“He will be,” she said, fiercely shaking her head. “Try to focus on that. Don’t let your mind take you to scary places.”
Nick shifted from one foot to the other. He couldn’t seem to stand still. “That’s what my dad always says.”
Harlow knitted her brows together. “Where are your parents? Do they know about the accident?”
“Not yet,” he said, knowing he would have to make the important phone call sooner rather than later. “I wanted to wait until we received some solid news.” He knew they would both be beside themselves with fear and worry. They had been through a lot of over the years as parents of a Navy SEAL. When Luke had been seriously injured in an explosion in Afghanistan, the entire Keegan family had been in panic mode. Thankfully, he’d pulled through then. They needed another miracle now.
Just then a doctor wearing scrubs and a white jacket entered the waiting room. “Keegan. Luke Keegan.”
Please, please. Let there be good news.Stella jumped up from her seat and stepped forward with Nick placing himself beside her. He felt someone tightly gripping his hand. Harlow! Thank God she wasn’t going to make him face this moment without her.
“I’m Luke’s wife, Stella. And this is his brother, Nick,” Stella said in a quivering voice. She seemed so nervous and unsteady on her feet. He placed a steadying hand around his sister-in-law’s waist. No matter what happened, Nick would be there for Stella.
“Hello. I’m Doctor Griffith,” the woman said with a nod as she stood before them. “Mr. Keegan lost consciousness after being hit by rocks and debris during the rockslide.” Stella let out a little moan. “He’s conscious and alert now.”
Stella let out a cry of relief at the news. “Oh, thank God. My baby’s awake.”
Nick shut his eyes as relief swept over him. Hot tears pricked his eyes.
“We’re treating him for a concussion. He needs a lot of rest and relaxation. I’ve spoken to him about avoiding all devices, like cell phones, iPads, and television, but we can give you some literature to take home with you. He also sustained some bruised ribs and facial lacerations, but they look way worse than they are.” Dr. Griffith smiled at them. “You can go back and see him if you like. We’re hydrating him at the moment, but he’s raring to go. He basically said it’s hard to keep a good Navy SEAL down.”
“Sounds like Luke,” Nick said with a chuckle. When he looked over at Harlow, she was wiping away tears.
Nick turned back toward Harlow. He didn’t say anything, but he was hoping his eyes did the talking for him.
“I’m not going anywhere,” she said, reading his mind. “Tell Luke hello from me and that I’ll see him soon.”
***
The joy Harlow had felt humming and pulsing in the air around her after the doctor’s announcement was effusive. She couldn’t keep her eyes off Nick as he hugged Stella, then made the phone call to his parents. All was right in Nick’s world, and she couldn’t be happier for everyone who loved Luke. She couldn’t imagine how Nick would have handled another loss in his life. He’d been through enough tragedy to last a lifetime.
Nick and Stella quickly headed off to see Luke while she, Lucy, and the baby stayed behind in the waiting room. Harlow helped Lucy keep Jade occupied by playing peekaboo with her and rocking her on her hip as she sang an upbeat tune.
Time seemed to drag on as they waited for confirmation that Luke was doing okay. Even though the doctor had delivered the good news, it would be nice to hear it from a family member’s perspective. When the door finally swung open and Nick came through the doors grinning, she knew everything was going to be okay.
“How is he?” she asked as he strode toward her. Nick looked like a completely different person. Before he’d been on the verge of cracking. Now he was lit up like pure sunshine.
“As ornery as ever,” he said, chuckling. “Can you believe he was trying to get up out of his hospital bed so he could go home?”
“You can’t keep a Keegan man down,” Harlow quipped.
“Ain’t that the truth,” Lucy said. “I’m going to change Jade’s diaper before she gets fussy.” Lucy placed the baby on her hip and headed toward the bathroom with the diaper bag looped over her shoulder.
Now that she and Nick were alone, Harlow felt tongue-tied. There was so much she wanted to say, but where did she start? “I acted the fool” or “Forgive me” sounded about right, but what if Nick didn’t want to hear it?
“I’m so happy Luke is doing well. I know you must have been scared to death.”
Nick shuddered. “I don’t think I’ll be able to talk about those moments on the mountain for a very long time. I thought I’d lost him.” He ran his hand across his jaw. “I never wanted to feel that way again.”
She touched his arm. “I know, Nick. It’s obvious how much you two love each other.” She also knew that this accident must have brought back terrible memories of losing Kara. All she wanted to do at this moment was wrap her arms around him.
“You don’t have to stick around, Harlow, now that Luke’s out of the ICU. It’s getting late,” he said, glancing at his watch.
“I didn’t just come here for Stella. I mainly came for you, Nick.” She tilted her chin up and locked eyes with him, then quickly tore her gaze away. She was too nervous to see his reaction. Every insecurity she had was rising to the surface.
Nick looked down at her with a quizzical expression on his face.
“I’ve been a fool.” The words leapt from her mouth.
