Chapter 11

LYNN

“Pick up, Chelsea, pick up!” I yell at my phone, hitting redial again. But it just keeps going to voicemail.

“Hey, you’ve reached Chelsea Payton. I’m either writing or making love to my fiancé right now.” ~Beep.~

“Chelsea, where are you? Pick up your phone!”

“I don’t get it. She always has her phone with her,” Zoey says, her voice filled with worry.

“I know. This is the second time in two days she’s not picking up.”

I find the driveway and speed up to her house. I’m not one for speeding, but I’m worried. It’s not like her to ignore her phone.

I’m driving so fast on the gravel road that I can hear the rocks hitting the underside of the car. When I finally reach her house, I see her car. I hit the brakes, and my car skids on the gravel, coming to a stop next to hers.

Zoey and I get out, and I start running toward the front door. Zoey hangs back.

“I’ll wait here,” Zoey says.

The front door is ajar, and I push the screen door open and rush inside.

“Chelsea!” I yell.

I check the kitchen; she’s not there. I head to the stairs.

“Chelsea!” I yell again.

I sprint up the stairs, burst into her room, and find her naked on the bed. I walk over and shake her.

“Chelsea! Wake up!”

She opens her eyes. “Hey, what are you doing here?” she says, stretching on the bed.

“Chelsea, where’s your phone?” I demand.

“Right there,” she says, pointing at an empty nightstand.

“There’s nothing there,” I say. “Get dressed. We need to go.”

“Where are we going?” she asks, yawning.

“To the hospital!”

“Why?” she asks, confused.

“Just get dressed,” I say, leaving her room.

I find her phone in her office, on the charger. I pick it up, and it’s off. “Damn it, Chelsea!” I hit the power button, and it turns on.

As soon as her phone comes on, it starts dinging with missed calls, texts, and voicemails.

I walk back into her room and toss her phone onto her bed. She’s getting dressed now.

“Forty missed calls, a hundred texts, and twelve voicemails,” I say as she walks out of the bathroom.

“Why are we going to the hospital?” Chelsea asks.

“Because Brian is there.”

CHELSEA

I’m still half-asleep when I hear Lynn say Brian is in the hospital. ~Why is Brian in the hospital? Why didn’t anyone call me?~

Lynn takes my arm and guides me out of the house. Zoey is waiting by Lynn’s car. She opens the passenger door, and I get in. Zoey climbs into the back seat. Lynn gets in and starts the car.

She drives down the driveway, stops at State Road 22, then turns right onto the main road. I look out the window and see crime scene tape around the big oak tree. A large piece of bark is missing from the tree.

“Oh no. Someone hit the big tree,” I say, pointing at it and tapping the window.

I glance at Lynn. She hasn’t said a word since we left my house.

“Why is Brian in the hospital?” I ask.

“If you had your phone on, you’d know,” Lynn says, her voice sharp.

“He was in a car accident yesterday evening. Everyone’s been trying to reach you, even the hospital and the state police,” Zoey says from the back seat, touching my shoulder.

I look at my phone and all the missed calls and texts.

“I’m sorry, guys, but I didn’t turn off my phone.”

“Well, it was off, again!” Lynn snaps.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what to say. I always have my phone with me. It never leaves my side.”

For the next twenty minutes, no one in the car says a word. I just sit there and delete all the messages on my phone.

We arrive at the emergency entrance, and Lynn parks her car. We all get out and start walking to the entrance. Zoey takes my hand and holds it.

I reach up and take Lynn’s hand. She takes it and gives it a squeeze, letting me know she’s not mad anymore.

The sliding doors open as we approach the reception desk.

“Can I help you?” the receptionist asks.

“Yes, I’m here to see Brian Wynn. I’m Chelsea Payton, his fiancée,” I say, glancing down at my left hand and realizing I’m not wearing my ring. I quickly pull my hand down and stick it in my pocket.

“He’s in the ICU, room 3. I’ll let the doctor know you’re here. Please have a seat, and someone will be out to see you,” she says, pointing to the waiting room chairs.

I look in and see it’s half full. Zoey tugs my arm as we walk to the back and take a seat against the wall. I lean over to Lynn. “I’m sorry,” I whisper.

She turns her head and looks at me. “I’m sorry too,” she whispers back. “I can’t stay mad at you. I love you too damn much.” She kisses my forehead, and my anxiety eases a bit.

