Edward and Josh are placed in the ambulance, and I follow in his car. My mind is numb with worry for their wellbeing and I'm shaking like a leaf.
I rush through the entrance to the ER, they've already been admitted.
Edward is beside himself and refusing medical treatment. He hops up off the gurney and rushes to Josh's side. The medical staff is trying to convince him to be examined, but he's giving them hell.
I feel helpless and watch in disbelief. The day started off so wonderfully, and in a blink of an eye it's turned into this tragedy.
"Doctor Masen, you have to let us examine you. You're injured," a nurse tries to reason with him, he brushes her away peremptorily. He won't let anyone check his injuries or touch Josh. He manages to wrestle a stethoscope away from her to examine Josh himself.
"His vitals sound good, but I want an EKG and CT scan done immediately."
"Doctor Masen, you can't…"
"Don't tell me what I can or cannot do! This is my nephew and I'm overseeing his case! Do you understand me, Jessica?" he snaps. She nods and quickly moves out of his way.
"The hell you are, Masen. Out of the way." Mike Newton moves up behind Edward. "Go and get yourself checked out. I'll take care of your nephew."
"I'm fine, and you're not touching him, Newton." Edward snarls.
"Suit yourself. Don't get checked out and collapse from internal bleeding later, but you are NOT tending to this patient, and I don't have tell you the reasons you're not. You want to do something…. call his parents."
He shoves past Edward and gets to work on Josh. Edward looks on helplessly, while a team of medical staff circle Josh.
My heart breaks at the air of desolation that hangs over him. I rush to his side, but he doesn't respond to my presence. I gently touch his arm.
"He's going to be all right."
"He has a head injury" he says tonelessly, and I swallow hard.
"Kids are resilient, Edward."
"He's five years old, Bella." He jerks around and practically glares at me. "Five!"
I flinch at the harshness of his tone, and he doubles over, choking.
"You have to have allow yourself to be examined, Edward. God only knows how badly you're hurt." I stoop down by his side and try get him move to an examination room. His coughing quietens, and he reluctantly allows me to help him. He looks back to where the medical staff is relentlessly working on Josh, but can't see much from the position we're in. He relents and enters an exam room.
While Edward and I wait, he pulls out his phone, stares at it dully for moments before making the call. "Jasper…. where's Alice?" His voice breaks. I squeeze his hand tightly, and he gently squeezes mine in return.
"You both need to get to the hospital now. It's Josh."
.
.
.
Other than severe bruising, Edward has been cleared. He paces the waiting area like a caged lion, and keeps dashing over to try and get information on Josh. After an interminable wait, Mike Newton reappears.
"How is he?" He asks impatiently, before he can reach us.
He sighs and runs a hand through his short hair. "It's not looking good right now. He's lost an awful lot of blood, and he's unresponsive."
"Are you telling me that my nephew's in a coma?" Edward's voice breaks.
I let out a soft, horrified gasp.
"Have you called his parents, Edward?"
"Answer me, Mike. Is Josh in a coma?"
"He's unconscious, and he needs immediate surgery for us to relieve the pressure on his brain. They need to get here right away, if not you're going to have to give consent." He goes back to Josh.
"Mike…. Mike! You better save him, you bastard!" Edward stalks behind him, and I reach out to grab him.
"Edward, stop it!" I whisper.
"I need to see him. He's just a little boy. He needs…." His pacing becomes even more frantic, and he flexes his right hand repeatedly. It's can't be an injury, he's been thoroughly checked. I think that it's a coping mechanism for him, an attempt to relieve his stress.
The sight of Josh's parents, racing toward us brings him to an abrupt halt.
"Edward! Where's Josh! What happened?"
She shouts at him, clutching at his shirtfront, practically shaking him.
"Alice…. he's…"
"What happened? Where is he?" Josh's father touches his wife's arm, pulling her into his side.
"There was an accident. He…c…." Edward erupts into another coughing fit, unable to answer.
