He turned his head to the side and exhaled, then he turned back to me.“He’s out of surgery.And, I guess we have another twelve hours to go before we know if there’s another hurdle for him.”
I squeezed his hand, but it wasn’t very strong.
He shook his head.“Save your energy, Trouble.”
“Where’s Mom?She was here the last time I woke up.”
He lifted my hand and kissed it.“She went to get coffee.Are you hungry?I’ll see if they can get you some food.”
I shook my head.“I’m not hungry, but some water might be good.”
A tall, slim woman with brown hair strode into the room.“It’s a good thing I bought three water bottles instead of just one, then.”
She wore shorts and a T-shirt promoting the band Slightly Stoopid.Something in her facial features told me she was Ryan’s mom.This was confirmed when Gamble came in behind her.
“Ivy, it’s good to see you’re awake,” Gamble said.
“Hi,” I squeaked out.
“Did I hear you say she’s awake?”Mom asked as she hurried into the room.
My eyes widened and darted between Gamble and his wife.“You two met my mom.”
Ryan gave me a small smile.“It was bound to happen, Ivy.”
“I’m Victoria, Ryan’s mom, and your mother is lovely,” Victoria said, fiddling with the wrapper covering the sport cap of a water bottle.
“Kitten, let me do that before you drop it,” Gamble said, taking the bottle from her, undoing the cellophane, and handing it to me.
I realized she was as nervous as I was – probably more – since one of her sons was fighting for his life.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs.Garrison.”
She aimed a stern look at me.“Victoria.It’s nice to meet you, too, but I would have preferred much different circumstances.”
My mom wandered around to Ryan, holding out a to-go cup of coffee.“Here you are.Black with four sugars.You might want to cut back on that, young man.”
I looked at Ryan, hoping my eyes conveyed my apology.
He grinned at me, then looked at Mom.“Thanks, Debra.”
As I sipped some water, I struggled with guilt.
“What is it, Ivy?”Ryan asked.
I glanced between all the people in the room.“It’s just that I’m all right, but… I feel guilty keeping you from—”
Ryan grabbed my hand while he rose to prop a hip on the side of my bed.“Stop, babe.Only one person at a time can be with Killian, and he’s not conscious.”
Victoria stood on the other side of my bed, and she rested a hip on my bed too.“My best friend Heidi has always called these three hers, even after she had her own kids.She’s with Killian right now.Her husband, Block, is going to spend some time with him when she’s done.”
I recalled meeting Block.Then I had to fight off my emotions as it became clear how serious things were.“He’s a nice man,” I whispered.
Gamble smirked.It was diabolical – much like Killian’s the first time I met him.“Block is anything but nice, but he’ll like knowing you said that.”
By lunchtime I had no idea when I’d get out of the hospital.My room had turned into a revolving door of visitors…which was both comforting and surprising.I had no idea so many people cared about me after only being around me once or twice.
Alexandra hurried into my room not long after Gamble and Victoria went back downstairs to get an update from the doctor and to see Killian.Kristen came in right behind Alexandra, and I did introductions.
