“Shh…honey, calm down. Garrett is going to be okay.”
I couldn’t even talk. I was crying so hard. When
I finally settled down, Julia had me sit on the sofa. I glanced up to see my mother walking up, and she took a seat on the other side of me.
She grabbed my hand and gave me a weak smile.
Why do I get the feeling they are about to tell me something very bad? “You’re all scaring me,” I whispered.
My father bent down. “No, sweetheart. I promise you, he is okay. Now, I need you to listen carefully. Garrett does have some serious injuries, so he will be in the hospital for a while.”
I slowly nodded my head. “Tell me, Daddy.”
My father took a deep breath and glanced up. David was standing on the other side of the waiting room with a battered and bruised Billy.
When my father started talking again, I looked into his eyes and held my breath.
“Garrett has four broken ribs. His right arm is broken—”
A loud sob escaped my mouth, and my mother squeezed my hand.
“And his left leg is broken as well. He has stitches across his forehead from where the bat hit him.”
I let out a gasp. “Bat? He was hit by a bat?”
My father nodded his head. “Yes, Billy said it was a bat they used to hit Garrett. Emma, we’re going to have to cancel the wedding. There is no way Garrett will recover in a month.”
My mouth dropped open, and I shook my head. “No, Daddy, no. We’ve been waiting for so long to get married and start our lives together. This isn’t fair!” I shouted.
“I know, sweetheart. Believe me, I know. Garrett is going to have a long recovery ahead of him, and he will need your help,” my father said.
I sat up straighter and squared off my shoulders. “I’ll do whatever it takes, but I’m not putting off my marriage to Garrett for another second. The justice of the peace can marry us, and then once Garrett has recovered, we will have the wedding.” I held my breath and waited for the four of them to start arguing with me.
My father smiled. “Garrett said the same thing.”
I jumped up. “He’s awake? Daddy, I want to see him right now! Why didn’t you tell me he was awake? I need to see him right away.”
My father stood up and placed his hands on my shoulders. “You will, Emma, but Garrett wanted you to understand how serious his injuries are before you go in to see him.”
Julia stood up and turned me toward her. “I’m not surprised at all that the both of you would say the same thing. Your mother and I will take care of getting the justice of the peace up here. Garrett has asked that the two of you be married as soon as possible.”
I gave her a confused look.
“Emma Rose, they won’t let you stay with him in the room unless you’re married,” my mother said.
“Oh…well then, yes. What do we have to do?”
My mother smiled and said, “You’ve already applied for the marriage license, so that is taken care of. Don’t worry. We’ll take care of the rest. Now, I need you to take a deep breath and prepare yourself for what you are about to see.”
I looked at Billy and then at my father. “Does he look worse than Billy?”
“Thanks, Emma,” Billy said with a chuckle.
My father nodded his head. “Yes.”
I took in a few deep breaths. “I’m ready.”
We began walking, and I got a glimpse of Margie.