"Eden, are you okay?" At least that's what she thought the distant voice said.
She tried to open her eyes because a verbal response felt impossible. Either her mouth had shrunk, or her tongue had swollen to the point that it filled her whole mouth. And it was as dry as a cotton field in bloom.
Her eyes refused to stay open, so she squeezed the hand that held hers.
"Talk to me. Are you okay?"
Recognizing Kennedy's voice, Eden fought a little harder to keep her eyes open. Her fiend's blurry face finally came into focus.
"Oh, thank goodness." Kennedy let out a breathy sigh and squeezed Eden's hand again. "You scared me to death. I was getting ready to call your dad to tell him he needed to come say his goodbyes." Despite the teasing twinkle in Kennedy's eyes, Eden recognized the tension in her voice.
"No." The word rasped out of her dry, swollen throat. "Don't call...my dad."
Kennedy's brow furrowed as she propped a hand on her hip. "I won't yet, but you need to call him. Imagine how upset he'll be when he sees a bill from the hospital come through your insurance."
Eden winced and closed her eyes again. No doubt he'd lecture her on the consequences of her actions and how she should have stayed in Spokane and done as he'd told her.
Like getting stung by a bee is direct punishment for disobeying him.
Kennedy squeezed her hand again before releasing it. "Scott and I brought your car in from the highway, and I brought you an overnight bag." She motioned to a small gray duffel on the chair.
Eden's heart sank, matching the lethargy that encompassed her body. "They're keeping me?"
"Yeah, you were in pretty bad shape by the time Rudy got you here."
Rudy.
The last thing she remembered before losing consciousness out on the highway was Kennedy's good-looking brother-in-law lifting her from her car. Heat filled her chilled body as embarrassment plagued her. He'd truly seen her at her worst.
Twice now. First the bloody nose at the wedding, and now this.
"He's here." Kennedy said quietly.
"My dad?" Eden's mind struggled to keep up.
"No, Rudy?"
"Why is he still here?" It took so much energy to get each word out.
"He refused to leave until he knew you were okay. But because he isn't family, they wouldn't let him in to see you. I'm lucky they let me in. I had to tell them you were my sister." Kennedy laughed. "Like we look anything alike."
Except for the fact that they both had brown eyes, they looked nothing alike. Where Kennedy was blond and fair-complected, Eden was dark-haired with an olive complexion, thanks to her mother's Italian ancestry. And where Kennedy was tall with curves to die for, Eden barely reached five six when she wore three-inch heels and could never be mistaken for curvy.
"You're the closest thing I have to family, Ken. Especially now." Tears pricked behind her eyes, and she quickly blinked what felt like puffy—and no doubt bloodshot—eyes to keep them from falling.
Kennedy patted her leg. "You and your dad will work things out. You'll see. He just needs time to realize how ridiculous this scheme of his is."
Eden wasn't sure she believed Kennedy. For a long time now, her father had been more concerned about money and his social standing in the community than he had her or the fact that she hated her job. She didn't have the energy to argue with her friend though, so she kept her mouth shut.
She just wanted to close her eyes and take a long nap. Wouldn't it be wonderful to wake up and find out that the last twenty-four hours had all been a dream? But then she'd have to quit the job she hated all over again.
"So can he come in?"
"Who?" Eden's brain felt so heavy and sluggish.
"Rudy. He's been pacing the halls since you came in. He wants to see for himself that you're alive."
Oh, him. Do I want him to see me like this?