"We were at the park and a car came out of nowhere and… "
"He was hit by a car?" She cuts across me, and tugs at Edward again and then turns to me.
"I didn't see exactly what happened, but I think that Edward tried to shield Josh, and…"
"I don't even know who the hell you are…" she dismisses me. Where's Josh, Edward? Where is he?" She bursts into tears.
Edward finally recovers enough to speak. He pulls them aside and quietly converses with them. His sister, lets out a loud anguished wail, her husband's face turns even more ashen. The expression on Edward's face is indescribable… remorse, anger, pain, worry. He leads them to Josh.
I remain rooted to the spot, castigating myself for interfering in a family matter, especially under such delicate circumstances.
Josh's mother nearly collapses at the sight of her son. She clings to the rails of his bed, then somehow, through all the equipment that he's hooked up to, she lovingly touches his little face. Tears stream down my cheeks as I watch on helplessly.
His bed still surrounded by nursing staff is being moved, probably to the O.R. Edward and Josh's mother walk beside the bed, and his father is led away by one of the triage nurses, I assume to sign whatever documents he needs to consent to the surgery.
I catch a glimpse of his lifeless-looking little body, and a loud sob, reflexively emanates from my throat. His head is bandaged and there are tubes connected to almost every part of his body.
I silently plead with God for this child to be alright and to watch over his family.
They reach the point where his mother cannot follow her son, and she lets out an agonized scream and turns on Edward. She pounds on his bruised chest repeatedly; he makes no move to stop her. She exhausts herself and finally collapses into his arms.
.
.
.
Considerable time has passed, and I'm finally giving a statement to the police, but they're really urging to speak with Edward. I explain the situation about Josh, and the understanding female officer suggests that her and her colleague have a cup of coffee in the cafeteria and return in a little while.
I finally take a seat in the waiting room. Now that I have nothing else to focus on, the horrific events flash through my mind like I an endless loop, going round and round. I picture the car, but I don't see the driver or the make or registration. I'm frustrated that I cannot remember one helpful detail. The vision of Edward and Josh's bodies on the ground, however, is sharp and remains as frightening in the replay as it did at the time.
I bury my head in my hands. I want so badly to go to Edward, but I know that I need to keep my distance, however I cannot find it in myself to leave.
I walk up to the nurses' station.
"Excuse me. Is there a chapel on the premises?"
"Yes, there is. Just walk to the end of the hall and take a right."
I pass several rows before I take a seat on the hard pew.
I prayed regularly as a child, my mom made sure that I did, and as an adult, I've invoked God's name in anger, frustration and even joy. I've called on him to help me out of inane situations, most of my own making. But for this, something of such great import, where the life a beautiful and innocent little boy hangs in the balance…I can't seem to find the word to beg for his intervention and mercy.
"I don't know what to say. Just…. please let Josh be all right and watch over his parents and Edward. They love him so much…
God, Edward will be so devastated if something happens to that little boy, he's already suffered such a great loss." I whisper.
"You seem to know a lot about my brother."
Edward's sister, Alice, looks down at me. She appears exhausted, and her eyes are red and swollen.
"I-um…." I intend getting up, but she shakes her head, urging me to slide over.
"He's a wreck…. Edward that is," she murmurs. "Josh means everything to us, to him."
"I know. How…. how is he, Josh I mean?"
She's studying me closely, and although her eyes are clear ice blue her gaze is as penetrating and expressive as that of the brother.
"He's still in surgery."
"I'm so sorry." There are no words adequate at a time like this.
"You're her, aren't you? Bella." She surprises me by mentioning my name. I didn't think that Edward and told family about me.
"Edward hasn't said much about you, if anything, but my brother Emmett has."
"My friend Rosalie is a friend of Emmett's. I'm sure she talks abo…"
"What happened to my son, Bella?" she cuts me off abruptly.
"We were at the park…."
