Page 123 of Carson

But I also don’t want to leave the safety of this room.

I sit at Kelsie’s vanity and close my eyes, imagining what it would have been like to grow up here.

Lily brings in a stack of sheets.

“After we get your bandages changed, I’ll change your bed.”

“Oh, that’s okay. I can do it.”

Dan steps into the room.

“No, ma’am. I’ve got it,” Lily says, bustling around, pulling the curtains back wide to let the sunlight in.

Dan snaps and points for me to lie down.

He goes over the instructions Doc gave him yesterday to Lily.

She listens as she sets everything up.

When she gets the bandage off, they both wince. “Oh, honey, this looks like it hurts.”

Dan leans in for a closer look. “It’s a little better today,” he says encouragingly.

I glance down. It’s not better. It actually looks angrier.

“Run downstairs and get her a snack. She needs to have something on her stomach when she takes her medication.”

He doesn’t hesitate and turns to do her bidding.

“I hate that I’ve been such a bother. Maybe Carson can move my van up here.”

“Don’t be silly. You are just fine where you’re at. There is no hurry. Dan and I enjoy looking after our family. You are not a burden.”

Before she gets the bandage on, the twins knock on the doorframe, sticking their heads in. “Are you decent?” Carson asks.

His mom waves them in. “She’s dressed. Come here. You can help me with the tape.”

Carson crawls up on the other side of the bed beside me as Cole looks over his mom’s shoulder.

“Ouch!” he says as Carson reaches across me for the tape. “I got shot once.”

His mom’s eyes widen, and Carson draws his fingers over his mouth, telling his brother to zip it.

“I mean not shot. It was like a paintball gun or something. You know, I can’t remember right now.” He starts to back out of the room. “I think I’ll go see if Dad needs a hand.”

Dan pushes him back into the room. “I brought an assortment,” Dan says, setting a tray at the foot of the bed filled with snacks.

Cole immediately helps himself. “Oh, these are good.” He tosses me a package of cookies, and they land in the center of my chest.

“Be careful, or you’re not going to get to visit her,” Lily scolds him gently.

Carson’s focus is on my wound. “I think she needs a little more antibiotic over here,” he says, grabbing a pair of gloves from the supply the Doc left.

Lily hands him the cream and sits back, letting him take care of it. She watches, making sure he does it right.

I stare at the ceiling, unsure what to do with all this attention.

“Much better,” she praises, holding the bandage in place as he tapes around it.