Dave moved to put a hand on Cole’s shoulder. “Thirty-six weeks is considered late pre-term. The health risks are significantly lower now than if this had happened even a week ago. And this hospital has one of the top neonatal units in the country.”
“But what about Brooke?” Cole asked.
“She lost so much blood they started a transfusion. That’s going to take a couple of hours.” Dave tightened his grip on Cole’s shoulder. “She’s not out of the woods yet. She could have other internal injuries. She could go septic. Hopefully, everything will be good, and she’ll move to a regular room when she regains consciousness. But they haven’t ruled out critical care.”
“She didn’t break any bones, though?”
“Dr. Garcia found heavy bruising and gashes on her left side. She expects to find broken ribs, at the very least. Probably some whiplash. They’re watching closely, looking for internal bleeding.”
“If that parking lot had been any wider, the car would’ve been going a lot faster when it hit her.” An involuntary shudder rocked through his body. He’d come so close to losing her. “I need to see her, Dave.”
“You can’t, yet. But you can see the baby now, if you want.”
How could he steal that moment from Brooke—to be the first to see her daughter outside the womb? Because of him, she and the baby had almost died, and Brooke had missed the joy of giving birth. Hadn’t he done enough damage?
“No.” Cole spoke louder than he meant to, and Dave regarded him warily. Cole lowered his voice. “Brooke should see the baby first. It wouldn’t be fair if I saw her while Brooke was still unconscious.”
Frowning, Dave took a step back and folded his arms. “Two weeks ago, you told me you two were getting a divorce. Has that changed?”
Cole took a deep breath, the acrid smell of disinfectants burning his sinuses. When he’d come to the press conference that afternoon, divorce seemed inevitable. His goal had been to persuade Brooke to keep their communication channels open. But now the truth lay before him, as plain as if it had been engraved on his hands. He couldn’t live without Brooke in his life.
“I really don’t know,” Cole said, “but you have to let me see her. Can’t I just look in the door?”
“You’re killing me, Cole.” Dave’s head shook slowly. “Fine. I’ll get you in there. But only for a few minutes. Then you’ve got a ton of paperwork to fill out.”
“And someone to apologize to, if she hasn’t already quit her job.” Cole grimaced. “I was a little impatient with the intake clerk.”
“You were mean to Trudy? What’s with you, Cole? She’s like the sweetest person on the planet.”
“This hasn’t been my best day.”
Cole had given the hospital administration permission to make a statement to the press, describing Brooke’s condition as stable, with no mention of the baby’s delivery. Meanwhile, Mack was working with the hospital security to keep the reporters at bay.
Jarrett showed up about the time the police finished taking Cole’s statement. He barely kept his emotions at bay when Jarrett embraced him in the hospital lobby.
“Thank you so much! You’re the first person to make it here.” Cole clamped his jaw tight as he swallowed. “I can’t believe you dropped everything to come.”
“Like you haven’t done the same for me, more than once,” Jarrett said, slapping his back as he released him. “Of course I came.”
“She’s finally awake. They’re moving her to a room.”
“Thank God,” said Jarrett.
“Walk with me. I’m headed to that flower shop.” He pointed across the lobby.
“Have you seen her yet?” Jarrett asked.
“Just for a second.” Cole’s chest went tight. “She looks like she’s been in a war zone. This is all my fault. I almost killed her.”
“You know that’s not true.” Jarrett put an arm around his shoulder. “That guy was crazy. Literally. The news reports said he tried to burn down his ex-wife’s house.”
“But I’m the one who exposed her to that. When I think what could’ve happened, I can’t even breathe.”
“I hope this is a wake-up call for you.”
“Believe me, it is.” Cole stopped outside the store. “I’ve been struggling with what this means and what I should do. All I really want is to keep her with me. To never let her out of my sight. But I know I’m being selfish. As long as she’s with me, she’ll be in danger like this. I ought to let her go.”
He started to walk into the store, but Jarrett grabbed Shrek’s elbow and dragged him back, his expression dark. “I know you’ve been through a lot today, but I’m not going to stand by and let you throw away your chance at happiness. It’s time you admit you’re in love with Brooke.”
“I admit it,” Cole fired back, jerking free of his grasp. “Okay? Are you happy? Because I’m not. I’m miserable! I’ve had a great life living above all that. I didn’t need anyone’s love and approval, only my own. I didn’t care who liked me or hated me, except for how it affected our stock prices. But now… Now, I’m a wreck!”
“You have a chance with Brooke. A chance for something real. A chance to build a life together. Maybe your life was easy before, with that stupid one-and-done dating rule, but it was empty.”
“Better empty than agony.” Cole shoved past him and stomped into the gift shop, heading straight to the cooler with a variety of flower arrangements.
“That’s like saying you’d rather be dead than go through chemo to stay alive.”
Leave it to Jarrett to use cancer to make his point. How could he argue against that? Cole gripped the handle of the cooler, staring unseeing at the flowers behind the glass. “I’d gladly go through chemo if I knew for sure it would…” He stopped, realizing Jarrett’s trap.
“That’s right. There’s no way to know for sure. You have to take a chance.”
Cole knew Jarrett was smirking. He could hear it in his voice.
“What if I can’t do it?” Cole glanced around, glad to find the tiny store virtually empty at six thirty. At least there were no shoppers to eavesdrop on their conversation.
“You have to,” Jarrett said, his voice deathly quiet. “You have the chance to be with the woman you love. I never had that chance, and I’m not going to let you throw yours away.”
