Page 87 of Back To Our Beginning

“I promise you, Trenda. She was awake a few hours ago. The doctor said it was good she was sleeping. Her body needs to heal.”

Beau was talking.

Who needed to rest?

“Chloe, you should go down to the cafeteria. Being here isn’t good for you. You hate being in hospitals.”

That was Trenda, always the big sister.

I tried to hear what Chloe said, but I couldn’t.

Then I felt warm breath next to my ear, and I knew it was Beau. “Can you open your eyes, Sleeping Beauty? Your sisters need to see that you’re getting better. They’re girly girls and might cry. They don’t kick ass like you do.”

Did I just choke out a laugh?

“That’s right, Maddie. Open your eyes. Save me from their tears.”

I concentrated with all my might, and then I felt my eyelids lift. I slammed them back shut when the light slammed into my brain.

“Ow,” I hissed.

“What’s wrong, baby?”

“The light,” I whispered.

“Hey, Simon, can you turn off the light? It’s hurting Maddie.”

“Yeah. I’ll open the door, to let in just a little.”

“Good call.” Beau lightly squeezed my hand and kissed my cheek. “The light’s off,” he whispered. “You can open your eyes now.”

I found him staring at me as I opened my eyes. He hadn’t shaved, and he looked exhausted. There was still some black paint smeared on his face from when he rescued me at the house.

“I’m in the hospital? How long have I been here?” I croaked out the question.

“You’re in the ICU. The piece of glass nicked your spleen. They had to operate. It’s been fifty-hours and thirty-seven minutes since you’ve gotten out of surgery.”

I licked my dry lips. “Not that you were counting.”

He laughed.

Good, I hated to see the worry and tension on his face.

I looked over his shoulder and saw Chloe, Trenda, and Simon. I was shocked.

“Chloe’s here,” I whispered.

He looked over his shoulder. “Only two visitors allowed, Simon. I’m staying. Figure it out.”

I watched Simon grab Trenda’s elbow. “You can come back after Chloe’s visited with Maddie.”

I noted the look of indecision on Trenda’s face, but after a moment’s hesitation, she nodded. After they left, Chloe stood silently in the middle of the room. I turned my attention back to Beau. “Is Chloe okay?”

“God, I love you,” he said as he lifted my hand and kissed my palm. “Here you are in ICU and you’re worried about your sister. No, I don’t think she is,” Beau answered my question.

I nodded. “Tell her to come here.”

Beau hesitated, then picked up my hand and placed a kiss in the center of my palm. He got up from the side of my bed, careful not to let the mattress move too much. He went over and said something to Chloe. Somehow, he made her smile. Of course he did. He was Beau.