Adele nodded again. “I don’t love them, but who does?”
“This will get the medication into your system faster,” Holly explained.
After Holly stepped out and gestured for Haven to follow, I leaned in closer. “Adele, are you okay?”
“I’m going to be.” She paused and let out a shaky sigh. “I’m sorry. I started panicking because I knew I needed to come to the hospital, and I hate the hospital. You have no idea how much I hate the hospital.”
“I bet you do,” I said, clearing my throat around the knot forming there.
I’d seen and felt the scars on her chest. Intellectually, I knew what they meant. But I hadn’t let myself absorb what they represented to her—how many surgeries, how many days and hours and more she’d spent in medical settings, how many times she had to surrender her control to a situation that snatched it from her. She grew up with her life literally depending on the people around her.
“Holly will take good care of you,” I offered.
“I know. It’ll be okay. I might not have to go to Anchorage.”
“I think you’re going to be okay,” I said, as much for myself as her. “I love you, Adele.”
Her eyes lifted to mine, and for the first time today, I saw her actually take me in.
“I’m sorry for all of this,” she whispered.
Her apology nearly unraveled me. I could barely register it over the jackhammer pounding of my heart—the rush of joy, of love, of sheer relief.
“I love you,” I repeated. “You’re going to be fine.”
“I will.”
“Has this happened before?” I asked. “Since your surgeries?”
“It’s always a possibility, but?—”
She didn’t get to finish before Holly stepped back into the room, wheeling in an IV stand, with Haven on her heels.
“I’ve got your help,” Holly said cheerfully. “You’re gonna be floating in a few minutes.”
Adele let out a little laugh, and the tension in my chest loosened a fraction.
Haven looked over at Adele. “Do you want me in here?”
She waved a hand weakly. “Of course, we might as well all be in here together. I think maybe you make Cole feel better.”
A laugh rustled in Haven’s throat as he sat beside me and curled a hand over my shoulder, his touch grounding me inside.“You got it, man. Anything to help Cole calm down, because if Cole’s calm, maybe you’ll be calm.”
“Oh, she’ll be calm soon,” Holly said.
Holly had inserted the IV so swiftly and efficiently, Adele hadn’t even noticed until she glanced down at her forearm. “Wow, you’re good.”
Holly waggled her brows. “I pride myself on it. I’m not officially a phlebotomist, but when people are at the ED, I don’t want them to have to worry about this hurting.”
“Thank you,” Adele whispered.
“All right,” Holly said. “Now, shall we call your sister?”
Chapter Thirty-Three
ADELE
Speakerphone and soft landings
