.
“What do you remember about what happened?”
“Not much. I remember being in pain. A lot of pain. I tried to go to the bathroom and collapsed. Next thing I know, I hear you and everyone else talking about me,” I said.
Her brows shot up. “You heard us?”
“Yes. I heard everything, but I couldn’t respond. I wanted to, but it was like my body was paralyzed.”
“Fascinating,” she said, smiling. “Do you have a headache? Any throbbing in your temples or the base of your neck?”
“No. Other than being sore and stiff, I feel fine.”
“Good.” She nodded. “You’re lucky to have so many people who love you.” She inclined her head toward the closed door. “If it hadn’t been for them, you probably wouldn’t be here right now.”
“They are pretty great.” I sighed. “But, if you’re human, how do you know about them?”
She laughed. “It’s a long, complicated story, but let’s just say I had an encounter with a vampire once, and my life was turned upside down. I helped him, and then he called me to help others like him. Word spread about the human doctor who helped vampires. From there, I branched out, and now, I help all sorts of supernatural beings.”
“Wow. Well, thank you for saving my life,” I said.
“Of course.” She smiled, then stood. “I’ll be back in a couple of days to check on you and remove your stitches. Until then, I want you to rest. No strenuous physical activity, drink lots of water, and no sex until those stitches come out.” She pointed at me to emphasize her last point.
My face heated with embarrassment. It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her I wasn’t having sex, but in the grand scheme of things, that really didn’t matter.
“If you get a fever, call immediately. Trent knows how to reach me.”
I nodded.
“I’ll see you in a few days.” She headed for the door.
“Thank you,” I said before she opened the door and walked out. Trent and Jax may have acted quickly, but it was Doctor Mattias who saved my life.
Trent entered the room, alone, and closed the door. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, I’m healing nicely according to Doctor Mattias.” I smiled.
Trent climbed into bed and cradled me in his arms. “You scared me, Chloe. I thought I was going to lose you.”
I’d heard him talking to me, too, and the fear I’d heard in his voice then was present now. My heart splintered knowing I was the cause of his pain and fear. When would I stop hurting him like this? When would I stop being a selfish coward and just make a decision that would end all this misery?
“You didn’t lose me, though. I’m right here,” I said.
“Yeah, but it was close. Too close.” He frowned.
“Don’t think about what could have happened. Focus on what did happen. I pulled through, and now I’m fine,” I insisted.
He trailed his fingers down my arm but remained silent.
I shifted as best I could and found his lips. He swept his hand along the side of my neck and drew me closer as he kissed me slowly. But he held back as if he were suddenly afraid to kiss me, and it was then I knew—Trent was pulling away from me emotionally. I knew that clear to my soul, and my heart broke.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE:
R&R
“I REALLY NEED A SHOWER.” I sat up. “And food.” My stomach grumbled, reminding me I hadn’t eaten anything on my own in almost a week.
“Do you need help getting in the shower?” Trent asked.
I grinned seductively. “Maybe.”
He barely cracked a smile.
I frowned. What was up with him? I gently eased out of bed and stood. My knees shook slightly, probably because I’d been bedridden for so long, but I took a tentative step. Then another. My legs didn’t give out, so that was a good sign. And my ankle no longer hurt, either. That was a bonus.
Trent was next to me in a flash, his hands poised to catch me should I fall. “You good?”
“Yes.” I laughed.
His concern was endearing, but if he kept up like this, it was going to quickly become too much.
“What would you like to eat?” he asked.
I shrugged. “Maybe some French toast?” My mouth watered just thinking about it.
“Okay.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’ll have it ready for you when you get out of the shower. Call for me if you need anything, all right?”
I nodded.
Trent left the room, and I hobbled into the bathroom. Large gauze pads and waterproof medical tape sat atop the sink. I guessed I was supposed to use those to cover my stitches when I showered.
I stripped out of my pajamas and grimaced when I lifted my arms to remove my top. The skin around my stitches stretched, causing pain to ripple across my stomach. Okay, so I couldn’t lift my arms over my head.
After bandaging my wound, I stepped into a hot shower and groaned with satisfaction as the water sprayed over my weary body. The heat and the steam eased the tension in my muscles, and I was able to relax for the first time since waking up.
Washing my hair was a feat considering it hurt to raise my arms too high, and by the time I finished, the water was running cool. I shut it off, stepped out, and wrapped a fluffy towel around me. I rummaged in my suitcase until I found a pair of leggings and an oversized button up shirt.
