Cowboy Take Me Away(5)
“Has she regained consciousness?” Cam asked.
“No. She’s had X-rays and tests and they’ve been observing her. Her brain swelling increased to the critical stage.” He paused. “She’s in a medically induced coma. In doc speak that means they’ve taken control of her body with drugs and machines, tryin’ to reduce swelling and circumvent permanent brain damage.”
“For how long?”
“Five days to a week. Or longer.”
He waited as that sunk in. And he could tell by the way they were gaping at him it’d take them time to process it—not that he had a handle on the situation. He was a mess.
Couldn’t they see that?
No. They’d see him as they wanted to and he braced himself for the upcoming fight because guaranteed it’d be a doozie.
“You’re sure that was the best choice? Or was that the only choice the doctors gave you?” Keely demanded. “Who did you have advising you on the medical procedure? Did you even call Doc Monroe?”
He loved his daughter, but it took every ounce of restraint not to snap at her. “Doc Monroe is not a neurologist. Dr. McMillan is. I agreed with their proposed treatment plan because it has the greatest chance of success.”
“But I think—”
“I do not give a good goddamn what you think, Keely. I made the decision for my wife. And if you think I made that fuckin’ decision lightly, think again.”
Silence.
Carson inhaled a slow breath and tried to keep his tone even. “As long as you’re all here, listen up because I’m gonna say it one time and there will be no arguin’. Carolyn has an open wound on the back of her head from the fall which was oozing brain fluid. The risk of infection is very high, especially in the comatose state she’s in with all her primary body functions bein’ maintained by chemicals or a machine. She’s in ICU and there’s no visitation for the first twenty-four hours.”
“Then after that?”
“Extremely limited.”
“For anyone?” Keely asked.
“For anyone.”
“Even you?” Kimi asked.
“They’re allotting me five minutes an hour. That’s it. And since she’s my wife, those five minutes are mine and mine alone.”
He steeled himself against Kimi and Keely’s recriminations, because the looks on their faces indicated they were about to let fly.
“That’s not fair. You should give the rest of us a chance to—”
“If you say to say goodbye to her, Keely, so help me God I will have you goddamned banned from this hospital, do you understand? There will be no sayin’ goodbye, no thinkin’ this is the end for her because it is not.” So much for keeping calm. “Carolyn needs positive thoughts. No cryin’ or carryin’ on. Which is why the two of you—” he pointed to Keely and Kimi, “—ain’t getting anywhere near her when she’s in this state.”
“Dad. You are being completely unreasonable. If you’ll just let us talk to the doctors—”
“No. I’ve already handled that.”
“Without input from any of us,” Cord said.
“Wasn’t your decision to make.” His gaze swept over his children. “Any of yours.”