He snorts. “Good, you can have him. You can have this, too, while you’re at it,” he hisses, gesturing around the camp.
“You know what I think? I think you really did come here just toprotect your investment,” I hiss, mocking him. “You only wanted him back when you thought you couldn’t have him. News flash, he’s not a possession, he’s a person. A real human, with feelings—feelings which you’ve been toying with foryears, without giving a flying fuck. So why don’t you just set him free from yourself, Kai. Sign over the camp to him.”
“I’m not just signing it away without being paid for my half of it,” he balks.
“Send me the bill, then,” I tell him. “Me, not him. He doesn’t need another burden right now. When I get it, I better see what I owe youless what you’re paying for Morgan’s hospital visit. You pushed her; you’re paying for it.”
He scoffs. “Sure. I’ll cover that charitable donation for you. No skin off my back, I’ve got money enough to cover it and, despite what you may think, I do care for Mowgli and want to see that she gets the best possible care. You still won’t be able to afford what you’ll owe for this cesspit, though, so I’d start looking for another investor you can sell it off to.”
“Go fuck yourself, and go sober up somewhereawayfrom the campers. Be gone by the time I get back, Kai. I fuckin’ mean it,” I grunt, before spinning on my heels and hopping in my truck. I’ve already wasted too much time on that asshole, and I really need to get Morgan to the hospital.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
By the time Morgs and I get home from the hospital, two days later, it’s late. To no one’s surprise, the bone protruding from her body needed to be surgically repaired. Because the accident that had both ambulances tied up, Morgan’s care was, understandably, delayed a bit. Rationally, I know that’s how the ER works—prioritizing based on need, not who got their first—but the papa bear in me still wanted to freak out if she had to wait for an OR any longer.
Between the pain killers Sherri gave her here, the anesthesia, and the subsequent IV meds, she was high as a kite for a bit, which worried me tremendously. At one point, she was convinced there was a mythical llama that inhabited her hospital room, whom she named Johnny Appleseed. I didn’t think it was nearly as funny as both she and her recovery nurse did.
Instead, I grew anxious. Maybe my fear was irrational, because everything she’d been given, she’d been prescribed. But given what I went through with Ryann, I couldn’t help but worry about theaddiction potential when it comes to narcotic use. I didn’t—and don’t—want Morgan in pain either, though, so how do I win here?
I wish parenting came with instructions.
“Stop worrying; she’s fine,” Evan consoles me as I tuck Morgan into her bed in the house. “She’ll probably be groggy until tomorrow morning. Let her decide for herself how she wants to proceed with pain meds, once she’s lucid,” he adds, rubbing my back as I watch her drift off again.
He steps out so I can just sit with her for a bit, relieved to have her back home, yes; but I still feel unsettled. I’m worried about my decision to refuse the script for narcotics they tried to discharge her with. The charge nurse gave me a wary look when I’d declined it. I hope they don’t turn around and call CPS on me, for refusing her ‘proper treatment.’
The thing is, I know my baby girl. I know Evan’s right, too. I know she’s been advocating for herself since she was young, and when she’s clearer headed, she’ll be able to call the shots. I tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear, then bend to kiss her forehead, grateful that she appears to be in no pain and fast asleep now.
Thankfully, Kai vacated and appears to have made her bed up with fresh sheets. He even left her a note on her pillow, but she’s too out of it to read it right now, so I slipped it into my pants pocket before laying her down.
Aspyn, her sweet bestie, stopped by to try to see her once we got back, but Morgs was just too out of it then as well.
“ASS-PEN. I saw a LLAMA,”Morgan sputtered, eyes wide and excited.“Wait ‘til you meetJapple Nonnyseed!”
Aspyn just smirked at me.“Can you let me know when she’s feeling up for company? We were all pretty worried about her. The campers all made her a card.”
I told her how kind that was, and assured her that I would let her know when Morgs could have company again. Now I’m padding downstairs, and find Evan in the kitchen when I get to the bottom. He ushers me over to one of the seats, setting a plate of piping-hot chicken pot pie in front of me.
Lord, yes. Comfort food. It smells amazing, but I’m confused…
“Did you make this?” I arch an eyebrow and ask him.
He chuckles. “I told you, I can’t cook for shit. I got this at Sweetie Pies. I went to town and stocked up on supplies while you were at the hospital with Morgan. Lizzy sent me home with like five casseroles she and Olivia made, and also a freezer bag full of her seafood chowder.”
I grin. First of all, my moms are seriously the best, and second, he just called herehome, without giving it a second thought. I don’t point that out to him though. Now doesn’t seem like the time.
“Oh!” he exclaims. “Sully also said you liked his chicken-corn casserole. He brought up a sheet pan of that, too. Fridge door is about to bust off its hinges.”
“That’s really nice of everyone.”
“Mhm. It appears the whole town is a huge fan of you and Morgan. They just want to see you relax, so you can focus on her,” he says. “Hey, by the way, do you know a Marcia Hildebrand?”
I nod, forking a piece of pie into my mouth. “I do. She owns the horse farm at the edge of town. She’s a little rough around the edges, but she’s a decent enough lady. Mom’s good friends with her. She was the lead biker in the Pride parade.”
“Oh, okay. Good. I thought she looked familiar. Now I don’t feel so awkward about agreeing to have her come here with a couple of her horses, then. She said she wanted to, and I quote, ‘swing by and let ‘em shit all over your yard. They stink, but they mean well, and the kids love horses. Maybe I can entertain the campers for an afternoonby giving them pony rides, as long as you’re handy with a spade and have a use for manure.’”
I burst out in a laugh. It feels good to laugh. I’ve been dog-tired after not sleeping in my bed for three nights and worrying about Morgan. “That sounds about right for Marcia. Where’d you see her, anyway?”
“Your mom’s gallery.”
