As she hurried along the brightly lit corridors, she passed by an elderly man shuffling along, pushing his IV stand. He smiled at her, and she nodded. Her shoes squeaked on the linoleum floors, and when she reached 319, she paused.
With a deep breath, she pushed all her worries from today and, most importantly, over Lucia, to the side and entered the room with a smile.
“Hey,” Penelope said. “Look who’s up.”
Lucia offered her a loopy grin. “They got some good stuff.”
She looked a bit better, maybe because she was awake.
Penelope gave a soft laugh. “I’m glad you’re not in pain.”
They were alone, and Penelope sat in the same chair as yesterday, holding Lucia’s hand.
“You came,” Lucia’s voice rang soft.
“Of course. And today, it’s just me in here, and your guard dog isn’t about to savage my flesh.”
Lucia laughed. “Ow, damn.” She shifted, almost curling in on herself.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Penelope squeezed Lucia’s hand.
“It’s fine. Just don’t be funny. My ribs don’t like it when I laugh. Or cough. Sneezing is also an adventure.”
Penelope pressed a quick kiss on the back of Lucia’s hand. “I’m so sorry you got hurt.”
“It’s all right. Who’d have guessed it’d be an accident.”
Penelope just hummed, unable to echo the sentiment.
“Are you all right?” Lucia asked.
She smiled. “Yes, I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”
“Fat chance.” Lucia murmured, her eyelids drooping again.
“You should rest.”
“Don’t wanna. All I do is sleep.”
“That’s good. It’s what your body needs.”
“Francesca called when Skye was here this morning.”
“Shecalledyou? Shouldn’t she have come here? You were hurt because…” Penelope still felt some kind of way about Francesca leaving Lucia at the scene, though rationally, she understood. But now? This was ridiculous.
“Francesca and hospitals don’t mix.”
“No one likes hospitals. That’s the least she could have done,” Penelope all but grumbled.
“You’re cute when you’re protective.”
“Oh, hush.”
“Francesca said she had an epiphany.”
“About what? Her manners?”
Lucia bit her lower lip. “Stop making me laugh.”
