Page 41 of Heartbeat Harmony (Hearts in Hawthorne #2)
Chapter
Twenty-Four
E li awoke and stripped the bed of its sheets, replacing them with a fresh set.
He left the bed turned back invitingly, the roses he had picked up yesterday sitting in a vase beside the bed.
The buds were just starting to open, and the florist had assured him by tonight, when he and Autumn returned after their wedding ceremony, the flowers would be fully open and fragrant.
He brewed a quick cup of coffee and let Atticus out to pee, then fed the dog before snagging a bottle of water and driving to the hospital.
He cut through the ER and spoke to one of the nurses on duty there about Fred.
She checked the computer and gave him Fred’s room number, and Eli proceeded to the stairs.
When he arrived at the teenager’s room, Fred was sitting up, talking with not only his parents but two other players Eli recognized from the football team, along with a dark-haired girl.
“You look alert,” Eli said. “How did last night go?”
Fred laughed. “It seems every time I went to sleep, some nurse would wake me up and ask me questions. Don’t worry, Dr. Carson.
I passed with flying colors. I know the day and date.
Who’s the president. Who won the last Super Bowl.
” He grinned at the girl. “My girlfriend’s name. I’m firing on all pistons today.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Eli said.
“When can I get out of here?” Fred asked. He glanced to his girlfriend. “I’ve got to make it up to Laurie since we missed the dance after the game last night.”
“Let me look you over, then I’ll review your chart and check with the charge nurse. You should be good to go.”
Eli did a quick examination and then spoke to the charge nurse, who confirmed that Fred was showing no signs of trauma.
“Go ahead and have his discharge papers drawn up then.”
“Will do, Dr. Carson,” the nurse said.
He pulled a brochure from the nurse’s station returned to his patient’s room, giving him and his parents the good news.
“Thank you, Dr. Carson,” Blanche said. “We’re so grateful you were on the sidelines last night.”
“You’ll need to keep a close eye on him.
” Handing Blanche the brochure, he said, “Read this carefully. It’s a guideline for Fred’s recovery plan.
He’ll need to get some extra rest the next forty-eight hours but not too much.
If he sleeps too much, it can extend his recovery period.
I’ll also make certain Coach Sutherland speaks to his staff and Fred’s teachers and counselor regarding his concussion protocol. ”
“How soon until I can play again?” Fred demanded.
Eli turned his attention to his patient. “You’ll also need to become familiar with the steps to recovery, Fred. You can’t return to play Monday, no matter how good you think you feel.”
Disappointment filled the teenager’s face.
“It’s a six-step process,” Eli explained. “Each step takes at least twenty-four hours. You only moved to the next step if you don’t show any symptoms of concussion at the step you’re on. If you do, then you’re pushing your body too hard and need to back off.”
“Walk us through it, Dr. Carson,” Mr. Biggerstaff said.
“I’m happy to do so.”
He explained that after a weekend with lots of rest, returning to school on Monday would be the first step.
“You can go to football practice, but only do light aerobic activity, something that will increase your heart rate. The trainer will work with you. Riding the exercise bike would be a good start. No lifting, though. If that works well, you can pick up the pace on Tuesday. Jog. A brief run. More bike work. Add in some moderate weightlifting.”
Eli let this soak in before continuing. “Wednesday, you can do some sprints and get back to your regular lifting routine. You can also participate in some drills. But absolutely no contact. From there, you can practice Thursday and have full contact. Then by Friday, Coach Sutherland and the athletic trainer will decide if you’re at a hundred percent and ready for competition.
They may think you are. They may hold you out a game because you could be a little rusty.
Just don’t rush things. When you return to the field, you want to be at your best, not half-best.”
“Got it, Doc,” Fred said enthusiastically. “Thanks again.” He grinned. “And it was a touchdown after I got hit.”
Eli laughed. “Let’s hope you can play on Friday. I hear the Tigers are going to be much stiffer competition.”
He left the hospital room, passing West who was on his way in to see Fred, and called Autumn.
When she answered, he said, “I hope it’s okay that I called you. I know I’m not supposed to see you, but I missed you in our bed last night. So did Atticus.”
“I missed you, too, Eli. I don’t ever want us to be apart again. If you have a conference to attend, I’m coming with you. How is Fred feeling this morning?”