"I know that part. I want to know what happened to cause my son to be lying in an operating room with a scalpel in his head."
I take a deep, shuddering breath.
"I didn't see exactly what happened. I saw the car speeding toward us. I remember screaming for Edward to get out of the way, and the next thing I knew he was on the ground."
"And Josh? Where was he?"
"He…he was standing next to us when it happened. I only remember seeing Edward roll off him after the car struck. Edward must've jumped in front of the car to save him."
She nods lifelessly, her gaze unseeingly focused ahead.
"How did he look?"
"I beg your pardon?" I frown.
"How did he look when you saw Edward roll off him?"
I examine her closely, she appears stoic, but I remember her outburst with Edward and worry that my answer will cause more damage than good.
"He wasn't moving, and…." I hesitate, thinking about what and how to say it.
"And?"
"And he was bleeding from his head." I look down at my knotted fingers and shake my head.
"And before that? What was he doing?"
"Before?" I ask, confused.
"Before that car slammed into my son!" She shouts at me, her tears spill over.
"He…. He was feeding the ducks."
She turns to me in surprise.
"Was he happy?"
Now I understand her line of questioning, she wants to know what he was doing, what his state of mind was before he was hurt. She's probably worrying that he was afraid, she wants to think of him as being happy, not as the broken little boy she left at the those swinging doors.
"Yes…. Yes, he was. Josh was completely enthralled by a family of ducks. He begged Edward to let him feed them."
"What did he feed them?"
"Pardon?"
"What did he feed them"? She insists.
"Edward gave him a slice of bread from one of the leftover sandwiches he'd packed for lunch."
"The Spidey lunch," she mutters, between a wail and a snort. "Oh God, why is this happening?" She bursts out, and I quickly wrap my arm around her.
"Everything will be okay. Josh is going to be fine. You have to believe that, we have to believe that," I console her.
.
.
.
Alice and I head back to the waiting room to rejoin her husband. An older couple is now with him. The family resemblance is glaringly obvious and I know that these are Edward's parents, but there's no sign of him anywhere.
"This is Bella. She was with Edward and Josh when the accident happened," she addresses the group. I'm faced with surprised faces, but no-one comments, they just smile at me politely, pain and worry etched on their faces.
"Sweetheart, you look tired. Maybe you should stretch out and close your eyes for a few moments." Her mother fusses.
I'll have a nurse make up a bed for you," Edward's father walks over and lovingly runs a hand through her hair. He's seems kind and gentle, personality traits I'm just starting to recognize in Edward.
"Yeah, babe, I think that's be a good idea. I'll come with you, "Jasper, adds and tries to hug her, but she wrenches away from him.
"I'm not going to sleep while my son is lying on a stretcher with strangers poking around in his head! Where's Edward? He should be in that O.R with Josh, not some random doctor. He should be here! This is his fault. He should be here!" She shouts, and her mother hurries over to embrace her.
I worry about Edward anew, wondering where he is and how he's faring. And now, I also worry that the guilt he already clearly feels will be magnified by his sister's grief.
Her mother finally manages to convince Alice to lie down. Jasper gathers her things and follows them. I'm left in the waiting room with Edward's father.
"You were with my son and grandson when the accident happened?"
"Um…yes."
"Did you see who did this? Who was driving the car?"
"No…. I'm so sorry. I-I didn't see much. It all happened so fast. I only remember the color of the car."
"God, who would hit a child and just keep going? It's inhumane," he mutters.
"I don't know, but hopefully the police will find the person who did this."
"I apologize. I'm Edward Masen…. Senior that is." He extends his hand.
"Isabella. Bella Swan," I amend.
"It's not the best situation for introductions I realize, but I want to thank you on behalf of my family, for sitting with Alice and for still being here."
"It's the least I can do. I've known Edward for a while, and Josh and I have met a couple of times. Those two are so close, Edward loves him so much."
