His motor skills were intact; he knew what year it was, and soon after that, he had no trouble remembering in detail everything that led up to them both being in the hospital. As Dr. Rolle used his penlight to check his eye movements, Kayden reached his hand over to Lana, who stood at the bedside, flanked by Paula, Maureen, Heathcliff, Taylor, and Sam.
Why is he still here? Kayden thought as the doctor put the light away.
“Your head-to-toe assessment looks really good, but you’re not out of the woods yet,” he finally stated. “You need to remain in the hospital for a few more weeks so we can monitor you, Mr. Capshaw. With a fractured pelvis, femur, and extensive nerve damage to your arm and hand, you’re gonna need it.”
“Well, certainly we can have a private doctor monitor him at home,” Maureen interjected, half asking the doctors’ permission.
Kayden was grateful that his injuries weren’t worse and relieved that he took the brunt of the hit from the car. The only thing that worried him was not having full sensation or use of his hand. Being an architect, drawing was important to him.
“I’d advise against that right now,” Dr. Rolle asserted, his eyes narrowing on Maureen.
Kayden spoke, interrupting the fight he saw his mother was about to give.
“I’m actually getting stir crazy in here.”
“Are you sure about that?” Paula asked, concerned.
“Yeah, a few more weeks wouldn’t make a difference, man,” Taylor added.
“I can’t stop you from leaving, but you would have to sign papers agreeing that you’re doing this against the doctor’s orders. I don’t advise this, Mr. Capshaw.” Dr. Rolle replied.
“I understand,” Kayden acknowledged to him, then squeezed Lana’s hand.
“Are you sure about this?” she asked worriedly.
“It would be better to stay in a facility that can help in an emergency,” Sam commented, his arms crossed over his chest.
“I’m fine,” Kayden hissed, his steely eyes connecting with Sam’s.
The two of them sized each other up, and Kayden’s brow furrowed and narrowed on Sam’s. The tension in the room grew so thick that Lana could barely breathe.
“Suit yourself,” Sam blurted, then turned to Lana. “Can I speak to you a moment?’
Lana looked at him, then at Kayden, who tightened his grip on her hand. She bent and gave him a quick peck on the lips.
“I’ll be back in a sec,” she smiled.
“Get rid of him,” Kayden urged, not attempting to whisper.
He gave her a deep and inappropriate kiss in front of everyone in the room. Sam rolled his eyes and walked out as Lana hobbled behind him with the use of her bedazzled crutches—sentiments from Paula, and closed the door behind her.
“He did save your life, ya know,” Taylor teased.
“I appreciate that and told him so. Now he can go home and leave my fiancée alone, too,” Kayden replied.
“Don’t stress yourself. We’ll get him out of town soon enough,” Maureen added.
“You hungry?” Paula asked, standing from the loveseat.
“No, I’m good, but you guys go ahead,” Kayden replied.
“I’m going to make a call downstairs where there’s better reception, but I’ll be right back, OK?” Maureen said.
“OK, mother. I’ll survive,” Kayden replied dryly, as they all filed out of the room.
As they left, he wished like hell he had the strength to get to that door, find Lana, and lock them in for a few hours of peace and quiet. They had been surrounded nearly every minute of the day, all day, and the lack of privacy was becoming exhausting.
DOWN THE HALLWAYfrom Kayden’s room, Sam turned to Lana, his eyebrows pinched together on his forehead.