“I just left him and his parents. A few of his buddies and his girlfriend had also stopped by. West, too. He’s in good spirits and itching to get back on the field again.”
“He’s a teenager. They think they’re invincible. West has suffered a concussion before, so he’ll be super careful with Fred. Changing subjects, I wish we hadn’t set the wedding for late afternoon.”
“Why?”
“Because that’s an awfully long time to wait before I can see you.”
He laughed, love for this woman pouring through his veins. “We’ll make up for lost time later tonight,” he promised.
“I’ll hold you to that,” Autumn said.
“Should I stop at the store and pick up another can of whipping cream?” he asked, causing her to laugh.
“There’s already one waiting for us in the fridge,” she informed him saucily. “Along with a squeeze bottle of honey in the pantry.”
“Honey?” he asked. “That sounds intriguing.”
“I can’t wait to be married to you, Eli Carson.”
“Ditto,” he responded, having now watched the romantic movie Ghost with her. The word had become part of their conversations. “I love you madly and can’t wait to make you Mrs. Carson. See you this afternoon.”
He slipped his cell phone into the pocket of his shorts and stopped at his car, using it to stretch against. Then Eli set out for a long run.
His thoughts wandered during it, but they always came back to Autumn and the future they would build together.
They both wanted children, and he had told her there was no reason for them to put it off.
She planned to finish up the packet of birth control pills next week and then stop using them.
He couldn’t wait to be a husband and a father.
Though he’d never had a father himself, that wouldn’t stop him from being the best dad he could be.
Joe Sutherland would be a good dad for Eli to model himself after.
Even though he and Autumn would make mistakes, they would learn from them and do the best they could for their children.
After his run, he returned to his car in the hospital parking lot and guzzled the bottle of water he’d brought with him.
Once at home, he took Atticus on a walk.
With time still on his hands, he took a long, hot shower and then shaved.
Not wanting to wrinkle his clothes for the wedding, he donned shorts and a T-shirt.
Going to his home office, he put in a couple of hours of work, eating a sandwich as he did so.
Returning to the bedroom, he dressed in a dark blue suit and crisp white dress shirt.
He chose a tie of silver and blue and fastened it about his neck before running a comb through his hair a final time.
Then he drove to Hawthorne’s town square, entering the jewelry store he and Autumn had visited yesterday to pick out their wedding bands.
Eli had insisted that she also choose an engagement ring, and she had been drawn to a simple solitaire.
Autumn had asked if her two rings could be soldered together by the wedding, and the jewelry said he could do so.
The jeweler greeted him now. “Dr. Carson, let me get Autumn’s ring for you.”
The man disappeared and returned quickly. Handing Eli a small black box, Eli opened it and saw the rings sitting against black velvet. He pulled the joined rings from the slot, thinking they would forever be nestled together, just as he and Autumn would be.
“Thank you for doing this so quickly,” he said.
“Everyone in Hawthorne thinks a lot of the Sutherlands. The entire town is also thrilled you’ve brought Triple H to Hawthorne.”
He chuckled. “It wasn’t me. It was Hogan Health who decided to locate the hospital here. I’m just helping to run it.”
“We’re still happy you’re here. Congratulations on your marriage, Doctor.”
He returned to his car and drove to the Sutherlands’ house, which sat on a corner lot. A few cars were parked in front of it, and he eased his vehicle to the curb.
As he got out, so did someone in a gray sports car across the street. Eli didn’t recognize the man, who wore dark sunglasses. He closed the distance between them, coming to stand before Eli.
Suddenly, chills raced through his body.
The man removed his sunglasses, and Eli experienced a sense of déjà vu, saying, “I can’t place you, but I feel as if we’ve met before.”
Their gazes held, and a rush of emotion swept through him. “Buddy?” he asked hesitantly.
The stranger looked surprised and then broke out in a smile. “I’d forgotten that. That you used to call me that.”
Eli shook his head. “I can’t believe … it’s you.”
They moved toward one another, wrapping their arms tightly about the other. He closed his eyes, the years swept away in an instant. It was as if he were embracing his little brother as he had that final time before they were permanently separated.
He pulled back, grasping his brother’s elbows. “How did you find me, Buddy?”
“It’s a long story, Eli. Or should I say E-wi?”
It struck him that his little brother had always had trouble saying L’s, and he had called Eli E-wi . A lump formed in his throat, and he swallowed down the emotions.