“He will be, honey,” Gabriella said. “We want to take him home as soon as possible and care for him there. You can help if you want.”
“Absolutely. I’ll do whatever I can.”
Gabe wondered what he looked like. The way people who weren’t related to him reacted, it sounded like they thought he was a goner. And Misty, who was aware of the reincarnation possibility, probably didn’t understand it well enough.
“I…I wish I could hold your hand,” Misty said. “Apparently, I can’t even stay in the room with you, but I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Gabe wished she could hold his hand too. He didn’t realize how much he wanted that until he was relieved to hear her voice. How much time had passed? Did she just come from work?
“How long have I been lying here?”
“You arrived in the ER in the early afternoon. It’s about eight o’clock now,” the doctor said. “Miss, you really need to leave the room until you’re wearing a mask and sterile gown.”
He wondered why it took Misty so long to get there. Maybe she went out to dinner with Julie or had errands or something. He was pretty sure she would have dropped whatever she was doing and come as soon as she was called. Maybe people were waiting until they had more information about his condition. Yeah, that was probably it.
Her heels clicked across the floor a few paces, then stopped.
“Gabe? Remember the question you asked me?”
“I do,” he said, letting her know he understood that she was referring to his proposal.
“Well, my answer isyes.”
* * *
A few hours later, Misty and Parker put on sterile gowns and masks to enter Gabe’s room. She was nervous about her brother and her…her…fiancé. Using that word was still a little strange. Considering how they had left things, she didn’t know what to expect.
“Are you sure he’ll want to see you?” she asked.
“He said he would meet for a beer, right? Why wouldn’t he?”
“Well, it’s just that you tried to beat the shit out of him last time you saw him, and now he’s helpless and lying in a hospital bed.”
Gabe’s voice called out, “I’m not that helpless. I may be blind and wrapped up like a mummy, but I can still whoop your ass, Parker.”
Parker laughed as he entered the room. “I guess you must be feeling better.”
“It’s the drugs,” Misty mumbled.
“So, I hear you’ve decided to make my little sister an honest woman.”
“That’s the plan.”
“Good. Otherwise, I’d have to tell you to get out of that bed, you lazy shit, and fight me.”
“I thought we already did that,” Gabe said. “And wasn’t it because youdidn’twant me to marry her? I think you said I wasn’t good enough for her.”
“Yeah. I said I was sorry, right? If not, then I apologize. Seriously. I was just shocked, because, you know. She’s my little sister.”
“She ain’t little anymore, bro.”
Misty cleared her throat. “Hey. The sister is standing right here, guys.”
“Misty,” Gabe said. “I didn’t know you were here. I didn’t hear your high heels.”
“Yeah, I’m wearing sneakers. It’s my day off.”
Parker carried a chair over. “Here, Misty. Sit down.” As soon as Misty was comfortable, Parker continued. “I heard we almost lost you, Gabe. I would’ve felt terrible if that happened, especially after the way we left things.”
