Chapter Twenty

Quinn

Since returning to Florida after the wedding, I hadn’t even had time to unpack my suitcase or get settled back into my normal routine. Albertson had me busy working on new projects and closing out old business. He was preparing the company for Ashton’s surprise arrival and everyone on staff could feel that changes loomed ahead. However, this morning I had to get Nanna ready for her doctor’s appointment and this wasn’t going to be an easy one.

“Nanna, we need to get going if we’re going to make your appointment on time.”

Getting my grandmother anywhere on time required a lot of patience and sometimes some bribing. The memory loss was getting worse by the day, and she didn’t like to leave her house for any reason.

Today’s doctor appointment was an important one. We would be making the decision on whether or not we should place Nanna in a special Alzheimer’s residence where she would receive around the clock care and the aid of experienced healthcare professionals with specialized Alzheimer’s training. The home was geared toward patients with memory loss and it had a high retention rate.

I had resisted this change for months now because it made me nauseous. What kind of traitor put their beloved grandmother in a home no matter how nice? I really wanted Nanna to stay in her own home for as long as possible. I had lived with her for so long that I felt guilty for putting her in someone else’s hands.

My parents had finally convinced me that it was for the best but when had they ever known the best for anyone, like me? After the wedding, my mother had a long talk with me about how it was time for me to live my own life. I wouldn’t be able to do that and care for Nanna. With my budding relationship with Ashton, and our future plans to move in together, I felt it was time to find an appropriate place for Nanna. But that didn’t mean I had to like it.

“I don’t know why we have to go to that doctor again. Your dad doesn’t like the nurses. They also hurt him when drawing blood. Am I getting my blood drawn again? You know how much I hate needles.” My Nanna put her cardigan around her frail shoulders. “And it’s always so cold at that office. Why do they have to keep the exam rooms cold like a meat locker?”

This was my Nanna’s way of stalling. She would start complaining and throwing a fit if she didn’t want to go to a certain destination. It was going to take some cajoling to get her in the car so we could be on our way.

“This is just a medical checkup Nanna,” I soothed. “No one is going to stick you with a needle. I promise.”

She looked at me through narrowed eyes and clucked her tongue.

“We’ll go to Olive Garden afterwards.” I bribed her with her favorite place to eat lunch. Bread sticks and the endless salad bowl.

“Last time I ate there it gave me heartburn,” she muttered while grabbing her purse.

“Where do you want to eat?” I asked. Anything to get her in the car and on our way. “Your choice and my treat.”

“Ed’s Diner. They have the best cheeseburgers. And a chocolate shake with extra whipped cream. And a cherry. It’s not the same without a cherry.”

“Nanna, we can’t go to Ed’s,” I said in a calm tone. “Remember? They closed down after the hurricane.”

She closed her eyes and shook her head in frustration. This is what she did when she couldn’t remember particular things. Ed’s Deli had been a favorite place to dine when my grandfather was alive. It had been closed for eight years. This was going to be a doozy of a day.

“Hurricane? Why we haven’t had storm in a long time,” Nanna argued, opening her eyes.

“We’ll talk about it in the car. We have plenty of time to decide where to eat.”

After I got Nanna situated in the car, we headed for the doctor’s office. Summer in this coastal town was already in full swing. It didn’t matter what time of the day it was, the main highway was always congested. As we came to a red light, I decided to get off the highway and take the back roads to the doctor’s office. When I was halfway into the turn, I saw a landscaping truck in my peripheral vision. It was barreling through the light heading straight toward our car and there was nowhere to go.

Crash!

The steering wheel jerked out of my hands.

Crunching metal, breaking glass, and screams filled my ears. Before I lost consciousness the last thing I saw through my swollen eyes was my grandmother’s face covered in blood.

* * *

“I think he’s waking up,” a voice said quietly.

I tried to open my eyes, but even a sliver of light hurt my head too much. I felt a hand on mine. More quiet voices in the background. What the hell had happened? And why was my head hurting so bad? My whole body felt numb. Like I’d been hit by a truck. Then I remembered. I had been hit by a truck.

“I’ll get the doctor,” another voice said.

“Doctor?” I tried to speak. The dryness scratched my throat in the attempt. “Where - am?”

“It’s okay, honey.” A soft hand stroked mine. A familiar voice tickled my ear. “You’re going to be okay,” the voice soothed. “The doctor is coming.”

“Mom?”

“Yes, sweetheart. I’m here.” More quite voices and the shuffle of bodies.

I closed my eyes and let the warmth take me back under. Sometime later, a deep, male voice woke me.

“Quinn? This is Doctor McNulty. Can you open your eyes for me?” This time a strong, commanding tone.

My eyes felt gritty like sandpaper had scrubbed my eyeballs clean. I tried opening them. My vision was blurry. I blinked several times.

“That’s good. Very good.”

More murmuring voices.

“Where…” I couldn’t get all the words out. My throat was on fire.

“You’ve been in accident, honey,” my mother’s voice came through again. “But you’re going to be okay.”

“Accident?” I tried to focus on my mother’s voice.

“Yes, you’re at Sacred Heart Hospital. You’re going to be okay,” she said in a reassuring voice. “You’re going to be okay, honey.”

My whole body ached. My head hurt. I felt a weird sensation in my lower half of my body.

I faded out again. Too much. Too much too soon.