Chapter 2

Tara hopped into a cab and returned to her apartment on Long Island. Along the way, she dialed the phone number the police officer provided. The nurses in the Intensive Care Unit connected her to Doctor Najami, the resident on call.

“How is my husband?” Tara asked.

“He incurred head trauma during the accident,” the doctor explained.

“How serious is the injury?”

“The accident has caused brain swelling and bleeding,” Doctor Najami told her. “We’re administering medication to reduce the swelling.”

Tara pinched her nose with her fingers. “Will he be alright?”

“The next forty-eight hours will be crucial in his recovery.”

Tara slid her hand through her hair, pinning it back with her fingers. “I’m three hours away.”

Tears stung her eyes. “You don’t expect him to…he’s going to make it through this, right doctor?”

“He’s in critical condition, Mrs. Steffen, but his vitals are stable at the moment.”

The situation did not make sense to Tara. “My husband lives in Texas. Are you sure you’re calling about the right person?”

“Is your husband’s name Thomas Francis Steffen?”

“Yes,” she responded.

“Are you Tara Steffen?”

“Yes.”

“Your husband arrived last night without identification. Let me find out where we got your phone number?” Papers shuffled in the background. He inhaled a breath of air. “Here it is. Bradley Langston provided us with your contact information. Do you know Mr. Langston?”

She released the breath trapped in her lungs at the sound of his name. Any possibility that this was a case of mistaken identity dissipated. Brad was Tom’s superior officer. “If he arrived last night, why didn’t someone call me sooner?”

The movement of papers continued. “According to these records, police attempted to reach your home number ...

... middle of paper ...

... at him for putting me second. I never imagined something happened to him. I feel horrible.”

“Don’t blame yourself. Anyone in your position would be angry. You were excited about your trip. He has messed up plans in the past.”

Tara nodded. “I was home when the police called. They didn’t leave a message and I didn’t call them back. Who knew Tom was in Pennsylvania?” She slipped the duffle bags onto her shoulders and headed for the door. “Pray he survives.”

“I’ve already said a prayer for him.” Jenn hugged Tara. “I am going to be by your side the entire time.”

Tara hesitated. “You’re coming along?”

Jenn took the keys out of Tara’s trembling hands. “Do you think I would allow you to go through this alone? I need one minute to change out of my sweaty clothing and we’re on our way.”

“Thank you for coming.” Tara hugged her sister.

“Let’s get your husband home.”