chapter 5

Chapter five:

There lay Mr. Smith, his body still as a stone on the hospital bed, his heart hanging on by a thread. Wires and tubes snaked around him, connecting him to a symphony of blinking monitors, defibrillators, and over-bed table cluttered with all sorts of medical doohickeys.

Courtney had rushed to New York Presbyterian Hospital the moment Becca, her voice trembling, had broken the devastating news. Dashing through the hospital corridors, she found herself surrounded by a sea of extended family members. She didn't stop to chat—she needed to see her father, to know how he was holding up.

"Courtney, sweetheart!" Courtney's face brightened just a bit at the sound of her mother's voice. The last person she expected to find at the hospital, her mom stood there with open arms. Without skipping a beat, Courtney raced into her warm embrace, Becca close behind. Becca's eyes were puffy from weeping—a mirror of the storm of emotions they all felt that day.

"I came the moment I heard," Anna whispered gently into Courtney's ear. Even though her parents had long been divorced, her mother always showed up when times got tough. And, truth be told, her father did the same—proof that their split was never really what either of them had wanted.

Just then, a doctor and two nurses stepped out of Mr. Smith's' room, their faces solemn. Becca was the first to speak up, her voice trembling with hope, "Doctor, how is he? What's going to happen to my father?"

The doctor took a deep breath. "It was a fatal car crash..."

"Yeah, we know that part," Courtney cut in, her voice mirroring Becca's urgency. They'd already been told about the horrifying collision on the highway, the one that involved her dad, his driver, and some random truck. All they needed now was a glimmer of hope, a positive prognosis to cling to.

The doctor exhaled, his face softening just a bit. "Despite the injuries, I can tell you he's going to survive. I'm a neurosurgeon, and your father suffered a spinal fracture, just above his waist."

Becca's heart raced, her voice barely a whisper, "And what does that mean, exactly?"

"Well, this isn't the most severe case I've seen, but victims of this sort of injury usually experience numbness, tingling, and weakness in their arms and legs. They have difficulty standing and walking. What I'm trying to say is that he might not be as mobile as he used to be."

Anna spoke up, her voice steady and sure, "He'll get through this. He's a strong man." Courtney and Becca exchanged glances, both marveling at the doctor's expertise.

A small smile played on the doctor's lips. "It's never too late to believe in miracles, but professionally, I recommend a wheelchair when he's ready to be discharged."

A single tear slid down Courtney's cheek. "Can I see him?"

The doctor nodded gently, "Of course. You're his family."

Before long, Courtney was perched by her father's bedside, her hand gently clasping his bruised one. Becca and Anna stood behind her, their presence a silent comfort.

"Dad," Courtney whispered, knowing he couldn't hear her but needing to say the words nonetheless. "You're going to be fine. I know it. I believe in you. We've come so far together, and I want you to know that I'll never let you down." Her smile was filled with hope, a promise that she'd be there for him no matter what.

"The doctor said you might not be as active as you used to be, but you're going to be okay." Her thoughts drifted to the WEB business network and the potential impact this could have on their family. Of course, his role as CEO would undoubtedly be affected, but Courtney refused to lose faith. Miracles did happen, after all.

Just then, Hernandez burst into the room, his eyes scanning the scene before him. Without a word, he strode over to the bedside, taking in the sight of their unconscious father and his injuries.

Hernandez was a mess—his clothes disheveled, his face flushed, and his sleeves rolled up as if he'd just come from a sprint. Sweat beaded on his forehead, his expression a mask of concern.

"Is he going to be alright?" he asked, his voice tight with worry.

"He was fine until you showed up," Becca snapped, her anger bubbling to the surface.

"Becca, that's rude," Anna chided gently, trying to rein in her daughter's tactless words. But Hernandez didn't seem to mind; his focus was solely on the well-being of the man lying in the hospital bed.

Anna quickly brought him up to speed on the situation. "He'll recover, but he suffered a spinal fracture in the accident." Hernandez's face paled, the weight of the news settling on his shoulders. Despite their differences, they were all affected by the gravity of the situation.

"He's going to need plenty of rest right now," Anna continued, her gaze sweeping across the group, silently pleading for understanding. The message was clear: it was time to set their differences aside and focus on Mr. Smith's' recovery.

Hernandez nodded, though Courtney didn't seem ready to leave her father's side just yet. Becca, on the other hand, glared at Hernandez as if he were the one responsible for the crash.

Oblivious to the tension in the room, Courtney suddenly rose from her seat beside the bed. That familiar feeling was creeping in, the one that begged for release.

"Courtney, are you alright?" Anna asked, concern etched on her face. Everyone else in the room turned their attention to her as well. Courtney managed a nod before darting out of the room.

"Courtney, wait!" Becca called after her, but it was too late. She was gone. Shooting a quick glance at her mom, Becca hurried out the door in pursuit of her sister.

"Anna, I was..." Hernandez began, his voice heavy with emotion.

"Oh, please don't start," Anna interrupted, her patience wearing thin. Whatever Hernandez was about to say, she was not interested.

Courtney had barely made it to the bathroom before she emptied the contents of her stomach into the toilet bowl. Breathing heavily, she tried to regain control as Becca burst into the room.

"Oh, Christ! You're sick," Becca exclaimed, her voice tinged with irritation at the sight.

"I'm fine, it's nothing I can't handle," Courtney insisted, flushing away the evidence of her nausea.

"Courtney, you are not fine. We need to see a doctor right now," Becca pressed, her concern growing by the second.

"I'm cool, no need to panic," Courtney reassured her, waving off her sister's worries.

"We are seeing a doctor," Becca said firmly, standing her ground.

Courtney sighed, realizing she wasn't going to win this battle. "Are we seriously doing this?"

***

A short while later, Courtney found herself in an examination room, Becca by her side, and their mom hovering nearby. As the doctor returned, his face split into a wide grin, and Courtney's heart began to race.

"Courtney Williams, You're pregnant."