His eyes watered over. “Yes. It was around the same time as your accident.”
Her heart hurt, and yet, she’d been privileged to have him come to her in a dream to tell her good-bye. “I know. He came to tell me.”
Mick’s lips quivered as if he was trying to hold back from crying. He ran his hand along her leg softly.
“The funeral is in two days.”
“The doctors better let me out by then.”
“I’m sure they will.” He sighed. “So, now that I know you’re awake, I’ll go back to the hotel and change so that I can talk to the bank about the loan.”
“What time is it?”
“It’s two o’clock, I think.” He looked up at the wall for the clock. “Yes, it’s two-twenty. I’ll want to get in there before they close at five.”
“Mick,” she shook her head, “please don’t worry about that today. You need your rest. I don’t know how charming you’ll be with your words if you can’t think straight.”
His smile softened. “You’re right.”
“Please promise me you’ll wait.”
“Do you still want to go with me?”
“I do, but...” She glanced at the wires in her arms. “Unless they let me out tomorrow, that’s the only way I’ll be able to do it with you.”
He leaned closer, holding her stare. “Tell me what you want me to do, and I’ll do it. You’re the one in charge. Not me.”
If only she could grab his face and kiss him right now. “We are both in charge. We’ll be great together.”
He nodded. “I like that. I like that a lot, in fact.”
Butterflies danced in her belly. Did he mean what she thought he meant? Or was she just overthinking right now? Maybe it was Nicole that needed to rest in order to clear her head.
“I like it, too,” she whispered.
His gaze dipped to her mouth. Why did she have to be in a hospital bed right now?
“Do you want me to get you anything before I leave?”
“Yes. The nurse.”
His expression changed to worry. “Why? Are you in pain?”
She smiled. “No. It’s a...womanlyproblem.”
He sighed. “Okay. I’ll get the nurse. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He placed a gentle kiss on her cheek before pulling away.
As he left the room, she wanted to call him back so that he’d give her a better kiss. She wanted to tell him of the thoughts zipping through her mind right now, especially about her feelings for him. But she held her tongue. It was probably the painkillers the hospital was giving her. Why else would she think she was in love?
* * * *
NICOLE COULDN’T WAITto get out of the hospital bed and into her own bed. The only thing making her stiff and sore now was the horrible old hospital mattress. Thankfully, the doctor promised he’d release her before the funeral started.
Mary had come to help her get dressed. Of course, Nicole didn’t need any help, but it was nice to have her friend here, anyway. For the past two days, everyone walked around her like they were stepping on eggshells because of Poppie’s death. She wished they’d stop. Her grandfather wasn’t in any more pain, and that made her happy. She’d miss him, but she had so many memories to cherish in her heart.
She was anxious to see Mick again. He promised he’d meet her at the gravesite. The family purposely postponed the funeral until she was out of the hospital.
As she sat on the edge of the hospital bed, Mary jabbered on about the argument she and Kent were having at the moment, as she applied Nicole’s make-up. She prayed her friend didn’t cake on the eyeliner and lipstick. She didn’t want to look like Mary.
