“It’s okay, pixie. You’re going to be fine. The doc said you’ll have a doozy of a headache, but you’ll be sticking around a while.”
Something niggled in the back of her fuzzy memory. Jordan. She was supposed to be picking up their daughter. The SUV had the car seat, and Theo had let her use it so she could get Jordan early from school today. Had she been in the car? How could she not remember if she’d picked up their daughter or not?
“Jordan? Where is she?” As she struggled to sit up, an IV pulled at her hand.
“She’s fine.” Theo placed his hands on her shoulders to keep her from rising. “Angie picked her up an hour ago and took her back to the house.”
“What time…?” Tilting her head, she attempted to look for a clock.
“It’s almost five. It took forever for them to let me in here to see you. I gotta tell you, pixie, you scared the heck out of me.” His voice shook as he looked away and closed his eyes for a moment. When he turned back, he had his emotions under control.
“Bandit. I need to get back and feed the animals. Can I leave?”
Theo chuckled. “Not today. The doc wants to keep you overnight for observation. If everything checks out, they’ll let you go home tomorrow.”
Stay the night. In a hospital. No, no, no. Pulling at her IV, she pushed herself to sit. The bass rhythm got louder and stronger.
“I can’t stay here. Can’t, Theo.” Her heart challenged the drum beat to a marathon.
“Hey, settle down. I’ll call Rico and get him to take care of the pets. You need to relax.”
Theo stood, fishing his phone out of his pocket as he stepped toward the door. His hushed conversation let her know he was taking care of things, but he didn’t understand. Tentacles of panic gripped her as sweat dripped down her back. Getting out of here was imperative to her sanity. If there was any of that left in her.
As she eased toward the edge of the bed, Theo spun and dashed to her side. “Hey, the animals are all set. Rico’s going to take them to his house for a bit. If it’s not too late when I leave here, I’ll pick them up and take them home.”
“No, I’m not staying. I can’t stay here.” Her breathing grew rougher, and she clung to Theo’s arms as he leaned a hip on the side of her bed.
“It’s only a precaution, pixie. They’ll be here in a few minutes to transfer you to a regular room.”
“No. No, no, no.” Shaking her head back and forth caused the pain to become explosive, and her stomach objected. “Gonna be sick.”
Theo grabbed for the basin beside her bed and tucked it under her chin. Not much came out. Understandable after all she’d heaved earlier. Stupid concussion.
After wiping her mouth with a wet cloth, Theo eased her back down. Her energy level was equal to the piece of fabric. He pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“Why are you so freaked about staying here overnight?” He stroked the side of her face. God, that felt nice, calming. Not calming enough to make her want to stay here.
“I don’t like hospitals.”
Theo’s eyes narrowed. “Is there a reason?”
Her lips started to quiver, and she clamped down on the bottom one with her teeth. “I was in a hospital when they told me my baby died. And they wouldn’t let me see her.” Tears rained down her face as the agony of the past consumed her. It didn’t matter that her child was alive and nearby, the memories wouldn’t go away.
“Then, I had a nervous breakdown and they—” Her eyes flew to where Theo sat, his face like granite.
“You had a nervous breakdown? Is that what you meant when you said you were sick?”
Oh, God. Now it would start. The excuses for her not to see Jordan. The questioning looks and the microscopic examination of every little thing she did.
The door of the exam room opened, and two orderlies came in along with the nurse who’d been taking care of her.
“We’re moving you upstairs for the night.”
Grasping at Theo’s hand, she whispered, “No. Please.” Would he care or simply desert her? Leave her to flail in the darkness that had constantly surrounded her?
“I won’t leave you, pixie. I’ll stay with you and chase any shadows away. Okay? But you need to let these people do their jobs.”
Letting go, she withered back on the bed, her lips quivering and tears sliding down her face. Did he mean it, or was it only a ploy to get her to cooperate?
