Forever Enough Novel – My husband,Brady cheated on me with my friend,Trina! Trina took a step and pressed her lips to Brady’s, quickly forcing her tongue into his waiting mouth. She smiled,“You didn’t stop me.”and placed her hand behind his neck, pulling him in closer, deepening their smooch. I had his ring on my finger.I were right there in our kitchen. I were looking at them… “Elizabeth, I—” My pulse raced. I held up my hand, closing my eyes to help block out the excuse getting ready to pour from his mouth.
Elizabeth was barely able to open her eyes. She noticed red flashing lights, and a piercing sound filled the air. Something blocked most of her sight, and her body couldn’t move. Her pulse quickened, and her breath came in quick gasps as fear embraced her. “Miss, please be still and relax. You were in a car accident, and you’re in an ambulance. We’re taking you to County Hospital. You’ll be okay.” Elizabeth’s eyes worked hard to focus. “Can you tell us your name?” Elizabeth fought through the fog that covered her brain. Her hand closed on an oxygen mask over her mouth, which was why her vision seemed blocked at first. She reached up to take it off. She closed her eyes and tried hard to focus on the question. “I’m Elizabeth.” Her voice was almost inaudible. “Good. Elizabeth, you were unconscious when we got to the wreck. Does anything hurt?” Elizabeth again struggled to think of an answer to this man’s question but completed a quick mental inventory of her body. “No. I feel fine… I think. I was on my way home from the mall. I need to call my mom. She has Grant.
Brady, he needs to know. My parents need to know. They’ll all be worried.” Her eyes became wide, and she wiggled her body, trying to break free from whatever was keeping her still. “Elizabeth, relax, please. We found your phone and called your mom. She was listed as an emergency contact. She and your dad are meeting us at the hospital.” The paramedic put pressure on her shoulders and attached the oxygen mask over her face again. Her breathing calmed, and her eyes closed, drifting off. – The commotion of the Emergency Room floated into Elizabeth’s consciousness. She found herself alone in a room attached to machines. She tried to move her head to see her surroundings but found she was limited in neck movement. She brought her hand to her neck and felt a brace. Feeling panic rise in her chest, Elizabeth tried to sit up, but her head swam with pain. The door opened and her parents rushed through, followed by a man in a long white coat.
Seeing her daughter awake, Charlotte wrapped Elizabeth in a gentle yet desperate hug. Elizabeth did her best to hug her mom back, but with all the chords hanging from her, it was difficult. “Mom, I’m so sorry. I don’t really know what happened. Where’s Grant? Did anyone call Brady?” Her hands pushed on the pain that pounded on the sides of her head. “Elizabeth,” the doctor interrupted. “Our first concern was making sure you were stable. You’ll be heading soon for an MRI to make sure there aren’t any internal injuries. You hit your head hard and were unconscious for a bit.” He clicked buttons on the pad he had in his hands. “Does anything else hurt? Your legs, arms?” Elizabeth continued to massage her temples. “No. I feel fine, just my head feels like someone’s banging it with a hammer, and I feel nauseous if I move.” He nodded. “Those are both normal symptoms with a head injury. We are taking care of them, and hopefully, those symptoms will feel better soon.” He typed some notes, then, being positive and upbeat, excused himself and left the family alone. Charlotte sat down in a chair close by while her dad leaned against the wall of the room, texting. “I couldn’t get a hold of Brady on the phone, so I left a message on his voicemail and just sent him a text.” He looked lovingly at his daughter. Elizabeth closed her eyes.
The lights made her head hurt. “Mom and Dad, you never answered me. Where’s Grant?” Charlotte squeezed Elizabeth’s hand. “He’s with Jacob and Stacey. When I got the call, you were in the hospital; I rushed to their house. Jacob had just pulled in. His timing was perfect. He said he’d be glad to watch Grant for me.” Grant’s with Jacob! Can he even take care of a baby? Charlotte read Elizabeth’s thoughts. “It’s okay. He knows how to take care of babies. I’ve seen him in the nursery at church. Relax. Anyway, Stacey will be home soon to help him, and Kristen’s there.” “Kristen?” Elizabeth laughed. “I’m sure she’ll be a big help.” Elizabeth rolled her eyes and tried to sit up, but the tubes kept her from being able to move, and her head started to spin. She laid back down and her hands went up to the brace around her neck. “What’s up with this thing?” She tried to get it off. “Elizabeth, enough! That’s just a precaution. Once you have your MRI, it can come off.
