Chapter 34
Allyson wasn’t sure if she’d ever be warm again, but the heated blankets the nurses brought her were undoubtedly the best thing in the world. She was slightly hypothermic when she arrived at the hospital, and she’d broken the ankle, which sucked, but she was alive and safe.
She looked next to her and smiled at Crash as he softly snored in the chair, his arms crossed and his head hung down. He hadn’t left her since she was admitted, and no matter how often she told him to go, he refused.
Even with two days’ worth of stubble and mussed hair, he was still the most handsome man in the world to her. She lay her head back on the bed and sighed. The doctor wanted her to stay for a couple of days to make sure there were no issues with being out in the cold weather for so long.
She’d only been out there for maybe two or three hours, but thankfully, she had managed to move into the trees to keep from being out in the wind.
“I’ve come baring food from Jack’s place for the winter princess,” Cameron walked into the room with several bags.
Crash’s head popped up, and for a second, he looked dazed. He shook his head and went to relieve Cameron of some of the bags. She was starving because the food in the hospital sucked.
“Winter princess? Really?” Allyson rolled her eyes.
“According to Elijah, you had icicles on your eyelashes.” Cameron chuckled.
“He is full of it,” Allyson shook her head.
When she took the first bite of the thick, delicious burger, she hummed with delight. It was the most amazing thing she’d ever tasted at that moment. When she moved to sit up, she grimaced.
“Do you want me to get the nurse?” Crash quickly dropped his food on the table.
“No, I’m fine. I moved too fast,” Allyson assured him.
“If you need something for…” Crash stopped when she glared at him.
“Says the man who refused pain medication not too long ago,” Allyson retorted.
“She’s not wrong,” Cameron said, then took a huge bite of his burger.
By the following day, Allyson wanted to go home and was in the middle of telling the doctor when she realized she didn’t have a home anymore. Her house was gone.
“What am I going to do?” She sighed.
“I think your issue is taken care of,” Bethany smiled from the doorway of the room. “Hi, Adam.”
“Hello, Bethany,” Dr. Adam Cramer replied.
Adam was a colleague and knew most of the same people Allyson knew since he practically treated most of them at one point or another.
“Well, I’ll get the nurse to bring in your release papers, and well, you know the drill.” Adam smiled and left the room.
“Is he married yet?” Bethany chuckled as she sat next to Allyson.
“No, I don’t think he’ll ever settle down. He’s married to the hospital, I think,” Allyson threw back the blankets and frowned at the cast. “This is going to be inconvenient.”
“It’s only for a few weeks. It could’ve been a lot worse.” Bethany’s voice hitched.
“I know,” Allyson didn’t have to be told.
“Brent finally left your side, I see,” Bethany teased.
“He’s not far. Went to get a wheelchair.” Allyson chuckled. “What did you mean when you said my issue had been taken care of?”
“You’ll find out.” Bethany grinned as she helped Allyson dress.
The drive back to Hopedale was relaxing, and she managed to sit so that her leg didn’t get jostled. Crash held her hand most of the way and brought it to his lips to kiss her knuckles. When they passed her street and headed toward his home, she wasn’t sure what was happening.
“Before you protest, hear me out,” Crash said as they stopped in his driveway.
“Okay?” Allyson said, dragging out the word.
Crash turned in his seat and took both her hands in his. She wasn’t sure where this was going, but from the expression on his face, he seemed determined.
“Your house is not livable right now, and I’m sure you’ll want to rebuild it, but until you do, I want you to stay with me and the kids.” He cupped her cheek. “I love you, Ally, and I want you to live with me for the rest of our lives, but that’s up to you. Right now, this can be temporary if that’s what you want. No pressure.”
Allyson glanced up at his house and smiled at Caleb waving from the large living room window. Megan was behind him, holding little Mila and helping the baby wave as well. Was this what she wanted? She turned back to Crash and smiled at the hopeful glint in his eyes.
“I’ll stay,” she whispered as she leaned forward and kissed his lips.
Over the next several weeks, Allyson’s family and friends did what they could to salvage anything from her burned-down home. They found her safe, which contained all her papers and thankfully was fireproof. Most of everything else was either damaged or trashed.
