“I was worried, too. Leith’s stepbrother told me he was an FBI special agent. I called a number he gave me and they said he worked from their office.” Tears filled her eyes. “I thought I was going to die.”
Gabe squeezed her hand. “It’s okay. You’re safe and that’s all that matters.”
Natalie bit her bottom lip to stop her mouth from trembling. Gabe didn’t need to see her fall apart, not when he looked as though he was about to collapse.
“I called your mom,” he said softly. “Her flight arrives tomorrow morning. She’ll be glad to know you’ve woken up.”
Natalie yawned. “I’ll call her soon.” Her eyelids felt as though sacks of cement were lying on top of them.
“Have another sleep. I’ll be here when you wake.”
She closed her eyes and didn’t hear another thing.
* * *
Gabe staredat the monitor beside Natalie’s bed. Yesterday had been a long day and the night hadn’t been much better. The nurses had come into Natalie’s room every half hour. They adjusted her pain relief and checked the fluids that were being pumped into her body.
At one o’clock in the morning, her temperature had spiked. A doctor was called and she was given more antibiotics. She’d tossed and turned, groaning in her sleep.
Guilt tore Gabe’s heart in two. If it weren’t for him, Natalie wouldn’t be here. Her arm and leg wouldn’t be covered in stitches and she wouldn’t be having nightmares. No one should have to go through the horror she’d experienced. Ever.
“Mr. Lanigan?”
He looked at the nurse who’d walked into the room.
“Caleb Andrews is waiting for you by the nurses’ station.”
Gabe looked at his watch and frowned. It was five-thirty in the morning. “Thanks.” He pulled himself out of the chair and quickly made his way down the corridor. For Caleb to be in Polson at this time of the morning, something must have happened.
He rounded the corner and stopped. His friend stood beside the desk with a pink helium balloon in one hand, and two takeout bags in the other.
Gabe read the message on the balloon.Welcome to the world.“Natalie hasn’t had a baby.”
Caleb smiled. “It’s the best the drug store could manage at this time of the morning. I thought she’d appreciate the sentiment better than, ‘Get well soon’. The nurses will look after the balloon while we have breakfast.”
“I’m staying with Natalie.”
“We won’t go far.” He held the two bags in the air. “I’ve got pancakes, hash browns, breakfast muffins, and coffee.”
Gabe swallowed the knot of emotion clogging his throat. He’d cried so much last night that he didn’t think he had another tear left, but he was wrong.
Caleb handed the nurse the balloon and wrapped his arm around Gabe. “I know I’m a great guy, but I wouldn’t get too excited about the quality of the food.”
A watery smile pulled at Gabe’s mouth. “It can’t be that bad.”
“We’ll see. Let’s go to the family room. The nurse said she’d call me if anything changes.”
“Natalie had a rough night. I should be there when she—”
“She’ll be okay. Come on,” Caleb urged. “The eggs will turn to rubber if we don’t eat them soon.”
Gabe walked with Caleb along the corridor. Most of the rooms they were passing had their doors closed. He hoped those patients had slept better than Natalie.
“Brooke’s bringing Natalie some clean clothes. She should be here by eight o’clock.”
“Thanks. I didn’t think about what Natalie would wear today.”
“I’ve got a change of clothes in the truck for you, too. I can’t guarantee they’ll all fit, but you’re welcome to try them. The kennel texted me last night. Sherlock is okay. He ate all his dinner.”
