“First time I’m helping you put your clotheson. Usually I’m ripping them off you.”
Heat rushed to his cheeks as he maneuvered his good arm into the shirt sleeve, but the rest of it wouldn’t even make it over his shoulder. With a rueful laugh he gazed down at his mostly exposed torso. “Well, this is awkward.”
Sean’s eyes twinkled. “I’m all for it. Unless someone gets too touchy-feely.”
He rolled his eyes.
It was past the hour promised before a wheelchair arrived and he was pushed out. Ray jumped to his feet.
“Tristan. Thank God you’re okay.”
“Yeah, I’ll be fine. It’s Truman I’m worried about.”
With Ray and Sean flanking him, the aide pushed his chair to the entrance, where he stood, but instead of letting Sean take him by the hand, he took several steps to the side. “I can’t leave until I know Truman made it out of surgery. Let’s go to the surgical waiting area.” Sean huffed and puffed his displeasure, but Tristan remained firm and turned to Ray. “Do you know where to go? Have you heard anything more?” It had already been close to three hours since they’d been brought in, but Tristan knew the surgery could take much longer.
“Yeah,” Ray said. “I’ve been going back and forth between emergency and surgery. His wife is there.” A pucker of concern wrinkled his brow. “Are you sure you want to stay here and not go home and rest? You’re injured too.”
“I’m fine,” he responded tersely. “It’s where I need to be.”
Sean took his hand. “Well, then let’s go.”
They followed Ray through the halls, and he received some side-eyes for his attire but paid no attention to it. When they reached the waiting room, a lone young woman sat with her head bowed, clutching a vending machine cup of coffee. At their footsteps, her head jerked up, and Tristan watched the disappointment cloud her eyes.
“Amy, this is Tristan, the head of the security team.” Ray introduced her and stepped aside.
Tristan braced himself for her recriminations and stood stoically, waiting for the tongue-lashing.
“Tristan? Sal speaks so highly of you. Every night he comes home and tells us about his day. Once you arrived, the whole team’s attitude changed for the better. He really appreciates the changes you’ve implemented.”
He didn’t know what to say. He’d prepared to be yelled at and blamed for her husband being shot, but instead here she was, heaping praise on him he didn’t deserve.
“He’s a great guy. I enjoy working with him.”
With Sean’s assistance, he lowered himself into a chair near her seat.
“I know he told you how he left the force and we moved from Philly because I was afraid of him getting shot.” Her voice caught. “Instead here I am, in the middle of that nightmare.”
“He’s a fighter. He’ll be okay.”
Her tear-filled eyes met his. “He looks up to you. We read about when you were injured and your partner killed. He was so excited to learn from you.” Her voice lowered to a whisper. “I just want him to be okay and come home to us.”
He reached out a tentative hand. “He will.”
Two hours passed. Tristan’s shoulder was on fire, but he refused to take the hint from Sean that they should leave. Finally, a sweat-soaked doctor appeared, his face worn. “Mrs. Truman?”
Amy jumped to her feet. “Yes. Please. Tell me.”
“He made it through. It’s a good thing he’s strong and in good shape. We had to remove his spleen, but he was lucky that the bullet didn’t hit the kidneys. He should recover with no complications. He’s in recovery, but if you want, I’ll take you in to see him before we transfer him to ICU.”
She burst into tears, and Tristan’s eyes burned with his own unshed ones. He’d been prepared all night for the worst. He always was.
“Thank you. Thank you so much.” Weeping, she returned to her seat to get her purse. She paused. “I appreciate you staying with me so I wouldn’t be alone. Thank you.”
He cleared his throat. “No need to thank me. And tell him to hurry up and get better.”
“I will.” She smiled for the first time and raced after the doctor.
He covered his eyes for a moment, then rubbed them and gazed into Sean’s smiling face.