It will only be for a little while. You need to be still.” Jackson sat on the other side of her bed and squeezed her hand. She looked into her father’s eyes, and her breathing calmed. “Dad, the accident. Did anyone else get hurt? How’s my car?” Jackson smiled. “No one else was injured. There was only one other car involved, and that car was fine. Miraculously, you didn’t hit anyone else. I don’t know how.” He brushed some hair off of Elizabeth’s face. “Your car is another story. We’ll need to find you a new one.” Before Elizabeth could think through what she was told, a nurse came to get her to take her for an MRI. After what seemed like days but was really only a little more than an hour, Elizabeth was back in her room and placed back in her bed.
Brady still hadn’t arrived. “Have you heard back from Brady yet, Dad?” Elizabeth asked once she was comfortable again. “No, not yet.” “Can I have my phone, and I’ll call Christian? See if he can find him.” Charlotte gave her the phone. Elizabeth dialed Christian. He answered on the first ring. Unfortunately, Brady was on a jobsite and couldn’t get to his phone, but Christian said he’d contact the site and get a message to Brady right away. She hung up and relayed the message to her parents. A feeling of unease mixed with the pain in her head and the nauseousness of her stomach. She had lied to her parents. Christian didn’t know where Brady was. He hadn’t heard from him all day, but he was going to look for him now. Exhaustion overtook her, and Elizabeth found it impossible to keep her eyes open. When she woke up, she wasn’t sure what time it was, but a doctor was in the room. He informed them that her concussion was not serious. He was going to prescribe some medication to help her with the pain, and she needed to rest. Her brain needed a break.
She was released from the hospital soon after and settled into the back seat of her parent’s car. Looking out the window and watching the rain that still fell, she couldn’t help but wonder where Brady was and why he didn’t answer all the calls and messages. The uneasy feeling returned, and she couldn’t ignore the queasy feeling starting to make its way up from her stomach to her throat. “Dad, pull over, quick!” Her dad pulled to the side of the road with just enough time for Elizabeth to open her door and puke. – She was relaxing in her favorite spot, the couch in the sunroom, when Jacob walked in holding Grant with Stacey not far behind. Grant let out a squeal which sent a pinprick of pain shooting through Elizabeth’s skull but filled her heart with love at the same time. She winced. Charlotte took Grant from Jacob and eased down gently next to her daughter. Elizabeth embraced her son. They rested their foreheads against each other, and Elizabeth inhaled her baby’s scent. “Thanks so much for watching him.” Jacob sat on the chair across from her. “No problem. He was great.”
Charlotte reached over and took Grant from Elizabeth. “You know what? Why don’t I give this cutie a bath and keep him here tonight? You don’t need to worry about him crying, and your head needs a rest. When Brady gets here, you two can go on home and take care of you. I’ll bring him over in the morning.” That was just what she needed, a quiet night’s rest. Her mom was the absolute best. “That would be great, Mom. But are you sure?” Jackson breezed into the room and swept the baby into his arms. “It’s late already. We’re going to get him ready for bed. Say good night to Mommy, Grant.” He blew raspberries as she stole a smooch and waved at him as her parents took him up to his room. “Do you need anything? A cup of tea or coffee?” Stacey asked. “Tea would be great. Thanks, Stace.” Elizabeth leaned her head back and let out a sigh.
Her head still pounded with a dull thud, causing her stomach to churn. She closed her eyes, wishing that she had Brady’s shoulder to lean on and that he was holding her, comforting her. She turned her attention toward Jacob. “Thank you for watching Grant. I really appreciate it.” He was a lifesaver. “Don’t thank me. I did what any friend would do. How are you feeling?” “I’ve got a concussion, but I’ll take it. It could have been so much worse. That was scary. I thought I was—” A sob burst out of her, and she brought her hands to her face. The fear of never seeing her baby again engulfed her, and Brady not being there to console her was too much to bear. Jacob wrapped his arms around her. “Hey, it’s alright. Nothing bad happened.”
He gave her a reassuring squeeze and rubbed her back. With her head resting comfortably on his chest. He just held her until the tears and crying stopped and her breathing relaxed. “Here’s your tea, Liz.” Stacey sat down on the couch as Elizabeth pulled herself away from Jacob, wiped her face, and reached for the mug of hot tea. Breathing in the cinnamon and orange aroma emanating from her mug calmed Elizabeth further. “Thanks, Stacey.” “Umm, Elizabeth…” Her heart jumped as Brady entered the room.
Jacob got out of the way so Brady could take his rightful place by her side. Brady gave him a half smile and wrapped Elizabeth up in his arms. Stacey threw him an irritated glance. “Well, you finally made it.” “Yeah, I know. I’m sorry it took me so long.” Brady cupped Elizabeth’s face in his hands, searching her eyes. “Are you okay? I can’t believe I couldn’t get there. I am so sorry. Are you sure you’re okay?” Elizabeth cuddled tightly into his side as he wrapped his arms around her and hid his face in her hair. She wanted to know where he was, to hear his excuse why he wasn’t there when she needed him most…