I slide the glass door back and take a deep breath. I can't fight the tears. They flood my face, and my legs feel so heavy I can't pick them up to walk. I hit my knees and the side of the bed and place my hand on her thigh. I can't lose her when I just found her. I just got her here with me. The door slides open, and a nurse rounds the bed.
"Is she going to be okay?" I blurt.
"She's fortunate. She has a broken wrist and a serious concussion, but luckily there is no swelling in the brain. She's very bruised up, mostly from the airbag. Upon impact her left hand was pushed from the wheel and into the window. It was pinned under the car, and they had a hard time getting her out, so she lost a lot of blood. The break was severe and required surgery, we aren't sure what the outcome will be yet, but we tried to save her hand. Now is just a waiting game for her to wake up, but her vitals are stable, and we expect her to be okay." The nurse pushes medicine into her IV.
"So, are you saying she might not be able to move her hand?"
"We aren't sure. The damage was severe. The trauma surgeon on call said it would be a waiting game. The nerve and muscle damage is pretty significant." I can feel my heart sink, and I am so pissed that I wasn't here to protect her. The nurse turns to exit the room tossing her gloves into the trashcan. They have her arm wrapped up, so I can't see it. Her face looks pretty normal except for a gash and some stitches above her left eyebrow, nearly in her hairline. I rub my thumb back and forth on her thigh and say a silent prayer that she will wake up soon and know that I am here. I hear a woman's voice outside the room and then the sound of high heels. A small petite woman pulls the door open and runs toward the bed.
"Jesus, Blakely. Oh my goodness, honey, what happened?" She pushes Blake's hair behind her ears and plants a kiss on her forehead. Her long auburn hair swings down her back, and she turns to me with familiar green eyes.
"Are you the doctor? Is she okay?" Holy shit, this is not how I expected to meet her mom.
"No, I'm Judson. Blake's… friend." I kind of ramble on nervously. "They think she will be fine when she wakes up, her wrist is broken, and they aren't sure how the recovery will be for that, but they said she's very lucky."
"Her car is totaled, the police called me. The driver that hit her didn't make it. I came here half expecting the worst." She sobs and pulls out her cell phone.
"Jason, I'm here. She is going to be okay. They are waiting for her to wake up. She is pretty banged up. It'll probably be a few days before I can head back. I'll call you when I know more." She quickly hangs up and looks at me.
"So you are Judson, huh?" She places her hand on her hip. Blake hasn't said much about her mom.
"In the flesh." I snap back, walking closer to Blake, praying that she picks this exact moment to wake up.
"I'm Reese, Blakely's mother. Cami mentioned you might be the reason for this sudden move to Savannah." She flips her hair over her shoulder. I can tell she is awaiting my response. I look down at Blake, and my response isn't fast enough to suit her.
"Listen, I don't know what your intentions are with my daughter but don't you think you should quit stringing her along and let her go home."
"I don't think she wants to go back to Tennessee." I try to remain calm and composed, but I'm so protective of her. I'm not sure how long it will last.
"She doesn't know what she wants. That is the problem. She never knows what she wants." She rolls her eyes and sits in the chair next to the hospital bed with her legs crossed.
"Have you ever asked her what she wants, or do you just expect to decide for her?" Shit. I knew it wouldn't last long.
She doesn't respond to me or even acknowledge that I've said anything at all. She crosses her legs and smooths out her perfect pencil skirt. She looks a little bit like a Stepford Wife. Her pink blouse is tucked in, and her hair is waved and smoothed perfectly. Just when I think she will ignore my comment and let it go, she turns to me.
"So when is Blakely coming home?" If her eyes could cut me right now, I would be bleeding out.
"She hasn't mentioned going home, not once." She rolls her eyes at me.
"I'm sorry we had to meet like this. I was hoping Blake would decide to introduce us at some point." Genuinely I am, even though she seems like a bitch. I am trying my best to lighten the mood.
"It's not ideal." She admits. "So where did you meet my daughter?"
"I own the beach house she rented. I was staying next door at another one of our properties in town for meetings."
"Why do you want her to live here in Savannah with you if you're just friends?" She gets me on that question because I'm not really sure how to respond.
"Blakely got a job and applied to art school, so I don't think I am the reason she is staying."
This may be true, but deep down, I hope part of her is staying for me.
"She is living in your house, though, isn't she?" She is like a damn detective. She keeps throwing all of these questions at me like I'm under the spotlight about to be locked up for life.
"Yes, she is. I don't have her tied up in the basement though, she can leave whenever she wants. I have real estate all over Savannah, so she has options."
"Well, I expect she thinks she likes you if she is still hanging around." Suddenly I get it, why she has this need to please everyone in her life. Her mother seems like she would never be satisfied, no matter what Blake did.
"Do you know what happened with the baby? She won't talk to me about it."