He just grunts in response, and I say goodbye to him and Tulips, who curls up on the rug before I head back to the hospital.
I’m impatiently waitingfor Parker to be brought back into the room while Jackie and I chat trying to stay distracted. I try my best to not blurt out everything, but when I’m nervous it gets so much worse. I’ve already told her about the rubber duck obsessed man my college roommate had a crazy night with.
Now I’ve moved onto the animals I would hug if I could.
“I’m just saying if a manatee comes up to me, I’m touching it,” I insist. “If that’s what puts me in jail, then lock me up, I guess.”
She chuckles just as the door opens and Parker is being wheeled in on the hospital bed. I see the doctor walking in, following the techs that are pushing the bed.
“Things look better than we thought,” the doctor starts and I’m glad I was…aggressive at the beginning that I didn’t want to be spoken to like an idiot. “As you know he had some significant swelling and we were concerned about internal bleeding. The swelling has gone down, and internally he seems as okay as he can considering the trauma he sustained.”
“Has he woken up more?” Jackie asks.
“He’s made some noises, but hasn’t opened his eyes yet,” the doctor says.
I nod. “Thank you.”
After everyone leaves, I go back to Parker’s side, taking his hand in mine and hoping it will somehow jolt him awake or something. I squeeze his hand, but this time he doesn’t give me a reaction and my shoulders deflate.
Jackie must notice because she puts her hands on my shoulders. “He’s going to be okay, Lily. My son is so strong. You and I both know how much he hates having to be still. I bet he’s screaming in his mind to get him out of this bed.”
I let out a soft laugh as I think about that because she’s probably right. He’s going to wake up soon. I know it.
The rest of the day is uneventful; Jackie goes home to go to sleep because I insist. Then, I’m crawling into Parker’s bed, curling into his side and hoping that when I wake up, he’s going to be waking up with me. I would like another birthday wish because I would be wishing for Parker to wake up with me.
I’m not sure how long I was asleep before I hear my name. Unlike last night where it was a mumble, this is clearer.
“Lil.”
I peel my eyes open; the room is mostly dark, but there’s aglow from under the door and the machines. He says my name again, and I turn to look at Parker and am met with the greatest sight ever. His blue eyes open, just barely, but they’re looking at me. And he’s talking.
“Parker.” I turn quickly, throwing myself on him, careful not to press all my weight onto him because he’s still injured. My face is wet with tears I can’t control while I sob into his shoulder.
I feel his arms wrap around me lightly, and I don’t want him to hurt himself. I pull back to tell him that, but his eyes are even more open, and I just can’t hold back anymore.
“Parker, we’re going to have a baby.”
He looks confused for a second like he’s processing what I just said, then he opens his mouth. His voice is deeper than usual and sounds like it hurts to talk. “Really?”
I nod aggressively. “Yeah, and I was so scared you—” I can’t even finish the darkest thoughts I had over these last few days.
He holds me even tighter; it seems like he’s using all his strength, but we both need this. “I’m not going anywhere, Lil.”
CHAPTER 48
Parker
My entire body hurts.I didn’t think my eyelids could hurt, but even prying them open is painful. I can feel Lily next to me, and that’s the only positive I can feel right now. I’ve hardly been aware of my surroundings for I don’t know how long, but I’ve always felt her here with me. I haven’t been able to move or say much, but I’ve heard her, felt her. I always can feel her.
Finally getting to see her feels amazing, and despite all the pain in my body, I relax at the sight. My throat feels like I’m speaking through razor blades as I croak her name. She shoots up. I hold back a grunt as she throws herself onto me. It takes all my strength to hug her to me. I don’t want her to move. I don’t care if it hurts. I want to hold her.
She moves back to look at me, and I want to haul her back into me, but I don’t have that much strength back yet. My arms feel like Jell-O. She’s looking at me with red rimmed eyes and tears on her cheek.
Then she speaks, and it’s not what I was expecting at all. “Parker, we’re going to have a baby.”
I’m hallucinating. Or still stuck in my mind; I haven’t been dreaming, but maybe I am now.
I push through to speak again. “Really?”