More of Gabby’s cousins and another aunt have shown. The group is huge. Her aunts jump up and get to the doctor first.
Realizing he has such a large audience, the doctor starts informing everyone on her condition. “Gabrielle has a concussion and severe bruising to her ribcage. We didn’t find any fractures, but they don’t always show on the scans and the treatment is the same if she has a fracture or just bruising. She’s got a good bump on the back of her head and at the temple. We don’t see any signs of internal bleeding or damage to any organs. I’d like to keep her overnight, observe her because of the concussion and make sure she doesn’t present with any signs of internal damage. All in all, for what she experienced, she’s lucky her injuries aren’t more substantial and should make a full recovery. She’ll need time and rest to heal.”
“I want to see her,” Lizzie demands.
The doctor looks over her shoulder at Gabby’s massive family and warns, “Just a couple at a time, we’ll move her to a room shortly. She’ll be drowsy because of the medication we’ve given her for the pain. She’s going to have one heck of a headache, so she’ll need quiet and rest.”
Lizzie, Tia, and Emma forge through the doors to get to their niece. I want to take them all down to get to her myself. I need to see her. But I’ve only known her for five fucking days.
Feeling a hand on my shoulder, I turn around to see Tony and he says in a low voice, “I’ll make sure you get in there soon.” I don’t know what my body language is saying, but clearly, he could tell that I need to get to her. All I can do is lift my head in appreciation and move to the wall, waiting for her aunts to come back out.
As I stand here waiting for what feels like a year, Gino walks up to me and announces, “Jude, I need a word.”
I see him taking me in, looking for something. What, I don’t know. Finally, he crosses his arms and starts. “Gabby’s a strong girl. She gets that from her mother. Meredith was a tiny little thing, but no weakling, that’s for sure. Gabby was strong like her mom until she lost her parents. Don’t get me wrong, she’s still a spitfire, but even though she has all of us, she doesn’t have siblings, so she couldn’t help but feel alone when she lost her family. She puts on a good front, but every one of us can see she’s been going through the motions, holding herself back. That fuckwad, James, broke her heart when she was already broken and, although we’re happy as hell he’s gone, we hated to see her experience that even though she downplayed it at the time. Now, you’ve barely been around a week and don’t get me wrong, you seem like a decent guy. We can all tell there’s something going on between you and my niece. I’d normally never ask this, but with what’s happened today, we have to do everything we can to protect her from every angle. I think you being here now means something, but I’m gonna say it anyway. If you don’t have a true interest in my niece, you need to get going. But, if you think there’s something to you and Gabby and you plan on sticking around to see it out, then you’re welcome to stay. Now’s the time for you to make that choice. And once you choose, son, you’d better damn well stick to it.”
Shit. I know he’s her uncle. I know they’re her family, they’ve had her forever and are more than protective after losing her parents. I know they don’t know me. I know he has every right to say what he just said. But that fucking pisses me off. She’s only been mine for five days and that’s exactly what she is as of right now. Mine.
I pull in a breath to calm myself. “You’re right. I’m here and that means something. I’m not going anywhere and if she lets me, I’ll see her through this.” That’s all he’s getting from me. I’m afraid to say anything else, showing him just how much he’s pissed me off.
Gino stares at me a beat before lifting his head once and says on an exhale, “All right,” turning to look back to his brothers decisively. “Jude needs to get in to see Gabby, get the women out.”
As Tony and I walk back into the ER bays, we hear her aunts talking softly. When I pull back the curtain to walk through, Gabby’s laying there asleep. Her right temple has a large bump and the bruising is seeping out to the side of her eye. Thinking how hard he must’ve hit her makes my stomach turn. She’s in a hospital gown, hooked up to an IV and I hear the beeping of the machines monitoring her heart and oxygen. Her three aunts are standing sentry around her bed. I move to the foot with Tony next to me.
Tony, gently does what he needs to do to remove his mom and aunts from the room. “Dad wanted me to tell you that you’re needed in the waiting room. Jude and I’ll stay with her.”
“I’m not leaving, Tony. You can tell your dad—” Lizzie starts but Tony interrupts her.
“Other people need to see her, too. She’s not going anywhere—she’ll be here all night. There’re probably things you can do for Gabby at home. Someone’s gonna have to keep Mia tonight and make sure she’s set when she gets home tomorrow. You can work on that.”
Sighing, Lizzie gives in. “I’m sure Lanny and Sophia will take Mia—I’ll arrange it. We should get to her house, clean it, and start making her some dinners or something.” She looks up at her sisters-in-law. “What do you think?”
Emma and Tia both agree. All three women take turns leaning down to gently kiss their niece on the head and say their goodbyes. I move to the side of her bed and without taking my eyes off Gabby, say to Tony, “Thanks.”
“Sure.”
I pull up a little round swivel stool, lift up her hand and turn it over in mine. Scrapes and bright pink scuffs mar her palms that’re usually smooth and soft.
“Fuck. I didn’t do enough,” I say.
“It’s not your fault, Jude. You’ve gotta let that go.”
“I didn’t want her to go out alone today. She talked me into one store. One store was all it took and she was vulnerable.”
“Gabby can be persistent and usually doesn’t have a problem getting what she wants. She was the same way with her dad. Shit, she’s that way with all of us. She can be hard to deny. You’re new to her charms, Jude. No one can blame you for giving in to her.” His tone is a mix of frustration and resignation.
“I should’ve stuck with my gut about her going out.” Looking up at him, I add, “But that’s good to know. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Good luck with that,” Tony responds sarcastically.
A nurse comes in and starts directing us. “We’re ready to move her. Her things are on the counter in a bag. If you could grab those and follow me, we just had a private room come open. She should be able to go home tomorrow.”
Tony leaves to tell his family she’s moving and her room number. As the nurse starts clipping all her medical lines to the bed and making some noise, Gabby stirs. Turning her head and barely opens her eyes, I lean down close to her face, placing my hand on the uninjured side of her head. “Hey sugar. You’re safe. You’re going to be okay.”
“Jude?”
“Yeah, baby, right here.”
She looks at me and when I gently take her hand in mine, her eyes fill with tears. Seeing that look on her face and tears in her eyes for the first time, cuts through me. I want to pick her up and hold her at the same time put my foot through another wall.