“We found it!” she said excitedly. Pulling her hand out of the rabbitbrush, she and Derek saw that the cell phone screen was unbroken. When Charley squeezed the side button, the phone lit up. “It’s got a low battery, but it’s working.”
“Landing in the brush saved the phone from being broken and kept it dry.” Derek patted the dog’s head. “Good boy, Spike.”
“Yes, good dog, Spike,” Charley agreed. “Thank you.”
Spike barked, and they climbed back up the hill to Derek’s truck. When they were inside the vehicle, Derek pulled out his own cell and punched in a number.
“Owen, it’s Derek. We’ve got Sully’s wallet and cell phone.” He listened and said, “Charley Cooper is with Spike and me. The wallet appears untouched, and the phone seems to be okay. Are you still at the hospital?”
“I’d be happy to take the wallet and cell to him,” Charley whispered, desperate to see Sully. Letting her make amends was too much to ask, but she could deliver his property.
Derek nodded. “Charley says she would be happy to bring both to you.” He listened and said, “Okay, I’ll tell her. Any update on Sully?” After a moment, he hung up and looked at Charley. “They’re deciding whether or not to send Sully to the Neurosciences Center at UC Health University of Colorado Hospital in Denver.”
Charley flinched and squeezed back tears. “I’m going to Memorial Hospital.”
“Okay, and Owen would appreciate you bringing the wallet and cell phone.”
As Derek turned the truck around, a tow truck drove into view. He gave it a wave, and Charley was relieved to have successfully accomplished their mission before it had arrived. During the trip back to Triple C Ranch-West, Charley’s phone signaled a text from Leon saying he had a stomach virus and asking if she could visit him.
“Sully has to make it,” she said softly to Derek and texted,No, I can’t, to Leon.
“Sully’s tough just like his dad,” Derek replied.
Back at the Brevards’ house, Chloe came out on the porch to greet them. She walked down the steps, meeting up with them along the driveway. She was elated they had found Sully’s missing wallet and cell phone.
“I’m heading straight to the hospital to meet up with Owen and hopefully see Sully,” Charley told her cousin. “I can take Wyatt off your hands and drop him at my apartment.”
“Sully said at the party last night that he didn’t want you at your apartment alone,” Derek said, as Spike stood at his side.
“Right. I heard him say that too,” Chloe said and nodded. “Leave Wyatt here as long as you need to. Take your time and come back here whenever you’re ready. Night or day, we’ll have a bed waiting for you, Charley.”
“Thank—” A sob cut Charley off and she hugged Chloe. “Thank you.” As always, Chloe’s hug was warm and reassuring. How grateful Charley was for her family. “I don’t know what I’d do without all of you.”
“Give us an update on Sully when you can,” Derek said, draping an arm around Chloe.
“I will. Thank you, Derek, for letting me go with you.”
“No problem.”
Chloe smiled and said, “Go see about Sully.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Charley all but ran to her car and with a wave, headed down Triple C Ranch-West’s ponderosa pine-lined drive. Before turning right onto the highway, Charley glanced into her rearview mirror to see Chloe and Derek walking hand-in-hand up the porch steps. The front door opened, and Cooper appeared holding Wyatt with the twins right behind him. How wonderful it must be to have such a solid, loving marriage with children.
“I wish I could be so happy,” she began, pulling onto the highway, “with Sully.”
Heading toward Pikes Peak, she made herself drive the speed limit. But the trip from the country into town seemed never to have taken so long. When Charley finally reached Memorial Hospital, she zipped into the parking garage, found a spot, and parked. With another glance in the rearview mirror, this time she cringed. She’d cried all her eye makeup off and searching the wreckage hadwreakedhavoc on her hair. Reaching into her purse, she pulled out mascara and lipstick. After applying some of both, she hopped out of her car. Running her fingers through her hair, she hurried to the parking garage elevator. Punching the down button, she tapped her foot. The doors opened, shehopped in, and pushed the button to the main entrance of the hospital. When the doors didn’t close fast enough, she punched the button twice more.
Finally, she reached the inside of the hospital and found her way to the information desk. She was told Sully was still in the medical ICU. Reaching the waiting area of the intensive care unit, she found the unit itself lay beyond closed doors, as there was a strict limit on visitors. A discreet sign above a button and a speaker said to press the button in order to inquire about admittance. Charley pressed the button.
“Who are you here to see?” came a voice over the intercom.
“Sullivan Custis.”
There was a pause, and Charley whispered to herself, “Please, please let me in.”
After a moment the voice said, “Bed three.”
