Love, Exes, and Ohs (Cactus Creek #4)(37)

She looked pretty banged up.

But she managed a big smile for Blake, before pulling him into a one-armed hug. That was all it took for Blake to sag with relief and finally break down into tears.

Xoey watched Darcy’s eyes tear up as well as she made soothing sounds and stroked his back in comfort. “I’m fine, baby. Mommy’s just fine.”

While Blake undoubtedly had no idea that patients didn’t normally wear bright knit caps post-surgery, Xoey knew what that likely meant. She went over to whisper quietly in Vivian’s ear. “Did she suffer brain injuries as well?”

Vivian’s shaken nod was an arrow to Xoey’s heart. “Brain and spine. They still don’t know the extent of it. She’s being stubborn and holding off on the pain meds for now so she can stay awake for Blake, but the doctors say she’s definitely in excruciating agony.”

Xoey believed it. She could see saw stark, bleak pain streaking across Darcy’s features. The woman looked like she was being tortured.

The abrupt, pleading look following shortly after was all it took for Xoey to step forward and gently pull Blake off of his mom. “B.W., I just realized we forgot the card you made for your mom in the truck.” Behind her back, she slid Isaac the card in question.

Isaac didn’t miss a beat. “You want to come back with me to go grab it, buddy?” he asked as he covertly tucked the card under his jacket. “Then we can stop by the gift shop downstairs on the way back and get some stuffed animals to liven the room up for your mom.”

Blake looked back at Darcy.

“Monkeys and cows if they have ‘em, sweetheart,” she added in a tight voice, smile still tenaciously held in place. “You know those are my favorites.”

Blake, looking wiser than his years, just nodded. “Okay. And I’ll try and find a pig, too.”

“Then it’ll be a party.” Darcy smiled, barely smothering a wince as she reached over to ruffle Blake’s hair. “Love you, buddy.”

She kept the smile firmly on her face until the door slid closed.

The second it did, she gasped and clutched at her side, agonized tears rolling down her face. Vivian had already gone to get a nurse, who came in with Darcy’s surgeon shortly after.

“Darcy,” he called out in a comforting voice, loud enough that she could hear him over her loud, measured breathing. “You were a trooper for your son this morning but I’m going to have to up your pain medication again. Okay? I know you don’t want to sleep while your little boy is here but you need to let your body and brain rest today; the pain isn’t helping you get better.”

More tears of sadness flooded Darcy’s eyes, but she nodded.

Xoey and Vivian watched helplessly as she continued to struggle in torment for a few more minutes until finally a blanket of ease settled over her entire body, and her eyelids dropped closed.

“The injuries to her spine and brain are extensive so I need to keep her heavily sedated,” explained the doctor. “She’d asked to lighten her pain meds so she could talk with her son, but I’m afraid she’ll need to rest for the remainder of today. She’s stable. We still don’t know the extent of the damage her brain has suffered at this point, but we’ll continue to run tests and keep you updated.”

“And the paralysis?” asked Vivian, voice barely more than a shaky whisper.

“So far, we’ve tested her legs and there is, in fact, paralysis in both. But it’s still too soon to tell. She had a lot of internal bleeding from secondary injuries that could be causing temporary paralysis. We just need to give it time.”

Isaac and Blake returned as the doctor made his exit and Xoey quickly took Blake’s hand and helped him arrange the animals on the side table while Vivian fought to compose herself.

“There,” said Xoey. “That way, the animals will be the first thing your mom sees when she wakes up in the morning, which means you’ll be the very first person she thinks of.”

Blake looked back at his sleeping mom and again patted her gently.

“Alrighty, Blake,” Vivian held out her hand from across the room, tears dried and her voice as calm and collected as always. “Your mom needs her rest so we should probably head on home.”

Blake blinked up at Xoey. “Are we going to camp in the living room again?”

Xoey’s throat constricted. “Not tonight buddy. You’re having a sleepover at your cousins’ place for a few days, at least until your mom’s ready to come home.”

“Oh, okay.” Waving first at Xoey and then Isaac, he went over to join his aunt.

The sad, scared look on his face as he looked back at his mom tore at Xoey’s gut.

“Hey,” she said quickly, “I was just telling Isaac that I have some vacation time coming up,” she fibbed. “So do you think we could hang out again this weekend? If you have time that is; I know how fun sleepovers can be.”

In retrospect, she probably should’ve asked Vivian first. But she knew how busy Vivian was on Saturdays, between being a soccer mom and her dental practice. Thankfully, judging by Viv’s appreciative smile, she hadn’t overstepped.

A small smile flickered across Blake’s features.

“And I was just telling Xoey,” fibbed Isaac right back, “that I had some free time as well. I can bring over all my old transformers—there’s some they don’t even make anymore.”