“Come on,” she said. “Come on with me.”
He looked back at the hospital bed.
From behind Camellia, a nurse said, “Your mom’s okay now, Wolf. You can go. We’ll take care of her.”
Nodding, Wolf turned to touch his mother’s face one last time, and then he let Camellia take him home.
A short while later, Camellia stood beside her mother outside the guest room door. She’d texted ahead, so Mom had been ready with herbal tea and a gentle sedative. She’d been a nurse until she retired, and she always had good meds on hand. Wolf had accepted both with thanks, then crawled into bed with his clothes on. Thankfully, he’d fallen asleep almost as quickly.
As Camellia pulled the bedroom door closed, her mom said, “I thought you told me you were done bringing broken men home?”
Camellia paused, the door still open just a crack. “It’s just for the night. And I don’t think he’s broken. Just bruised to hell and gone.”
“Yeah,” her mom replied. “I couldn’t have left him there either.”
“That sedative you gave him worked fast.”
“He probably hadn’t eaten. That poor man. That poor, sad,gorgeousman. You werenotkidding about that.”
“I hope he’s gonna be okay,” Camellia said, and she pulled the door closed. “I can’t even imagine losing you, much less finding out the same day that you’re not really Erica Rio and, moreover, that you didn’t give birth to me, but plucked me out of a river with no idea where I came from. I think I’d be curled in a corner, sucking my thumb.”
“No, you wouldn’t. You’d do exactly what you’re going to do for him. Beat the bushes till you scare out the truth.”
“You’re right,” she said with a firm nod. “That’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
“Yes, you’re gonna help that young man out. But in the meantime, you need to help yourself out, too. Are you gonna be okay with all this?
“I’m a professional,” she said. “And a confirmed bachelor. I’ll be fine.”
“Ooookay,”said her mom. But she didn’t sound like she believed it.
CHAPTER THREE
Wolf
Wolf woke up to a different world.
He was in a strange room with white curtains in a white bed covered with a fat white comforter. The walls were palest blue with a border of stenciled flowers near the ceiling. It was a feminine room, and for a moment he didn’t know why he was in it. But then he remembered. His mom had died and Camellia Rio had brought him home to her own.
He was mildly embarrassed, and then worry crept in.
A soft tap came on his bedroom door, and when it opened, an older version of Camellia peered in at him. Her blue eyes were a shade lighter than her daughter’s, and her hair was just as long, but its multiple shades went from silver to dark gray. He’d met her last night and struggled to recall her name.
She leaned in. “You’re awake. Good. If you’re groggy, it’s a sedative hangover.” When he raised his eyebrows in surprise, she said, “Don’t worry. I’m a nurse. Retired now. That’s why welive so near the hospital. I used to walk to work more often than not.”
“That’s why Camellia got there first, I guess.” He closed his eyes, rubbed his head.
“Food will help, and I’ve got plenty.”
“You’ve been too kind already, Mrs. Rio. I couldn’t?—”
“It’s already cooking, so don’t make a fuss. And it’s Erica. I can bring it up here or?—”
“I’ll come down.”
“Bathroom’s down the hall, first door on the left.” She pointed as she said it. “I left a change of clothes in there for you. My late husband’s, and he’d be overjoyed to share them. They’ll be too wide and too short, I reckon, but good enough to get you home.”
“I should get back to the hospital.” He blinked three times, unsure of why. “Shouldn’t I?”
