The naughty list chapter 2

I obeyed while he gathered my personal items strewn at my feet. Setting my purse on the table, he helped me stand again. But my legs wobbled, threatening to give out on me. My eyes misted over when he pulled me toward him. His arms tightened around me, and I gasped for breath once more. A single tear escaped when I blinked, the coldness of its trek down my cheek making my lower lip tremble.

“It’s okay to cry, Holly,” his deep voice whispered reassuringly in my ear.

And with those words, I let go. Grasping onto him, I sobbed against his shoulder. Oblivious to everything else around me except his warm embrace and his whispered words of comfort in my ear. It wasn’t until I felt the cold chill of the winter wind against my cheeks that I grasped he’d walked us out of the coffee shop.

He led me toward a beat-up green sedan and helped me into the passenger side. Buckled my seatbelt. Closed my door, cutting off the wind.

I sniffled at the loss of his arms around me. I ran the back of my hand across both eyes, watching Chris walk around the front of the car and slide into the driver’s side. Then we were moving.

“Wait. Where are we going?” I managed, my voice croaky.

“The hospital.”

Yes. Of course. How silly of me.

We were both silent on the ride across town. I was breathing normally by the time he pulled into the lot at St. Margaret’s. But I was unable to get out of the car when he came around to my side and opened the door.

Without a word, Chris unbuckled me and took my arm, helping me stand and walk toward the ER bay. Inside, the lights were so bright, I cringed. He led us up to the front desk and pulled something out of his pocket. I recognized it as the napkin from the coffee shop.

When the nurse behind the counter turned to us, Chris said, “We’re looking for Mr. McGregor. I believe he’s in the ICU? He came in after a car accident?”

The woman glanced between the both of us. “Are you family?”

“Daughter.” I started to say more, but a soft sob escaped, and Chris’s arm around my back tightened.

“Her mom is already here,” he offered.

The nurse nodded. “Elevators are down to the left. Fifth floor. Just follow the signs.”

Then we were moving again. Once the elevator doors closed behind us, Chris turned and pressed my face against his chest. His other arm wrapped around me, his chin resting against my head.

“No matter what happens, I’m right here, Holly.”

“I-I just met you. You don’t have to do this.”

“I want to, okay?”

I nodded. I didn’t have the energy to argue logic with him at the moment. I resolved to just be grateful that he was with me.

As soon as the doors opened again, I stepped out into an alternate reality. I walked beside him, but I wasn’t the one in control of my body. Everything I saw or heard seemed distorted, as though from a distance. After we entered the ICU wing, I gripped Chris’s hand tighter and let him guide me while we followed a nurse down the hall.

We stopped in the doorway of a room, and I shrank back at the sight of my dad in the hospital bed. He was covered in scrapes and already-forming bruises on his face, and he seemed much paler than normal against the white sheets and pillows. Wires and tubes ran from his arms, under his hospital gown, and his mouth and nose to various machines arranged around him. My mom sat in a chair on one side, her arms folded on the side railing of the bed.

“Mrs. McGregor?” the nurse said softly.

When my mom turned her head, she looked like she had aged ten years since I’d seen her two weeks prior. Her pallor matched my dad’s, and her eyes were bloodshot as they met mine. She looked so…fragile.

“Holly?” She rubbed her hand at her forehead and slowly stood, using the railing for support.

“Mom!” I approached her, and we kind of fell into each other, our hug firm but our bodies shaking. “How is he?”

She released me and sat down again, this time using the arms of the chair to aid her. “It’s too soon to tell if there will be any long-term effects. He’s stable, but he’s still in critical condition. He hasn’t woken up, yet, either. The doctor was just in. He said your father’s seatbelt saved his life. The other man wasn’t wearing his and didn’t make it. Another car hit him after he hit your father.”

A strangled cry made its way up my throat. Someone had lost a family member today. I tried not to think that I could lose my dad as well, especially with Christmas so close. The holiday would never be the same for us again if he was gone. Fresh tears clouded my vision, and I resisted the urge to wipe at them. “What can I do, Mom?”

“Just having you here is enough.” Her voice was a little croaky, as though she’d been crying recently, too. She sighed and gave me a sad smile. “Who’s your friend?”

“Oh! Um…”

“Chris, ma’am.” Chris stepped forward and offered his hand, which my mom accepted.

Her smile seemed to brighten a little. “Ma’am. Don’t I feel old now? It’s nice to meet you.”

“I’m sorry about your husband.”

“Thank you, Chris.” My mom held my gaze.