Loving Lizzy (The Serenity Mountain Series Book 6)

Chapter Fourteen

Michael leaned back on the couch his head jerked as he realized he started to doze off. He shook his head and glanced in Lizzy’s direction. She rested peacefully. Checking his phone, he sighed in relief that he didn’t miss the next dose of her meds. Thinking it might work better for him to set an alarm on his phone to vibrate in case he nodded off again, he grabbed his device, and set the time for the next medication round. At twenty-three hundred, he fought against the sleep trying to overtake him. What if she woke up and he didn’t hear her?

A soft knock made him glance at Lizzy before jumping up to answer the door. He tiptoed across the room and opened it to find Chase and Kassie standing in the opening. Kassie carried a bag with her and scowled deeply at her husband.

“What brought you down here in the middle of the night?” he whispered.

Kassie leaned in, “I came to relieve you. Chase insisted on driving me down because he’s an overprotective buffoon. May I come in?”

Michael backed up allowing the couple to come in. “Lizzy’s sleeping and I’m waiting to give her the next dose of meds.”

Kassie pursed her lips. “I’m on call tonight. Maddie and Joe slept at our house for Emma. I’m spending the night here.”

“I’ve got it covered. You don’t need to stay over,” he told her.

She turned toward Chase. “I told you he’d be the stubborn one.” She shook her head. “How much sleep did you get at the hospital?”

Scraping his hand over his tired face, he gazed at her.

“Exactly. You’ve cared for her all afternoon and plan to stay up all night again? As a doctor, what advice would you give your patient’s parents?”

He straightened and knew what point Kassie was trying to drive home.

“I’d advise my patient’s caregivers to take breaks. It keeps them from burning out and makes them better caregivers,” he sighed.

“See, he can be reasoned with,” she crooned, instantly reminding Michael of Victoria. Kassie apparently took lessons from the best.

Chase leaned down and kissed his wife, he envied the obvious connection between the two.

“I’ll pick you up in the morning, call if you need me,” he murmured before addressing Michael. “Do what she tells you, man. These women don’t take the word ‘no’ graciously. Save yourself the time and frustration.”

Kassie playfully elbowed him. Chase grinned as he turned and closed the door quietly behind him.

“Give me a report, then I want you to take a shower and head straight to bed. You can’t help her if you’re dead on your feet. Catherine will take the shift tomorrow night and Carol, the day after. We’ll continue until she’s on the mend and you can rest. In the morning, I want you to eat a good breakfast and get some air. Go for a walk on the mountain or around the town,” she ordered.

“I’ll admit I’m tired and I appreciate you filling in tonight. Once I get a good night’s rest, I can handle it from there. Catherine’s pregnant and I don’t want her driving down the mountain at night and Carol’s watching Jake,” he argued.

Kassie sucked in a deep breath. “Catherine prefers to work at night because the baby moves and keeps her up. Carol moved back home and Jake’s doing better. I assure you we can handle nights. When you worked at the hospital did you tell the nurses working the graveyard shift, they needed to stay home because they took care of their families and that pregnant women don’t work or drive in the dark?”

“You’re twisting what I’m saying,” Michael complained.

Sighing, she took him by the arm. “You live in Serenity now; we care for each other. Let us help you,” she pleaded.

“I’ll take a shower and get some shuteye. We’ll see how the morning goes and talk about the rest then. I’m too tired to fight you and somehow, I know I won’t win anyway,” he grumbled.

“Get used to it, I like my newfound superpower,” she quipped.

He shook his head as he walked over to a sleeping Lizzy. He checked the drains and made sure she felt warm enough. Pointing out the logbook to Kassie, he showed her the medication times. Satisfied, she seemed comfortable, he nodded to Kassie, who settled herself on the couch and pulled out a baby blanket and two large needles. Once in their bathroom, he turned on the shower and undressed. He stepped into the steam and let the water glide off his back. Weariness filled him as he thought over the day. Hopefully after the test results came in, his anxiety would calm down. He took the bar of soap and scrubbed off the grime of the hospital and admittedly began to feel better. Having Kassie stay might give him a moment of respite.

He stepped out of the shower and dried off. His body felt sluggish as he pulled on a set of sleeping pants in case Kassie called for him. He rolled the blankets down the bed and slid in. The space next to him, void of Lizzy’s presence, made his heart ache. He let his body float and his last thoughts remained on the woman in the next room. Lizzy deserved a chance at a happy life after living in foster homes, dealing with his abduction and the death of their son. If only life were fair…