Free Contributor (Contributor Trilogy, book 1) by Nicole Ciacchella Page B

yesterday, when your daughter was talking to her," the doctor said. "I'm not certain if you did so yesterday, Contributor Morrow, but I suggest you try the same technique as your daughter. Try talking to your wife about a particularly happy memory."
    "I will," Joshua said.
    "She's still unconscious?" Dara asked, her stomach sinking in disappointment.
    "She is, but her brain is more active today, which is a good sign," the doctor replied.
    "How much longer until—"
    The doctor spared her the necessity of having to ask. "After three days of unconsciousness, we run several tests to help us get a better picture of a patient's status. The course of treatment varies, depending on the parameters within which the patient falls."
    Chewing her bottom lip, Dara nodded. Even now, Magnum was evaluating her mother.
    "Doctor, could we go in together today?" Dara asked.
    "Yes, but just for ten minutes," he said.
    Dara smiled. "Thank you."
    "Good luck," Jonathan mouthed, catching her eye.
    Joshua's hand shook as he seized Dara's. Clutching it, he stepped forward, and she forced herself to move as well.
    Leona was as still as ever, though Dara thought there was a bit more color in her face—but maybe that just wishful thinking. However, her brain activity monitor definitely emitted a different pattern than it had the day before, and Dara felt hopeful.
    "What should we talk to her about?" Dara asked quietly.
    "I was up almost all night thinking about that," Joshua confessed.
    "Me too. What about when we won the behind the scenes tour of headquarters?" That had been a good day. She vividly remembered how excited her mom had been. Though Dara had only been ten at the time, she had already shown a very high degree of aptitude for engineering, and Leona had eagerly pointed everything out to her, telling Dara that she'd one day invent such wonders.
    "That is a good one, but I thought maybe we should talk about that night we camped in the living room."
    "You're right. That one is better." And it truly was. That memory had nothing to do with Magnum. It was about the three of them, their closely-knit little family.
    Moving to the far side of the bed, Joshua took Leona's left hand while Dara took her right. He looked at Dara and nodded, indicating that she should begin.
    "Hi, Mom," Dara said softly. "I'm back, and Dad's here with me."
    "Hi, sweetheart." Joshua kissed his wife's hand.
    "Dad and I have been thinking about all the great times we've shared." Her voice began to waver and she looked helplessly up at her father, who gave her a reassuring smile. He picked up from where she had left off.
    "Do you remember that night you suggested we camp in our living room? You'd just read Dara that story about the family surviving in the wilderness, and she was obsessed with the idea of building a tree house."
    Dara couldn't help it, she laughed. Though there hadn't been a tree anywhere in the vicinity for generations, she had felt with the conviction of a seven-year-old that there just had to be a tree out there somewhere and, when she found it, she would build herself a house in it and live there quite happily. Her laugh made her father laugh as well and, suddenly, Dara felt a faint pressure on her hand. She froze as the pattern on the brain activity monitor changed.
    "You've never been able to sew a day in your life," Joshua continued affectionately. "But you spent weeks sewing that stuffed dog for Dara, and you gave it to her that night. It was an unrecognizable lump, but she loved it."
    "I still have it," Dara said, her voice catching. "It's on my pillow right now."
    This time, Dara felt an unmistakable pressure. She looked up at her father and knew he also felt it. Leona's eyelids began to flutter.
    "Doctor!" Dara called, dropping her mother's hand and running for the door. "Doctor! I think she's waking up!"
    A whirlwind of activity descended on the room. Dara and her father were ushered out the door and told firmly to stay outside while the doctors