Beau’s face softens. “Who’s the boy?”
Bee’s face lights up as she smiles and turns to look at Noah. “Do you want to come and meet one of my oldest friends?”
Noah nods and crawls from behind her onto her lap. “Noah, this is my friend, Beau. He’s another person you can trust. Beau, meet my boy, Noah.”
Beau reaches over and holds his hand up for a high five. Noah looks to Bee first, and when she nods, he gently taps Beau’s hand. “Good to meet you, Noah.”
A small smile tugs at Noah’s lips.
“Sit, Cop.” Bee pats the bed next to her as she eases back on the pillows, wincing in pain. Noah moves with her as if he’s worried she’ll disappear.
There’s a knock on the door, and Jeanie calls out, “It’s me.”
Bolt opens the door for her. She walks in with a wheelchair and looks at Bolt. “Come on, babe, let’s load her up. Dad’s getting her accommodation ready.”
Bolt shakes his head in amusement and goes to the bathroom to get the nurse.
“Hey, Beau. Your girl is on her way up, and she looks freaked out,” Jeanie tells him.
“Shit,” he mutters, sitting up straighter, or at least trying to.
He’s no sooner sat up than a tall, blonde, ethereal-looking woman pushes open the door with a bang and enters the room, her gaze landing on Beau.
She rushes towards him. “Are you okay?”
He grabs her hand and tugs her toward him, wrapping an arm around her waist. She stands in front of him, and he rests his head against her. “I’m okay, Els. Feel like crap, but I’m okay.”
She takes him at his word and looks over her shoulder at us but keeps her hand on his head. She tilts her head slightly, and her eyes blank a little as she looks at us. Then she smiles, and it’slike the sun coming out from behind the clouds. The whole room seems to brighten. Even Bee relaxes for the first time since the nurse tried to take Noah.
“Hey, Bells. About time you came home.”
Bee laughs and holds out her hand towards Beau’s woman. “Hey, Ellie. Missed you.”
Ellie squeezes Bee’s hand. “Missed you, too. But I understand why you did what you did.”
I feel like I’m missing something here. I’ll have to get Bee to fill me in later.
Bee smiles softly and releases Ellie’s hand. “Out of everyone, I knew you’d be the one to understand and not judge.”
Ellie turns back to Beau, running her hand through his hair and cupping his face. “Better?”
“Much.” He pulls her down and touches his lips to hers.
Bee groans and mutters, “Well, that’s just weird.”
I’m amused. Their relationship must be new.
“Right,” Jeanie says, clapping her hands as she comes out of the bathroom. “If everyone is good here, we’re going to take this one and show her some O’Shea hospitality. She shouldn’t give us anyissues. Lucy slipped me something to give her, so we should be all good.”
Fuck, I was so busy watching the interaction between Bee and Ellie that I totally forgot about Bolt and Jeanie. The nurse is in the wheelchair, covered with a blanket, and a gardening hat conceals most of her face. She looks ridiculous, but at least nobody can see her face.
This room is too fucking busy. I agree with Bee; we need to get home, where we have more control over our environment.
“Who’s Lucy?” I ask.
Everyone seems to know who everyone is, but for those of us not from this village, it’s not easy to know who to trust.
“She’s the nurse outside,” Ellie explains with a soft smile when she sees my confusion. “Ben chose her. She’s trustworthy.”