"This is true." He smiles, and I'm reminded of Edward. "They're inseparable. Forgive me for prying, but how do you know my son? Are the two of you dating?"
I'm flustered and don't know how to respond. He senses my discomfort.
"I'm sorry. It's none of my business. I guess I'm just trying to redirect my thoughts."
"Edward used to be my patient," I reflexively blurt out, instantly regretting my candor.
"Patient?"
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything. I…"
He narrows his eyes, questioningly.
"Marriage counseling."
"Oh…. right." He nods politely, but I can see his confusion, yet he doesn't pry.
"Sir, I…"
"Edward…. please. I insist."
"Edward," I chuckle nervously, "I don't mean to intrude on a family matter, but do you have any idea where Edward is? I would like to make sure he's all right."
"He left. He couldn't handle it."
"Left?"
"He said he couldn't just sit here and wait around. He needed to see Josh. I assume he's doing whatever he can to get into that operating room."
"Is that…wise?"
"Edward is a professional. He's one of the best, if not the best cardio-surgeon in the state. He knows how to conduct himself in an O.R. and won't do anything to jeopardize the health of my grandson. He just needs to be there with him." If I'm not sounding particularly biased."
"I understand completely, and no you don't sound biased at all. Your son is the ultimate professional. And he represented you well at this year's medical convention. Sorry to get off track, but I just wanted to add that."
"Why thank you, Bella. I really appreciate you saying so," he smiles sincerely.
.
.
.
Little more than three hours drag by before Doctor Newton returns to the waiting room to let everyone know that Josh is in recovery and that the surgery was successful.
"We've put him into a medically induced coma to assist the healing process. But overall, things look good. We've stopped the inner-cranial bleeding, and there is no swelling. Josh is extremely lucky."
"Thank God." Edward's Snr. says. "Have you spoken to Josh's parents?
"Yes, I saw them on the way in. They've gone in to see him briefly."
"Oh, thank goodness," I exhale, almost numb with relief and smile at the Edward's father. "I was so afraid when I saw how badly he was bleeding."
"It was mostly from the impact Edward inflicted when he jumped in front of him, sending him crashing to the ground."
"What are you saying?" I can't hide anger at his implication. His father's eyes dart to me quickly.
"I'm saying, if he hadn't jumped in front of him, things would be a lot different right now. Edward probably saved his life. That car would've hit Josh head on."
"Where's Edward?" I practically demand.
"He was right outside the O.R the entire time. He was the first to see Josh after we finished up the surgery. He was in the recovery room with Josh when I came down to give the family the news."
"Thank you, Mike."
"I'm glad to have been able to help, Doctor Masen." He says respectfully as he accepts his extended hand. They walk off while continuing to discuss Josh's case.
I peer through the tiny window in the waiting room and see Edward talking to the police. I want to go to him, but I don't feel it would be appropriate; he's surrounded by the rest of his family.
Suddenly, voices escalate, and I watch as the conversation between Edward and the police heats up. Alice joins in; their parents and her husband appear to be trying to calm them both down.
"Look, are you done interrogating me?" Edward yells loudly.
The officer looks as if he's trying to reason with him, but he's having none of it.
"I'm out of here." He storms through another door.
I slip past everyone and run after him. He tears off in his car, before I can reach him.
.
.
.
Without a car, I had to hail a cab and have him try to keep up with Edward, who is driving erratically.
We end up losing him after following him for a while. I think about calling or texting him, but he's already driving irresponsibly, and I don't want to endanger him or others further.
We stop at a traffic light, and I become even more frustrated. I can't believe he just left the hospital without a word to me.
I finally decide to call him with the rationalization that he'd only answer if he finally reached his destination.
He answers after the third ring.
"What?" he says angrily.
"What happened… why did you just leave?"
"I just had to get out of there. And also change out of these fucking clothes."
"Well, what did the police have to say? Do they have any leads on who was driving the car that hit you and Josh?"