I struggled for a solid ten minutes trying to brush my hair, and when I finally managed to get it untangled, I was out of breath and red-faced. Who knew not being able to lift your arms caused so many issues with everyday tasks? I slipped on a pair of socks, then headed downstairs, taking each step carefully.
“Chloe,” Jax admonished. “What’re you doing? The doctor said you�
��re supposed to be in bed, resting.” He was by my side before I could even comprehend his words.
“She said I needed to take it easy, no strenuous activity. She did not say I had to stay in bed,” I snapped.
The cabin was too quiet. And why was Jax was scolding me about not taking it easy when that was something Trent would normally do?
“Where is everyone?” I asked.
“They had to feed.” Jax crossed his arms and watched me intently as I made my way to the bottom of the stairs. “We didn’t exactly leave while you were sick.”
“Oh.”
Maybe that was why Trent had been acting weird earlier—he wasn’t at normal strength, or self-control, because he hadn’t fed. Still, annoyance, hurt, and anger flared in my chest. Not more than thirty minutes ago, Trent was worried and upset that I’d almost died. Yet, as soon as I was awake, he took off and left me with his brother.
“They didn’t go too far. They’ll be back soon,” Jax said.
The smell of cinnamon and vanilla and butter wafted toward me. “Are you cooking?”
He nodded. “Before Trent left, he said you were hungry and wanted French toast. So, I’m making some.” He shrugged.
“Thank you.” My stomach grumbled again, and Jax grinned.
“C’mon.” He nodded toward the kitchen but waited for me to fall into step before he moved. “It’s almost done.”
I looked at the stools. There was no way I’d be able to hoist myself onto one without ripping my stitches, so I ambled toward the kitchen table. I pulled out a chair and sat. Just the little movements I’d done since waking had tired me out, and I yawned.
Jax appeared with a heaping plate of French toast and a bottle of maple syrup. He set them in front of me, disappeared, and then reappeared with a glass of chocolate milk.
A second later, he sat with an even bigger heap of French toast. I shook my head, smiling. I’d never understand how he always ate so much.
Pouring syrup over my food, I handed him the bottle, then took a large bite. I closed my eyes, moaning with delight at how good it tasted. When I reopened my eyes, I licked my lips. Jax stared at me with dark eyes.
“What?” I asked self-consciously.
“Nothing.” He shook his head. “So, you’re feeling better?”
“Yes. I’m a little sore and stiff, but I feel fine.” I took another large bite and washed it down with a mouthful of chocolate milk. “These are so good. Thank you for cooking.”
He nodded and shoved food into his mouth. We ate in silence. Jax finished his food long before I did, but I was taking my time, savoring each bite. I finally finished and pushed my plate away.
“Want more?” he asked.
I laughed. “If I eat another bite, I’m going to explode.”
He folded his arms on the table. It wasn’t like Jax to be so quiet. What was going on with him? Trent had been acting weird, too. Had something happened while I was in a coma?
I cleared my throat, nerves making it difficult to speak. “Doctor Mattias told me you gathered everything she needed to help me.” I reached over and placed my hand on top of his. “Thank you.”
Jax’s gaze was trained on our hands. He rubbed my wrist with his thumb, and goose bumps traveled up my arms. “I had help.”
“I heard what you said to me,” I blurted.
His hand froze. “What?”
“When I was in the coma… I heard what you said to me. I heard what everyone said.”
Abruptly, Jax stood, gathered our dirty dishes, and stalked into the kitchen. I sighed. What had I said to upset him? It wasn’t like he’d said anything horrible while I was out of it. In fact, he’d been very sweet. Unless he said more that I hadn’t heard…
The front door opened, and everyone rushed inside, laughing and smiling. I scrunched up my face in confusion. Was feeding really that much fun?
“Chloe.” Trent said my name with all the disappointment of a child who didn’t get the toy they wanted for Christmas. “You’re supposed to be in bed.”
“No, I’m not,” I snapped. “I’m supposed to take it easy, not rot away in bed.”
“Hey, easy.” Trent held up his hands in a show of surrender. “I just don’t want you to overdo it, okay?”
I nodded. Tears pooled in my eyes. Nothing was like it had been before I got sick, and I hated that. I attempted to blink back my tears, but a few trickled down my cheeks, and I quickly wiped them away.
“I’m sorry,” Trent whispered and took my face into his hands. He wiped my tears and placed a lingering kiss to my forehead. “Please don’t cry.”
I rested my head on his chest, and he wrapped his arms around me. All I wanted was for things to go back to normal—well, as normal as they could be considering the situation. I wanted Trent to love me as fiercely as he had before I got sick, but I had a horrible nagging, gnawing feeling he didn’t.