Her dad did bring her copies of any pictures he had of her mom and photos of her as a kid. Thankfully, she’d been smart enough to save all her photographs of Cameron on a thumb drive that was also kept in the safe.
She managed to still see patients at the clinic with the help of a knee scooter that Crash had gotten for her because the crutches were not working for her. She only had another couple of weeks left with the cast, and she couldn’t wait to get it off.
Axel had been struggling a lot, especially when the medical examiner identified that the remains found in Allyson’s house was Felicity. She had been dead before the fire, but that didn’t make things easier for Axel. He may not have wanted to be with the woman anymore, but nobody wished that on her.
She’d talked to her father about the property where her house once stood and asked if he wanted to keep it or if they should sell it. Her dad came up with the idea of turning it over to Cameron so that he could build his own place there someday.
Crash was having nightmares but had been seeing the therapist to work through them. With everything that happened, it was a wonder they all weren’t in a psychiatric hospital. The men who were arrested from the warehouse were finally answering questions since they all knew about Emir’s death. They admitted to breaking into Allyson’s home to plant cameras. They said Emir was convinced Allyson knew Sidney because of her relationship with Crash.
Titus was recovering from his gunshot and rented an apartment in St. John’s. He wanted to get to know his daughter, but it was going to be a gigantic ask for Sidney. Still, the man was trying.
“I’m convinced it would be easier to throw the food over Mila,” Crash grumbled as he tried to feed the little girl.
“Pretty sure that wouldn’t help.” Allyson laughed.
Crash sighed as Mila giggled and grabbed the spoon, knocking it all over the tray of the highchair. Some of it flicked up and hit him in the middle of the chest, making Allyson stifle her laughter.
“Both of you think this is funny, huh?” Crash narrowed his eyes and scooped up a heaping spoonful of baby food.
“Don’t even think about it,” Allyson cautioned.
“Why? You can’t run away now,” Crash teased and pulled the spoon back as if he were going to flick it.
“Brent,” Allyson said with a warning tone.
“Allyson.” Brent smirked.
Allyson struggled to stand up and pull her scooter closer. Caleb was on the other side of the table staring at the standoff, and when Crash released the tip of the spoon, the food hit her right in the chest.
“Uh oh,” Caleb giggled. “You’re in trouble now, Uncle B.”
Before Allyson could retaliate, Mila squealed and slammed her hands down on her tray. Crash turned in time to see the bowl of food completely flip over and cover his pants.
“Karma,” Allyson laughed.
“Are you taking her side, little girl?” Crash crouched in front of the baby.
“Da.. da,” Mila said with a giggle.
Crash stopped and stared at the baby. They had been calling him Brent in front of Mila, and he never discussed what they would call him in the long term. He’d already had Mike O’Connor put in the legal adoption papers since his specialty was family law.
“Did she…” Crash stared at Mila.
“She called you Dada.” Caleb sat up excitedly.
“I don’t… I never…” Crash locked eyes with Allyson.
“To her, that’s what you are.” Allyson smiled.
Crash dropped down on the chair in front of the baby, and Allyson could see he was struggling to keep his composure. Between the loss of his friends and everything that had happened over the last couple of weeks, he didn’t have time to grieve.
“Don’t cry, Uncle B.” Caleb stood next to Crash.
“I’m okay, buddy.” Crash hugged the little boy.
“I miss Mommy and Daddy.” Caleb rested his head on Crash’s shoulder.
“Me too.” Crash’s voice cracked.
Allyson wished she could do something to take away the pain of the loss for both Crash and Caleb, but the truth was that they needed to go through the stages.
“Mommy and Daddy will always be in here,” Crash whispered and pointed to Caleb’s chest.
“In my heart,” Caleb smiled.
“That’s right, buddy.” Crash kissed the top of his head.
“You and Ally are our other mommy and daddy, right?” Caleb looked up with hopeful eyes.
Crash met Allyson’s gaze across the table, and she swallowed down the lump in her throat. She wanted lots of children and never thought she would get the chance again.
“Is that what you want?” Crash asked, but he was still watching Allyson.
“Yes,” Caleb said without hesitation.
Crash didn’t say anything, as if he was waiting for her response. What could she say? There was nothing she wanted more than to be with Crash and help raise Mila and Caleb. She nodded.
“Then let’s see what we can do about putting that plan into action.” Crash’s face lit up.