"Listen, I don't want to talk about this right now, Bella. My nephew is hanging on by the skin of his teeth. I don't give a fuck about anything else."
He hangs up on me, and I'm stunned, but I now know exactly where he is, and I can't let him deal with this alone.
"Turn left at the end of this street and drive for a mile and a half." I instruct the cab driver.
I leave the car and have to dash back to pay the driver. I knock loudly on Edward's front door.
There's no response, so I insistently ring the bell. I peek inside the window and the downstairs is in complete darkness. I step back and look up at the lighted bedroom window. I call him again, but he doesn't answer.
"Damn it, Edward Masen!" I stomp my foot angrily.
Against my better judgment and because he's pissed me off, I turn the door handle; the door opens.
"Edward?" I call out into the dark, and he doesn't reply. I take a deep breath and make my way toward the light upstairs.
He's madly pacing and flexing his hand.
"Are you alright?"
He spins around in surprise. "How'd you get in here?"
"You left your door open, but I was prepared to crawl through the window if I had to." I deadpan, hoping to lighten the mood, but he doesn't react.
"I didn't know breaking and entering was one of your talents," he says cynically.
"Oh no you don't, Edward Masen. We're not going back to that bullshit." I grab his arm to stop his pacing. "Talk to me."
"You're not my shrink!"
"I know that! I'm…I'm…." I stutter helplessly.
"What, Bella? What are you?"
"I'm here, Edward! Talk to me. You don't have to deal with this on your own."
He pulls away from me and walks across the room, flexing that damned hand again. Suddenly, he draws his fist back and punches the wall once, twice….and a third time. Dry wall splits and cracks.
I shriek and cover my mouth in shock.
"Edward, are you crazy? You're a surgeon. You're going to ruin your hand." I try and examine his hand, but he snatches it away.
"Small price to pay for Josh's head." He hits the wall again, and it crumbles on the carpet.
"You think Josh would want this, for you to deliberately hurt yourself? Edward, that little boy idolizes you. He's always talking about his uncle Edward being a doctor and making people better."
"But I couldn't make him better, could I?"
"Edward, Josh is going to be okay. I know tonight was scary, but thank God, that little boy is going to be fine."
He places his hands on top his head and laces his fingers together.
"W-what if he wasn't, Bella?" His voice breaks, and his brows knit together in anguish.
I reach out to comfort him. He takes a step back, but I'm not going to let him push me away. I step up and loosen his hands, pulling him to me.
Tears spill down his face, and I wrap my arms around him. He sniffs, arms hanging limp at his sides.
"He's going to be okay, Edward."
He rests his forehead on my shoulder as he cries. His tears dampen my shirt. He finally wraps his arms around me, holding on tightly. He whimpers softly, and I have to fight hard to not join him in his anguish.
.
.
.
"If you'd ever told me that I'd be here in your bed, I would have called you delusional."
"I think you did call me that once." He combs his fingers through my hair.
We're lying, spooned together in his bed. This innocent, comforting posture should feel foreign, given his reputation, but that's all he's asked for and accepted tonight.
"Edward?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you think that someone purposely hit Josh?"
He turns and looks at me with a frown.
'Why would you say that?"
"I meant… not to purposely hit him, but you or even me."
"What are saying, Bella…. that someone tried to kill one of us?"
"I don't know, but it is a thought I've entertained. The car basically plowed you down and kept going."
"Whoever it was, kept going because they were afraid. Maybe they didn't have insurance or knew that they'd been drinking or something. Who knows?"
"Or maybe she knew exactly what she was doing," I mutter softly, but he hears me. He sits up to look at me.
"She?"
I exhale wearily, "Lauren."
"You think Lauren tried to kill me?"
"I think her behavior yesterday was bordering on psychotic."
"No," he laughs and shakes his head. "Lauren may be a lot of things, but a murderer is not one of them."
