“My husband,” I said, making my way to her bedside. “How are you feeling?”
She smiled. “Like my guts have been ripped out.”
“Can I get you anything?”
“Water would be great.”
I poured her some fresh water, and handed it to her, making sure she was comfortable.
“Where’s Hatch?” Maisie asked.
“He and Minus went somewhere,” Cricket said.
“Somewhere?” Maisie frowned. “Where?”
“They didn’t say,” Cricket said. “Minus dropped me off, and they headed out. Maverick and Harm are here on Maisie watch, along with Brian and a couple of other Dogs prospects.”
Maisie sighed. “But they’re together?”
Cricket nodded.
“Hand me my phone, love, please.”
Before Cricket could do that, however, Brynn walked in. “Well, it’s a party. Katie, I thought you were on your honeymoon.”
“Yeah, she was supposed to be, but her brother has a gossip problem,” Cricket tattled.
“No, he has my back,” I countered, turning back to Brynn. “I want to see Maisie’s chart.”
“Uh, HIPPA says I can’t let you do that, my friend,” Brynn countered.
“She can see it,” Maisie said. “Show her whatever she wants to see. She’ll hound me endlessly if you don’t and besides, she’ll be helping to take care of me at home.”
“Not Hatch?”
“Hell, no.” Maisie grimaced. “I mean, yes, he will, but he’ll want to carry me to the toilet, and if I so much as whimper, he’ll demand to know why, then probably call an ambulance. Katie will insist on checking on me, but she’ll be far more… what’s the word? Calm.”
Brynn chuckled. “Okay, I’ll log in and you can poke around.”
I smiled. “Thank you.”
Brynn logged in so I could go through Maisie’s chart and I frowned. “Honey, you were septic. Holy shit, no wonder you were in so much pain.”
“How did you manage to keep all of that from my brother?” Cricket asked.
“It wasn’t easy.”
“Whywould you keep it from him?” I asked, still reading through her chart.
“I thought I could handle it,” Maisie admitted.
“Sweetie, this was a lot,” I said, turning to face her. “Please promise me you won’t ever do that again. This could have gone badly. These two surgeons are some of the best and the ER got you in really quickly, but if you’d waited any longer…” I shook my head. “Well, I’m not going there.”
“But you’re not lecturing your first lady, are you, bestie?” Cricket admonished.
“I promise I will never do that again,” Maisie said. “I was trying not to worry Hatch, but I should have said something. At the very least, gone in and seen you or Gina.”
“Thank you.” I smiled, squeezing her arm. “Because I know what would happen if Hatch lost you, but the world doesn’t want to see what would happen ifIlost you.”
