Forever (18 page)

There’s still a chance they might have to amputate.”

138

Katy stared at a spot near her feet. She shifted and crossed her arms more tightly than before.

John watched her and wondered what she was thinking. He knew Katy but not that well. The good times rarely showed the character of a person, and maybe here, now, he would learn something about Katy Hart that he hadn’t known before. The news hitting her on every side had to be overwhelming. Was she thinking that she could hardly stay around for a guy with a brain injury or that a one-legged Dayne might be more than she could handle?

Katy looked up then, almost as if she could read his mind. The look in her eyes was rock solid. “I want you to know something.” She glanced from John to Ashley and back. “Whatever happens after this, I’m not leaving.” She pointed toward Dayne’s room. “I love him. I’ve never loved anyone the way I love him. No matter what, I’m not leaving.” Tears choked her voice. “When he wakes up, I’ll be right there. Beside him.”

It was a breaking point, the final drop in a bucketful of gut-wrenching moments. Ashley hugged Katy, and after a few seconds John joined in. They stayed that way for a long time, lending each other strength, silently begging God for a miracle that seemed all but impossible.

The day wasn’t over, and already John knew so much more than he’d known this morning in Bloomington. He knew that he cared for Dayne the same way he cared for any of his kids and that his family would rally around the young man as if they’d known him their whole lives. He’d received confirmation about that from everyone-everyone except Luke. And that was only because Luke was distracted.

Beyond that, John now knew more about the battle they were facing in seeing Dayne restored to health. But most of all, he knew the impeccable character of the young woman who had pledged her life to his older son.

A woman named Katy Hart.

139

KATY SAT in the hospital room alone with Dayne, where she had been almost constantly since she arrived. It was Tuesday afternoon, three days after the accident, and still she’d received no reports about the swelling and whether it had slowed or stopped. No matter how optimistic Ashley was, Katy had heard the truth in John Baxter’s words. For a person with a traumatic brain injury, the first three days were the most critical. Life hung in the balance.

They’d passed that first tenuous goal. Three days and Dayne was still alive. She held on to that one fact alone. Katy stared out the window. It was the first week of September; Labor Day had come and gone. A strong wind moved the trees below Dayne’s hospital room, clearing out the fog and smog and making the sky bluer than usual. Ashley and John kept vigil with her most of the time, but they spent the nights at a hotel down the street.

At this moment, John was talking with Dayne’s doctors, and Ashley was getting a sandwich in the cafeteria. Katy wasn’t hungry. The news about the paparazzi was as bad as any of them had

140 expected, though Katyhad been spared by never leaving the intensive-care floor. Ashley and John had been careful to keep most of the details front her, but when she pressed them this morning they’d had to admit that everything they’d feared had

“They know who we are,” Ashley had told her. “Their questions tell the story.

They’re asking if I’m Dayne’s sister and if Dad’s his father. They’ve got it figured out for sure.” Katy sighed. The first tabloid stories would hit in just six days, and after that the frenzied hunt for information on Dayne’s biological family would-at least for some time-become allEven so, Ashley hadn’t seemed concerned. “We knew about this risk when we contacted Dayne. If the world wants to stare at us through a magnifying glass, fine. Nothing will change back

Katy hoped so. The pulse and rhythm of the machines soothed her nerves. She preferred this now-just the sound of the equipment helping Dayne survive, monitoring whatever progress he might be making. She’d stopped watching news reports last night after tuning in to a special about Dayne. The reporter reminded viewers of Dayne’s relationships with several What the special didn’t mention was the baby Dayne had fathered. The one Kelly aborted. Katy had turned the TV off then, and it had stayed off since. In one of their last conversations before the accident, Dayne had mentioned the baby, the way he did every few weeks. The child would’ve been almost three months old.

He followed the dates, and the regret never In the first full day at the hospital, when sleep had been impossible and her mind raced to all sorts of extreme places, Katy had been comforted by the fact that if Dayne didn’t survive, he would have the chance to see his baby in heaven. To hold him

had been spare hley and John h n her, but er admit that every are,” Ashley al yre

asking if ‘ e got it figured c st

tabloid stone renzie

hunt for 1-at least for sl

seemed cone( Jed Dayne If th, ,g glass, fine. Nc same Baxter fan pulse and : preferred this Dayne survive making. She’d s unin in to a sr ers

of Dane re lding Kelly Pa i mention y aborted. Katy off since. In on it, Dayne had n veeks.

