A Penny for your Thoughts

Chapter 14

Gage

The shareholder meeting was droning on, I was bored out of my mind and worried about Penny and Pop. The streets were still slick and traffic was heavy. Penny called me about fifteen minutes ago and told me that they were almost to the doctor's office and she would call me when they were done. I told her we could grab lunch. I had been working a lot lately, trying to get things together so that I could have some time off when the baby was born. The whole family had been. We all talked about everyone coming out and staying at our home for some time. We never really did the Christmas thing, so Penny wanted some family time and we were all happy to give it to her.

I glanced at the clock, two hours had gone by and I was starting to worry. I got up and left the meeting, they could fire me for all I cared, I needed to know that she was ok. I called her cell, but it went straight to voicemail, same for Pop's. I called the Doctor's office and they told me that she hadn't made her appointment. I called the Hospital and they confirmed that they had been in an accident. I flew to the hospital, calling my brothers on the way. We all got there at the same time. The receptionist directed us to the fourth floor and there was a nurse that showed us to a waiting room, she said the doctor would be with us soon.

We paced the room for hours when finally, the doctor came in, "I have info on Mr. McMIllian and Mrs. McMillian. First of all, the accident was severe, the impact was on the driver's side. Mr. McMillian has a fractured hip, leg, shoulder, and arm. He is recovering well, we had to operate to put pins in his arm and leg, replace the hip, and stabilize the internal bleeding. He will be awake in about an hour and with some physical therapy, he will make a full recovery." We all sighed, "Ok, what about my wife?" I asked and he took a deep breath, "The impact completely tore the placenta from the uterus. We had to deliver the baby by c-section. The baby is healthy and full term, eight pounds and four ounces. Your wife lost a lot of blood, she is in a coma. She has a fifty percent chance of waking up. You can see her and your son now and your Father in about an hour."

He lead us to the I.C.U. where my beautiful Penny was lying, tubes and wires all over her, bandage on her head. I heard a sob and realized it had come from me. I sat next to her and grabbed her hand, "Penny, baby, please wake up. Our son needs you, I need you, our family needs you." We stayed for an hour, then went to see the baby, Emmett. He was perfect, black curls covered his head, large blue eyes, chubby, healthy baby boy. We all held him and talked to him before going to see Pop. He looked rough. "How's Penny and the baby?" He asked. He had casts on his arm and leg, he was covered in bandages. I sighed, "The baby is fine, eight pounds, four ounces. Penny is in a coma." Pop sobbed, "Oh, my little girl. I am sorry I didn't even see it. We were just driving through the intersection when the trash truck ran the red light and smashed into us."

We all assured him that it wasn't his fault, but he wouldn't be happy until he could see Penny. We had the nurse bring in Emmett and he calmed down some. A week later, he was released to go home. I picked him and Emmet both up at the same time and took them to the house. I had been staying at the penthouse so I was closer to Penny. I had a nurse for Pop and had him set up in one of the guest rooms, Will, Ross, and Andy were there and helped out. Every day, I would visit Penny. It had been three weeks, no progress, she was still in a coma.

Today, I was sitting with her, holding our son. "Penny, he needs you to wake up. He has never heard your voice. Baby, please." I sobbed. Ross came in and took Emmett for a while. I held her hand and she squeezed mine. I sat up, "Penny?" Her eyelids fluttered open and those blue eyes locked on me, "Oh baby, how I have missed those eyes." I choked out and kissed her forehead. She smiled at me, "Hey there, cowboy. I heard you and tried to wake up, but my body wouldn't work.I am glad Pop is doing better. Can I go home now?" I laughed and the nurse came in and smiled when she saw her awake. It was three more days before Penny came home.

Pop was up and moving in a wheelchair for now, but moving none the less. He was sitting in the living room when I brought her home. They held each other and cried for about fifteen minutes. For months, they each worked on their recovery and when Emmett hit six months old, Penny was back to normal and Pop was walking. Ross and Will's wedding was in two weeks and they were having a big white wedding.

Penny and I had gotten them a honeymoon in the Orient, a week in an all-inclusive couples resort. As they boarded their plane, Trisha was landing. She sold her home and quit her job. She moved into the penthouse, at my request, and works for a designer here in New York. Penny was absolutely sure that her and Andy would be engaged by Emmett's first birthday.