“I left it in my room.” She’d been worried she would be tempted to make a call before she’d thought things through. She turned away from the truck, but Liam caught her hand, pulling her back.
“If anyone needs to reach you, they can call me,” he said, helping her into the truck and fastening her seat belt. “I’m not leaving you, Katie.”
DAYS LATER AS fall started to take hold, Josh had still not opened his eyes. He was breathing on his own. They ran tests that showed signs of brain activity. The doctors debated how to classify his vegetative state. Sometimes he responded to stimulus, but most of the time he didn’t move. By day seven, it became clear that the doctors here did not have all the answers. And there was nothing to do but wait.
Staring out the window of the cafeteria, Katie realized she’d spent twelve to sixteen hours a day at the hospital since Liam rushed her over. He cared for her all week, managing her animals and her life so that she could be here with Josh. He’d stepped up and helped her brothers, finding drivers to cover shifts and speaking with the mills regarding deliveries.
For the last week, Liam had put her family first. She’d never needed someone so much. And he’d been there, every step of
the way.
“Katie? Can we join you?”
She turned away from the window at the sound of her oldest brother’s voice. Brody and Chad carried a tray with three cups of coffee and a selection of cellophane-wrapped muffins.
“Here.” Chad set a muffin in front of her. “You need to eat.”
Katie reached for a cup of coffee. “Have the doctors finished their rounds yet? Liam dropped me off this morning, but when I went to Josh’s room, they kicked me out for rounds.”
“Yeah, they’re done. I spoke with them. There is no change,” Brody said. “But they are talking about bringing in a specialist from either New York City or Dallas. Someone more experienced with traumatic brain injuries. They said that could take weeks.”
“Weeks. But won’t he be awake by then?”
“Maybe,” Chad said. “They don’t know. The doctors are labeling Josh’s condition a persistent vegetative state. There is no timeline. Trust me, I’ve asked every nurse for more information. No one seems to know a damn thing.”
“What do we do?” she asked. “Just go back to our lives and wait?”
“Yes.” Chad said. “We can take shifts here, but staying at his bedside 24/7 is not helping anyone. You look like you haven’t eaten a real meal since the accident, sis.”
“We also need to discuss the deal with Moore Timber.” Brody sipped his coffee and nodded to the pile of papers to her right. “Eric is pushing for an answer. Frankly, I think it is because he knows we need money to cover Josh’s expenses. Insurance doesn’t cover everything. Not even close.”
“Sign the contracts,” Katie said firmly. She pushed the pile of papers across the table and offered her brothers a pen. “I want to work for Moore Timber. I’ve already called Carol at Montana’s Safe Haven and let her know I can’t take the job. I’m not leaving Independence Falls.”
Her goals had shifted and changed. Josh’s accident was part of it, but she’d made the choice before that, while lying under the fir trees. She’d chosen to rewrite her future. Sitting here, staring out the hospital window, she’d realized that Liam had been right. She couldn’t escape her memories by moving to another state. Her life was here. Her family was here. Life was too short to waste chasing dreams somewhere else when happiness and love were right in front of her.
“And Liam?” Brody asked.
“I’m not leaving him either.” She stood, taking the cellophane-wrapped muffin with her. “Call me if anything changes?”
Brody nodded. “Go get him.”
“We’ll stay away,” Chad added. “Promise.”
Katie drove to the Moore Timber offices and marched past reception down to Liam’s undecorated office, clutching the signed papers. She found him staring at his computer.
“Hey,” she said.
He looked up. “Hi. Everything OK? How’s Josh?”
“No changes.” She stepped into the office and closed the door. “But I brought you these.”
“The contracts?” he said, pushing back from his desk and taking the documents.
Katie nodded as he rose from his chair, tossing the papers on his mostly cleared desk.
“You’re staying?”
“I am,” she said. “But not because we need the money or for my brothers. I’m not giving up on us. Not this time.”