The chik ollowe

the datt at the hospital -id raced to all

d by the fact that ze

to see his baby

indeed happened.

consuming.

home. We’ll still be the same Baxter fannly.”

of his leading ladies, inKelly Parker.

quite went away.

141

or her the way he never had the chance to on earth. Imagining that brought quiet rivers of tears, and for a few minutes it almost seemed like a good thing that God would release Dayne from the bonds of earth and allow him to meet his child.

Then her mind had veered in the other direction. The unborn baby was safe now, in that special place in heaven for all children who never had the chance to live. The baby didn’t need Dayne. Not when Katy wanted to spend an entire lifetime with him. They were supposed to marry and have a houseful of children.

But Dayne had to live first. He had to find his way back to daylight and to everything that had made him who he was.

The back of the chair felt hard against Katy’s spine. She shifted and turned toward Dayne. The swelling in his face was almost entirely gone. Maybe the same was true for his brain. She let her eyes travel down the thick bedsheets to where his leg was still heavily bandaged.

She wouldn’t leave him, no matter what. She’d told John Baxter that, and she’d meant every word. But in the darkest moments, when it was just Dayne and her alone in the hospital room, the future loomed like a black hole. A brain-damaged Dayne Matthews? Struggling day to day with only one leg?

She shuddered at the thought, but before she could ask God for strength, beg Him for a positive mind-set, there was a knock at the door. “Yes?”

The door opened and John and Ashley came in. Both of them were smiling, and Ashley had tears in her eyes.

John reached out and took Katy’s hand. “I have good news.”

Katy sucked in a quick breath. “Really?” For three days she hadn’t heard those words in the same sentence. A rush of heat filled her veins, and she squeezed John’s hand. “Tell me. Please.”

John smiled, but his chin quivered and it was clear he was fighting to find his voice. Finally he cleared his throat and shook his head. “I didn’t think we’d see this day.”

Ashley took the place on the other side of her father. “The 142

infection in his leg’s turned a corner.” Her voice cracked, and she put her fingers to her lips. “They won’t have to amputate.”

Time seemed to stop. “Thank You, God… . Thank You.” Katy’s whispered prayer came instantly, instinctively. Whatever lay ahead for the two of them, Dayne would have his legs. She looked at John. ‘You just found out?”

“Yes.” He leaned over and hugged her shoulders. “There’s more.”

A dizzy sense of elation wrapped its arms around her. “More?” “The tests they did this morning show the swelling has stopped and is already receding at a rapid rate.”

“So …” She held her breath, waiting.

“He’s going to make it, Katy. He’s going to live.”

“I told you.” Ashley put her hand on Katy’s shoulder. She was crying openly now.

“God has plans for the two of you. For all of us.”

Katy couldn’t have stood if she wanted to. She breathed more thanks to God and then voiced the only question that remained. “His brain?”

John’s smile faded some. “They’re not sure. Tests show much less damage than they originally thought, but his coma is still at the most severe level.” He took a step closer to his son and rested his hand on the bed rail. “It’s imperative that he come out of the coma soon.”

Katy understood. John didn’t want to say that a lengthy coma could have serious ramifications for Dayne or that the longer the coma, the more serious his brain injury. They’d been told many times that Dayne might be able to hear them, so John was doing what he ought to do. He was presenting the facts in the most positive way possible.

Dayne needed to wake up. Period.

Even so, if the tests couldn’t see the serious damage Dayne’s doctor had feared, then there was reason to celebrate. Already God had worked the impossible.

143

Katy stood and hugged Ashley first, then John. “This is what we’ve been praying for.”

“Yes.” John took hold of one of her hands. “It’s as much as we could’ve dared hope for at this point.”

The look in John’s eyes told Katy that they easily could’ve been talking about a funeral, and even if Dayne kept his leg and his life, he was not in the clear yet. Not until they understood the extent of his brain injury.