“I think I’m going to go lie down. I am a little tired,” I said, stepping out of his embrace.
“Want me to come with you?” he asked.
I hesitated. I did want him with me, but at the same time, I needed to be alone to work through everything that had happened.
“No, but thank you.” I gave him a soft smile, then headed upstairs.
No one rushed to my side to help me, and I was grateful for that. I wasn’t an invalid, and I didn’t want everyone fawning over me.
I climbed into bed and blew out a breath, exhaustion heavy on my shoulders. Maybe Trent was just being cautious because he was worried about hurting me. Maybe I was overreacting, and he really wasn’t acting any differently toward me. Or maybe my instincts were right, and I was slowly losing him.
I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling. The events of the day crashed down on me, and I sobbed. I’d been in a coma; I’d almost died. While my mortality was inevitable, I never thought it was a possibility so soon. What would have happened if I had died? Would Trent go crazy with grief? Would my family?
My eyes widened. My family! I had been moments away from death, and no one knew. Not Aunt Beth and Uncle Dean. Not Abby. Or my father and Larissa or any of my friends. Heart wrenching sorrow crushed me, and I covered my face with my hands, letting my tears consume me.
THE NEXT COUPLE OF days were agonizing. Everyone went out of their way to take care of me. Trent followed me around the cabin like I was a toddler learning to walk.
Jax cooked constantly and would get upset when I didn’t eat enough—even though his idea of enough was vastly different from mine.
Whitney insisted on being in my room when I showered—just in case something happened.
And Sean and Wyatt worked round the clock to figure out what was going on with the coven. According to them, it had been quiet for too long, and the coven should have shown themselves by now.
Sean hadn’t said anything further about my lineage, and I wasn’t about to bring it up. Thankfully, there hadn’t been any more dead bodies, either, and Sean was confident that the vampire who had killed that woman was simply passing through.
My strength returned more and more each day, and I could now shower, brush my hair, dress myself, and walk downstairs without feeling like I’d run a marathon with limited oxygen.
The only thing that hadn’t improved was the sadness sitting on my shoulders. I needed to talk to my family, to tell them what had happened and assure them I was fine, if for no other reason than my own peace of mind.
But I hadn’t gathered enough courage to call them. What would I say? Oh, yeah, by the way, I was in a coma for a few days, but no worries. I’m totally good now. Aunt Beth would freak out. She’d demand I come straight home, and I couldn’t do that. Not yet.
Unless I did go home… I needed to see my family, to tell them what happened and let them see I was fine. Later tonight, I’d talk to Trent, explain how I felt, and beg him to take me to Keene Valley. Surely, he’d understand the need to speak to loved ones one last time, just in case. And if he was with me, I’d be safe. He’d protec
t me.
There was a knock on the front door, and everything inside the cabin ceased to move. I could feel the protectiveness radiating from Trent and Jax.
“Relax. It’s only Doctor Mattias,” Whitney said. She breezed past Jax and Trent and opened the door.
The doctor strode in like she was visiting old friends. “How’s my favorite patient?” She looked directly at me.
“A lot better. But these stitches itch like crazy.” I stood from the couch.
Doctor Mattias laughed. “Lucky for you, I’m here to take them out.”
“Thank God.”
“Shall we?” She nodded at the stairs, indicating I should lead her up to my room.
I did, and once we were inside, she shut the door. She crossed the room and plopped her medical bag on the nightstand. “Lie down,” she instructed.
I lay flat on my back and lifted my shirt.
She pulled up a chair and turned on the bedside lamp. “I’m going to do a quick exam, too, okay? Just to make sure everything’s all right.”
“Okay.” I blew out a breath and stared up at the ceiling.
She pressed on my stomach and felt around my stitches. “Any pain or tenderness?”
“No”
“Good.” She grabbed a tiny pair of scissors from her medical bag. “You might feel a little bit of tugging. That’s normal, so don’t worry.” She went to work removing my stitches. When she was finished, she wiped the area with something wet.
I flinched away. “Wow, that’s cold.”
“Sorry. I left my bag in the car overnight. I should have warned you.” She dropped the wet cloth into the trash. “Okay, all done.” She stood and zipped her bag. “No headaches or fevers?”
“None.” I sat up, and there wasn’t any stretching or pulling across my stomach.
“I’d suggest using a vitamin E lotion on that area. It will minimize the scarring,” she said.
“Okay.” I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood.
“All right. Well, if you need anything else, call me.” With a smile, she turned and left my room.
Eternal Choice: (The Cursed Series, Book 2) Page 30
