“You didn’t think they’d keep me there forever, did you?” he said. “Those beds are in high demand, so they tossed me. I told you they were going to the last time we spoke.”
“Oh, I forgot. I’m a terrible sister.”
“You’re a great sister, other than that you were hanging out at my house and ended up trying to roast marshmallows in the living room.”
She lowered her head. “Riley, I’m so sorry.”
“We can talk about it later. But for now, are you okay?” He pointed to the monitors. “What did the doctor say?”
“That you’re going to have to keep me around for a while,” she said with a grin.
“Well, that’s tough news, but I guess I’ll have to take it.”
She held her hand out to him, but when the tube of her IV caught on the bed’s plastic side rail, she offered him the other hand. Smiling, he stepped forward and took it. She lost the battle with her emotions as tears welled in her eyes.
“You look so—” She reached up to touch his face, but he stepped back and preened.
“Buff? Gorgeous? Ultra masculine?”
“Stop it.” She brushed her damp cheek on the shoulder of that ridiculously oversized hospital gown. “You look…healthier.”
“Now, that wouldn’t take much. I was a broken shell.” He cleared his throat and pushed back his shoulders, his eyes damp. “But I want to thank you for taking me there.”
He clapped his hands as though to announce that the topic was closed and then pointed from her IV to the machine monitoring her heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature.
“Looks like I got out in the nick of time.”
“They just kept me for observation because of the smoke inhalation.” Then she lowered her head, the tears coming hot now. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have kept looking. You told me not to do it. And now…thehouse.”
“I know. Rachel, it was just a house. One we shouldn’t even have—” He stopped and shook his head hard.
“But you warned me—”
He raised a hand to interrupt her. “The only thing that matters today though is that you’re okay. I don’t know what I would have done— You and the girls…you’re all I have…”
At that, her brother moved to the window to look out at the dark sky. Her heart ached with the truth of it. It was the same for her though a voice inside told her she could have had someone else as well. She squashed it since it hurt too much to listen.
“I wasn’t there to pick you up. How did you even get home? And here?”
“I had help.”
As if he’d timed their entrance, Carly and Carissa bounded into the room, both holding out candy bars. They scrambled past her brother and right up on her bed, forcing her to shift her arm so one of them wouldn’t dislodge her IV.
“Uncle Riley said you had a fire.” Carissa said, already fumbling with her candy. “Can we eat them? Please?”
“Maybe in a little bit.”
Carly glanced over from her snack, her gaze intense. “Did you get hurt, Mommy? Mr. Mick said you’re okay. But please don’t play with matches anymore.”
Mr. Mick?She had to force herself not to ask as Riley had already turned back from the window and was watching her closely.
“I won’t play with matches,” she said, holding back a grin. “Promise.”
Her breath hitched when Mick rounded the curtain as though he’d been chasing the girls.
He gave both adults apologetic looks. “Sorry. Kept them out of here for as long as I could.”
“And bribed them with candy, I see.” Riley pointed to the evidence. “Would have done the same thing myself.”
