Page 79 of Grumpy

Kelly handed the phone back to Gen. “Can you hold onto that for me? I don’t want to risk dropping it.”

Gen pocketed the phone. “You’re, like, really important, aren’t you? Or someone important to someone really powerful?”

Kelly, though, shook her head. “I’m just a waitress.”

As they locked themselves in the large stall, Kelly heard, “Holy crap! It’s real. The money is in my account.”

* * *

Every new face that was brought into the hospital, Kelly checked, but so far, no Jackson. After getting changed and under the blankets, Gen got her hooked up to an IV. She basically dragged a resident over by his tie to take care of Kelly’s cuts. Thankfully none needed stitches.

She rested for a bit, jumping awake each time she heard a new patient being brought in. She had no idea how Keys did it, but the borrowed phone got changed over to become identical to her own. Pictures, texts, and all.

She couldn’t resist trying to dial Jackson’s number, but it went straight to voicemail. She wasn’t all that surprised.

As patients without critical injuries were assessed and released, the hallways started to clear. Kelly was still waiting on her turn at the x-ray machine. She did not even want to think about how much this was going to cost. Did her insurance even work out of state? It was something she’d never had to wonder before.

Maybe a tornado was proof that it was safer just staying home in Mount Grove.

The ol’ ladies messaged her continuously. Kelly eventually had to ask them to stop and she would let them know any updates as they happened.

Waiting was both agonizingly slow and somehow speedy. Time apparently still hadn’t righted itself in her reality. But finally, a doctor approached her.

“Hi, Mrs. Bell?” Since Kelly didn’t have any identification to dispute the claim, she gave Grumpy’s last name as her own when she’d been asked. It was basically true, just a bit premature, and they wouldn’t argue about giving information about his condition. “I’m Dr. Lisbon. I’m the OB managing Madison’s care since she came in. She wished for you to be updated on her prognosis.”

Kelly sat up further on her hallway cot. “Yes, please. How is she? How are the babies?”

Unlike Dr. Hardwick, this doctor had a very soothing demeanor. She was in her mid-thirties, and her features reminded Kelly of Meredith Grey. Maybe it was the shock of the situation, because her next mental inquiry was wondering if McDreamy was going to walk by.

“Both babies are doing well,” Dr. Lisbon informed her. “Their heart rates are strong and we’re not seeing any signs of fetal distress at this time. That’s genuinely good news given everything Madison went through.

“Our primary concerns when she came in were preterm labor, placental abruption, and hypothermia. Her core temperature was low when she arrived, consistent with mild to moderate hypothermia. We’ve been warming her with heated blankets and warm IV fluids, and she’s responding well. That’s largely resolved now.

“Placental abruption—when the placenta separates from the uterine wall—is common with physical trauma. We did an ultrasound and I’m pleased to tell you we see no evidence of abruption. Both placentas look intact and well-positioned. That was our most urgent concern.

“Unfortunately, we’re not out of the window yet for preterm labor, especially with twins, and we’re still monitoring her. She’s had some mild uterine cramping since admission, which can happen with physical and emotional trauma of this magnitude and doesn’t necessarily mean she’s in active labor. Right now the contractions are irregular and mild, and we’re managing that with IV fluids and rest. We’ve also given her a course of corticosteroids. It’s a standard precaution at her gestational age to help mature the babies’ lungs in case delivery does become necessary before term. But I want to be clear that we are not anticipating delivery, but at twenty-five weeks with twins, I want to be prepared for every possibility.

“She’s going to be with us for at least two to three days of monitoring. If the contractions settle and we see no further concerns, we can talk about what a transfer will look like. She’s told me she’s relocating to Pennsylvania. I’d recommend she establish care with a maternal-fetal medicine specialist there as soon as possible given the twin pregnancy and this trauma history.

“She’s been asking about her father, but unfortunately, I have not heard any news on Mr. Bell. Once you’ve been discharged, I’d encourage you to go sit with her. She needs a familiar face and the stress reduction of having family present is genuinely beneficial right now. Do you have any questions for me?”

That was a lot of information, but she was pretty sure she understood it all. She wished she had her purse so she could write down some notes. “I’d like to go sit with her now, but I’m still waiting for an x-ray on my shoulder.”

Dr. Lisbon looked around. “Let me see what I can do.”

Whatever Dr. Lisbon did worked, because soon Kelly was being escorted through the hospital in a wheelchair to an x-ray chamber. Rather than being brought back to her bed in the hallway, though, the orderly took her to the labor and delivery ward.

There she found Maddie in a shared room speaking to a cute male nurse with teddy bears on his scrubs. Wow, if Kelly was twenty years younger and not head over heels in love with Grumpy… Because damn.

Maddie blushed when she met Kelly’s eyes, because both women were well aware Maddie was crushing hard on her nurse. Not that Kelly could blame her in the slightest. He was no McSteamy or McDreamy, but he was a close second.

“You must be Mrs. Bell,” the nurse said with a charming smile as the orderly pushed Kelly up to the side of the bed. “Have no fear. The babies are fighters, Mrs. Bell. And so is your daughter.” To Maddie, he added, “I’ll be back to check on you soon.”

“M’kay.” Maddie gave him a fluttering wave, and then sagged back into her bed as soon as he was past the privacy curtain. “Oh my God, if I wasn’t already pregnant, I would be by that man’s smile alone.”

Kelly laughed, pleased to see Maddie’s humor had returned. She had a bruise on the side of her face, and her hands were both bandaged in white gauze like Kelly’s were. “How are you, sweetie?”

“Worried about Dad,” Maddie said, her face falling. “Any news?”