“Ms. Payton?” the doctor asks from another door.

“That’s me,” I say, standing up. The doctor waves for me to follow him. “Can they come with me?” I ask, and the doctor nods.

We trail behind him to the ICU. I’m trying to spot room 3, but it’s all a blur. The doctor halts at a door, and the only thing I can make out is a tag that reads Wynn, Brian. I feel a tremor run through me.

“Has anyone filled you in on what happened?” the doctor asks. We all shake our heads. “From what I understand, he crashed into a tree at a high speed.”

My hands fly to my mouth, muffling the gasp that escapes.

“He wasn’t wearing his seat belt.”

“That can’t be right. He always wears his seat belt. He won’t even start the car until everyone is buckled up,” I manage to say, my voice trembling. Lynn and Zoey are clutching me from both sides.

~He’s the one who crashed into that tree. That’s why it was surrounded by police tape. What on earth was he thinking?~

The doctor slides the large glass door open. I see Brian lying there, hooked up to every machine imaginable. His head is bandaged, covering his eyes. Tubes protrude from his mouth, aiding his breathing.

“He’s in a coma at the moment. Since he wasn’t wearing his seat belt, his head hit something hard, causing brain trauma. The impact forced his brain into a temporary shutdown. He still has brain function.

“It’s a miracle he’s still alive. He broke both his legs in two different spots, cracked several ribs that punctured his left lung.

“His left arm is broken in three places. From what I can tell, he raised his arm to protect his head from the impact. He’s lucky to be alive.”

Tears start streaming down my face as my legs give out. Lynn and Zoey guide me to a chair in the room.

“If you have any questions, I’ll be at the nurses’ desk,” he says, walking away.

Lynn turns to me. “I never told him about your place.”

Zoey is still holding my hand. “I haven’t seen him since last week,” Zoey says.

“I know. When you came by to tell me Zoey was okay, he pulled in right after you left. He said he followed you,” I say, and Lynn’s eyes widen.

“So, why was he there, then?” Lynn asks.

“Why do you think? He wanted me back. He said he was sorry and asked for another chance, and I said no.

“I wanted nothing to do with him when I caught him; he was having a good time. He wasn’t thinking about me at all. He wanted Bunny’s tight—” I stop and start crying.

“I didn’t know,” Lynn says.

“This is all my fault!” I say.

“Don’t say that,” Lynn says.

“Do you think he was trying to kill himself?” Zoey asks.

“Are you kidding me? He loved life too much. Hell, he even loved me. He just made a bad decision,” I say. “I don’t think so.”

I sit in the chair and hold his hand, staring at Brian lying there, listening to the rhythmic beeping of the machines as they pump air into his lungs.

A nurse walks in.

“How long will he be in a coma?” I ask.

“It depends on how long his body needs to shut down. He could wake up tomorrow, a week, next month, or maybe a year. As long as he has brain function, there’s still hope,” she says, checking his vitals.

All three of us stay in the room, reminiscing about the good old days. Growing up together, going to high school together, and graduating from college.

We were meant for each other—the marriage, the house, the future children. But I can’t get past the fact he cheated on me. The image of him having sex in our bed with that teenager…

I can’t get past that, that one thing I can’t accept—

The nurse walks in.

“Why don’t you ladies go home. I have your number. If anything changes, I’ll call you.”

“You’re right. There’s nothing we can do here,” I say, and Lynn and Zoey nod in agreement.

The ride home is silent. No one wants to talk about it anymore. The only thing I can think about is one word: suicide.

~No, no way. I refuse to believe he tried to commit suicide. He loved life too much to just end it. There has to be another explanation for this. Maybe the brakes failed or the gas pedal got stuck and he lost control.~

Lynn pulls up to my house.

“Chelsea! Chel!” she calls again.

I look up at her and blink. “What?”

“You’re home,” she says, pointing at my house.

“Shit. I didn’t realize we’re here,” I say, stepping out of her car. Zoey gets out of the back seat.

“Do you want us to stay with you?” Lynn asks.

“No, I think I want to be alone.”

Zoey jumps in the front seat and rolls the window down. I lean in. “Thank you, guys. I’m really sorry about everything that’s going on. I just need time to think about everything.”

“Girl, don’t worry about it, we got you,” Zoey says, touching my arm. I lean in and kiss her on the cheek. I then blow Lynn a kiss.

“I’ll call you later to check up on you,” Lynn says.