“Riding isn’t a good idea at the moment, but getting her up and out of the house is. The more you get her engaged in life and out of her head, the better she’ll be. The sooner she’ll heal.”
He’d take her over to the building she bought and show her all the renovations. He’d get her excited about opening the bookstore and café. A task, something to look forward to. It would help. He hoped.
“If you find her wallowing in her grief and sinking further into depression, let me know.”
He frowned. “I don’t want to have to medicate her.”
“We’ll help her any way we can to make sure she’s safe.” Dr. Nash didn’t say it, but Brooke’s depression could lead her to hurt herself. “I’ve contacted a colleague. Dr. Wick. He’s a psychiatrist and specializes in trauma. He’ll be by the house to check on her.” Dr. Nash slid a card with the appointment information across Cody’s desk.
“Thanks.” He’d ask Dr. Wick about things he could do to help Brooke, too.
“I gave her a couple of shots for the pain and to help her sleep. That’s all I can do right now. I’ll be back in a few days to take out some of the other stitches. Until then, watch over her. Give her what she needs.”
Cody would do anything to help her. He just wished he were confident in his ability to love her out of her grief and back to him.
Whatever it takes. I’m all in.
Chapter Sixteen
Cody dragged himself up the stairs and down the hall to Brooke’s room. Susanne must have heard him coming and met him outside the door.
“I…”
“Don’t, Susanne. Please don’t tell me to go to bed and leave her alone. I can’t. I just can’t.” He’d been down in his study working for hours, since the doctor left. Thanks to the drugs the doc gave her, Brooke had slept the last of the day away. He hoped she slept through the night, too. He’d eaten at his desk while he pored over his cases, trying to get as much work done as he possibly could, trying to free up his day to spend time with Brooke. He’d even managed to get a full update on the renovations in Brooke’s building. Everything was running on time and on budget, which had to be because of the relationship between his dad and Danny, the owner of the construction company.
He’d have to call Danny soon and thank him for working so hard on the project and invite him to dinner.
Susanne leaned a shoulder against the doorframe. “I was only going to say I’m leaving her in your hands. She’s sleeping well. I took the ice packs off about an hour ago. The swelling in her arms and ankle looks better.”
Cody ran a hand over his hair and looked at Susanne. She smiled like she knew something he didn’t. “Oh.” He didn’t know what else to say and shrugged. She wasn’t going to bar him from seeing Brooke. As if he’d let her.
“It’s been a long day. You’re working too hard. After that fight with Kristi and what happened with Brooke, you need your rest.”
“I’ll rest when she’s well again.”
“Are you really going to marry Brooke?”
“Yes. I want to marry her more than anything. I love her, and I want to make her happy. I want to give her what she’s always wanted. I want to be with her the rest of our lives.”
Susanne smiled. “Your father and I were married here at the ranch. It was a huge celebration. Your father had a lot of friends and business associates.”
“It was a beautiful wedding. Brooke was beautiful as your maid of honor.”
“Yes. It pleased her a great deal when I married Harland. She loved him, too.”
Brooke, the little girl Harland never thought he’d wanted, had claimed a very special place in his father’s heart. Daughters were not Harland’s idea of a family legacy. Brooke changed his mind.
Cody would kill to have his daughter here with him right now.
But Adam had taken her from them. And he’d pay for it. Because he and Brooke and the other victims shouldn’t be the only ones suffering.
Susanne reached out and held his shoulder and gave him a soft squeeze. “I’m all for the two of you getting married. She’sloved you practically her whole life. It took you a little longer to see she’s the best thing that ever happened to you. No one else understands you and accepts you the way she does. Sometimes we have to try different sizes before we find the best fit.”
“She’s the only one that fits. God, I’ve been such an idiot, and she’s paid such a high price for my stupidity.” He fisted his hand and resisted the overwhelming urge to punch something.
“Don’t do that to yourself, or to her. Forget about how we got in this situation, and let’s concentrate on making her well. Let that be the focus instead of what you did, what she did, and what Kristi did to get us here.”
Cody tilted his head. “We can’t change the past, so focus on the future?”