Katy tried to get a handle on everything she was feeling. “You and Ashley are leaving today, right?”

“In a few hours.” Ashley directed Katy to sit back down. Then she pulled up a chair. “We need to talk.” She sniffed. Her eyes were dry now, though her cheeks were still tearstained.

John took a few steps back and pointed to the door. “I want to meet with Dr.

Deming again. I’ll be out there if you need me.”

When he was gone, Ashley’s face filled with sincerity. “You’re staying?”

“Yes.” Katy looked at Dayne and her heart swelled. He was going to survive. More than that, he was going to recover. This was only the beginning. She turned back to her friend. “I won’t leave until he’s okay. However long that takes.”

Ashley frowned. “You can’t stay here, Katy. You look like a wreck.” She surveyed the room. “You’re spending the nights here, in the chair?”

“It reclines.” She patted the arms. “The nurses bring me pillows and blankets.”

“But that’s not real sleep.”

Katy nodded. She’d thought about this, even though it hurt. “If he doesn’t . .

.” She stopped herself. “If we’re here much longer, I’ll start spending nights at a hotel.”

Ashley looked torn. “I’d stay if I could. You know that.”

“Of course.” She sat up straighter. This was her job, her watch. No one could do it but her. “You have Landon and the kids. I can’t believe you stayed this long.”

142

infection in his leg’s turned a corner.” Her voice crackc(I she put her fingers to her lips. “They won’t have to amptil .1 1, Time seemed to stop. “Thank You, God… . Thank 1 Katy’s whispered prayer came instantly, instinctively. W11.11, lay ahead for the two of them, Dayne would have his leg,, looked at John. “You just found out?”

“Yes.” He leaned over and hugged her shoulders. ““I 1, more.”

A dizzy sense of elation wrapped its arms around her. “Moi “The tests they did this morning show the swelling 113 stopped and is already receding at a rapid rate.”

“So …” She held her breath, waiting.

“He’s going to make it, Katy. He’s going to live.”

“I told you.” Ashley put her hand on Katy’s shoulder. She \ crying openly now.

“God has plans for the two of you. For it I I us.”

Katy couldn’t have stood if she wanted to. She breathed Inv!, thanks to God and then voiced the only question that remain I “His brain?”

John’s smile faded some. “They’re not sure. Tests show nit less damage than they originally thought, but his coma is still 3 the most severe level.” He took a step closer to his son and rest his hand on the bed rail. “It’s imperative that he come out ol coma soon.”

Katy understood. John didn’t want to say that a lengthy con’ could have serious ramifications for Dayne or that the longer coma, the more serious his brain injury. They’d been told mail times that Dayne might be able to hear them, so John was doiii what he ought to do. He was presenting the facts in the nu), positive way possible.

Dayne needed to wake up. Period.

Even so, if the tests couldn’t see the serious damage Daync doctor had feared, then there was reason to celebrate. Alread God had worked the impossible.

143

kitty stood and hugged Ashley first, then John. “This is what ‘we been praying for.”

es.” John took hold of one of her hands. “It’s as much as we ld’ve dared hope for at this point.”

the look in John’s eyes told Katy that they easily could’ve n talking about a funeral, and even if Dayne kept his leg and lite, he was not in the clear yet.

Not until they understood the tit of his brain injury.

Katy tried to get a handle on everything she was feeling. “You Ashley are leaving today, right?”

“In a few hours.” Ashley directed Katy to sit back down. Then pulled up a chair.

“We need to talk.” She sniffed. Her eyes

r dry now, though her cheeks were still tearstained.

John took a few steps back and pointed to the door. “I want to t with Dr. Deming again. I’ll be out there if you need me.” When he was gone, Ashley’s face filled with sincerity. “You’re mg?”

“Yes.” Katy looked at Dayne and her heart swelled. He was ng to survive. More than that, he was going to recover. This only the beginning. She turned back to her friend. “I won’t ye until he’s okay. However long that takes.”

Ashley frowned. “You can’t stay here, Katy. You look like a ck.” She surveyed the room. “You’re spending the nights re, in the chair?”

it reclines.” She patted the arms. “The nurses bring me pils and blankets.”

“But that’s not real sleep.”