"Edward…"
"No, Bella. Think about it. Josh was there. She hates me right now, but she would never do anything to hurt him. When he was a baby, he spent weekends with us, she loves him too. She's not that cruel."
"She drugged and took advantage of you, if that's not cruel then I don't know what is," I say decisively.
"No…let's just end this right now. It was an accident, but we're going to find the person who caused it. Lauren had nothing to do with this. It's ridiculous."
I let it go, but I believe that he's in denial about her character and what she's capable of. I also don't want to upset him more than he already is.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For staying with me, for just being here. That had to be a real treat, to see me break down," he disdains.
"You think that I got pleasure from seeing you hurt?" I sit up so I can look him in the eye.
"No…I know you were genuinely concerned." He caresses my face. "I didn't mean to make you worry."
"I care about you, Edward. I thought you understood that now?"
"It's still kind of… remarkable in a sense. I didn't give you many reasons to like me in the beginning. I care about you too. You have no idea how much."
My eyes flutter closed, and I revel in the strength of his palm against my cheek. I feel him shift and his lips brush across my forehead.
"I have to get back to the hospital and check on Josh," he says when I finally open my eyes.
"I'll come with you."
"No, it's late. You should stay, try and get some sleep. It's been a long day for you too."
He's right; I'm exhausted and suddenly starving.
He slides to the edge of the bed, and I scoot next to him.
"Do you have any food in the house?"
He smirks and slips on his shoes. "I'm sure you can find something in the kitchen. Help yourself." He kisses me gently. "I'll call you from the hospital."
I watch him from the window as he gets into his car and pulls away.
"God, what a day," I lean my head back against the wall
I'd bet everything I own that Lauren's somehow behind this.
After rummaging through the kitchen, I head back to the bedroom with a bag of pretzels and a diet coke.
I decide to call Rose to let her know what's happened, in case she hasn't already learned from Emmett.
"Hey stranger," she answers on the first ring.
"Hey, I have to tell you what's happened today."
"Let me guess, you're calling me from Edward's bed after he's completely screwed your brains out. How am I doing?".
"No…." I hesitate, glancing around, wondering if her knack to valuate situations has turned into downright clairvoyance "Um…not exactly, anyway."
"Okay… what has happened?"
"Edward and his nephew were both knocked down by a car today."
"What? What the hell?" She screams, nearly deafening me.
"It was pretty bad."
"You were with them?"
"We were all at the park and this car came out of nowhere and basically ran through them. Edward somehow managed to jump in front of the car and pushed Josh out of the way."
"Oh my God! Emmett! I don't think he knows!"
"I don't know, Rose. I was at the hospital for most of the afternoon and evening. His family was there, but I didn't see him."
"Christ! He went to this car race today, and he told me that it's hard to hear his phone at those places."
"Well, it's pretty late, the race should be over. I'm sure his family has been leaving tons of messages for him. He probably knows by now."
"Dear God. How's Josh?"
"It was scary for a while. He has a head injury and needed surgery."
"Oh no. He's just a little boy! How awful."
"I know. Hopefully, he'll be okay. I mean he has to be okay. His family loves him so much. They would be a wreck without him."
"You said Edward was hit too, how is he?"
"Edward's injuries were minor, thank God. He's at the hospital right now."
"That's good to hear. What about you, are you all right?"
"I wasn't hurt, Rose, but it was the most terrifying thing to witness."
"I'm sure it was. Goodness, Bella…."
Rosalie continues to talk, but my mind wanders. Discussing the accident brings it all back, but it's still unclear.
In my head I can see as the car starts up and speeds towards us. I recall screaming for Edward to get out of the way. The next thing I see, he's airborne when the car hits, and he crashes to the ground. The car stops, then speeds away.
I break out in a sweat. It feels like I'm having a panic attack.
"Rosalie, I'll call you back."
I run to the bathroom and splash water on my face. I look at myself in the mirror and try to shake the images from my head, but they keep rolling through my mind. And this time, I see something new.
A license plate.