Chương 7
The hospital curtain shifted with the ventilation, rising slightly at the bottom and settling again.
A cart rattled past outside.
Someone laughed at the nurses' station, and the ordinary sound felt almost obscene.
Valerio picked up the phone and set it facedown on the rolling table.
“You all right?”
“No.”
He nodded.
“Good answer.”
Alessia looked at the unopened half of the pretzel bag.
“My mother didn't call me.”
“No.”
“She called you.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Valerio rubbed one hand over his jaw.
“Because she assumed I'd tell you what she wanted you to hear.”
Alessia turned toward him.
“Would you?”
“No.”
“You used to.”
His hand stopped.
The words sat between them with more weight than she expected.
Valerio looked toward the curtain.
“I used to avoid making things worse.”
“For whom?”
He did not answer.
“That means her.”
“It means everyone.”
“That usually means her.”
His eyes returned to Alessia.
“You're right.”
The lack of argument unsettled her.
She pulled the blanket higher over her waist, though she wasn't cold.
“You don't get points for agreeing now.”
“I wasn't asking for any.”
“Good.”
“I know.”
She hated how reasonable he sounded.
It gave her nothing to push against.
A nurse entered carrying a small cup of water and two tablets.
“Pain medication, if you want it.”
Alessia looked at the pills.
“What is it?”
The nurse explained.
Alessia listened twice because the first explanation slid through her without sticking.
“Will it make me sleepy?”
“Possibly.”
“I don't want to be sleepy.”
“You don't have to take it.”
Valerio said, “Take it.”
Alessia looked at him.
The nurse looked at him too.
Valerio lifted both hands slightly.
“Bad timing.”
“Very.”
The nurse hid a smile.
Alessia accepted one of the tablets and refused the stronger one.
After the nurse left, Valerio said, “You are impossible when you're scared.”
“I'm not scared.”
He glanced at her immobilized leg.
“Fine.”
She resented him for being correct.
The resentment was useful.
It was cleaner than fear.
Dr. Shah returned twenty minutes later with a tablet held against her chest.
Her expression was composed, but the absence of a quick smile told Alessia enough to make her pulse jump.
“The X-rays show a fracture of the fibula near the ankle.”
Alessia stared at her.
Dr. Shah continued before she could speak.
“There is also some concern about the alignment of the ankle joint and the numbness you're describing.”
“Concern means what?”
“It means I want orthopedics to evaluate you.”
“Tonight?”
“Yes.”
“Do I need surgery?”
“I don't know yet.”
The words were familiar by now.
Alessia almost laughed.
Instead she looked at her foot.
“So it is broken.”
“Yes.”
Valerio leaned forward.
“How serious?”
Dr. Shah turned slightly toward him.
“Potentially significant, but I don't want to get ahead of the orthopedic evaluation.”
Alessia pressed her palms into the mattress.
“What happens if the numbness doesn't stop?”
“We need to determine what's causing it.”
“That isn't what I asked.”
Dr. Shah paused.
“It could resolve as swelling decreases.”
“And if it doesn't?”
“Then we investigate further.”
Alessia's voice sharpened.
“You keep giving me answers that aren't answers.”
Dr. Shah pulled the visitor chair closer and sat.
“I understand why that is frustrating.”
“Please don't do the doctor voice.”
“What voice?”
“The calm one.”
Dr. Shah considered this.
“This is my regular voice.”
Valerio looked down.
Alessia gave him a warning look.
His mouth twitched.
She turned back to Dr. Shah.
“Sorry.”
“You don't need to apologize.”
“I snapped.”
“You're injured and frightened.”
“I said I'm not frightened.”
Dr. Shah glanced at Valerio.
He immediately looked away.
Alessia saw it.
“Both of you can stop.”
That finally made Dr. Shah smile.
Only a little.
Then she became serious again.
“The good news is that blood flow to the foot is intact.”
Alessia seized on the phrase.
“That is good.”
“Yes.”
“So I'm not losing my foot.”
“No one has suggested that.”
“I'm suggesting it.”
“I am not concerned about you losing your foot.”
The relief came so quickly Alessia felt embarrassed by it.
Her shoulders dropped.
Valerio exhaled beside her.
She noticed.
“You were thinking it too.”
“No.”
“Liar.”
“A little.”
Dr. Shah stood.
“Orthopedics should be down shortly.”
After she left, Alessia stared at the door.
“A fracture.”
“Yes.”
“I have work Monday.”
Valerio blinked.
“It's Saturday night.”
“I know what day it is.”
“You're not going to work Monday.”
“You don't know that.”
“You are in a splint.”
“I work at a desk.”
“On the fourth floor.”
“There is an elevator.”
“You hate that elevator.”
“That is irrelevant.”
“It broke twice last month.”
“How do you know that?”
“You complained about it for forty minutes.”
“I complained for nine minutes.”
“It felt like forty.”
Alessia folded her arms.
“My point is that I have a presentation.”
“Cancel it.”
“No.”
“Move it online.”
“My boss hates remote presentations.”
“Your boss can survive.”
“You don't know my boss.”
“I don't need to.”
“He says video calls flatten executive energy.”
Valerio stared at her.
“What does that mean?”
“Nobody knows.”
He shook his head.
For several seconds they were simply two tired people in a hospital bay talking about a ridiculous corporate phrase.
Alessia almost forgot the wedding.
Then her phone began vibrating inside her purse.
Valerio looked toward the bag on the chair.
Alessia did not.
“It could be Daniel.”
“It could be anyone.”
“Do you want it?”
“No.”
The phone stopped.
Five seconds later it started again.
Alessia closed her eyes.
“Give it to me.”
Valerio handed over the purse.
Her phone showed seventeen missed calls.
Six from her mother.
Four from Veronica.
Two from Daniel.
One from Nina.
The rest were names of relatives who had probably been in the ballroom ten minutes earlier and had somehow already decided that direct access to Alessia was appropriate.
There were thirty-eight unread messages.
“Jesus.”
Valerio leaned back.
“Don't read them.”
“I have to.”
“No, you don't.”
May you like
“What if someone needs something?”
“Who could possibly need something from you right now?”
