Chapter Twenty-four
“HEY, AM I disturbing you?” Ren peeks into my room.
I’m in the most comfortable bed I’ve ever been in.
Pillows are propped up around me to keep me from having an ounce of pain.
I’m waited on day and night with the most amazing food.
A large-screen TV is within perfect viewing distance.
Jack comes into the room and reads to me every day.
Susan visits with me for most of the morning.
Kate and Ethan have colored me so many pictures, I have enough for a gallery showing.
Nothing could disturb me. Especially not Ren. Unless he’s talking about my dreams. He disturbs those all the time.
“Not at all. Come on in. Just seeing you makes me feel better.” My eyes have been longing for him.
It’s finally Sunday. Ren’s been here off and on. But today I get him for almost the entire day.
“How are you feeling?” he asks, sitting in the chair next to my bed.
“Like the most spoiled person in the entire world.”
“That’s my mom and dad. I knew you’d be pampered all week.”
“I knew I was going to be pampered, but I didn’t know I was going to be PAMPERED.”
Ren smiles his sexy half smile. “My parents are the best.”
“They are. I’m kind of in love with them.”
“They love you too. I get daily reports of how wonderful you are.”
“You do? And they’re talking about me?” I’m not being modest. I will never get used to being told I’m wonderful.
“Sure are. They don’t want you to leave, Bree the Beautiful.”
“It’s been a week. I can’t overstay my welcome. Technically, I don’t need to be on bedrest anymore.” I thought it would be a horrible experience. Instead, it’s been the most relaxing time of my life.
“Stay for today? I’ll take you home tomorrow if my dad clears you.”
“Your dad was a gastroenterologist.” Just stating the obvious.
“Shhhh.” Ren covers his lips with one finger. “Don’t burst his bubble. You’ve become his patient as far as he’s concerned. He misses working.”
“I have been well taken care of, believe me. Okay, fine. I’ll leave when he ‘releases me.’” I can’t help but use finger quotes.
It’s been nice having my own private doctor.
“But my car’s here. I can drive myself home anytime.
Believe it or not, I can drive with a cast. It won’t be a problem.
I would like to have my laptop, though, so I can get some work done from here. ”
“I’m way ahead of you. It’s already here.” He picks up my laptop case, dangling it in the air.
“Thanks, Ren. You know what? You’re the bestest. By the way, how’s my Mandy?”
“I’ve been sleeping at your townhome because her meow turns into a howl when I try to leave.”
“Seriously?” I miss my little buddy.
“Yep. She misses you something awful.”
“Are you sleeping in my bed?” There’s something romantic about the thought.
“I am. Is that okay?”
“As long as you don’t wash the sheets. When I return home, I want my bed to smell like you.” He always smells so good.
“That could possibly be the most romantic thing anyone has ever said to me.” He scoots his chair closer.
He doesn’t touch me. But I love having him close.
He studies me with his intense gaze. His eyes are filled with light and life.
Some people have dead eyes, like no one’s home.
Not Ren. Looking into his eyes is like seeing inside his soul.
“I’m glad you’re okay.” His voice is a balm, healing me. “When I heard the news, I…well, let’s just say it scared the heck out of me.”
“I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. But I do owe you an apology.
I left you when you needed someone the most. I’m so sorry.
I want to stand by your side as you face life.
I know we have to keep things on a friendship level only.
I accept it. I even respect you for your loyalty.
But someday…someday life will come for us.
I’ll be ready and waiting. However long it takes. ”
His eyes widen with glittering intensity. “Thank you, Bree. I’d…I’d love that. Not very many women would hang around waiting for a man to be free. I can’t…I can’t tell you what it means to me.”
His voice cracks. I think I might’ve left Ren speechless.
Our eyes hold each other’s. I want to kiss him, feel his arms around me. For now, our eyes are the only thing that can touch.
“I wanted to do some kind of grand gesture when I told you my decision. That didn’t quite work out.” I grimace, feeling disappointed.
“Oh, I’d say saving a little girl’s life was a grand gesture. Can’t think of a better one.”
“You know what? You’re worth waiting for, Ren Chambers.” Again, our eyes are locked.
Ren breaks the spell we’re under. “Okay, it’s waffle Sunday, and we’re watching a movie on the couch while we eat so you can be comfortable. Sound good?”
“That sounds amazing.”
“And I,” Ren starts moving pillows out of the way, “get to carry you to the couch.”
“I can walk, you know.”
“Don’t take this away from me,” he says in his silky voice.
“You know what? It hurts horribly to walk. I can hardly stand the pain. Please carry me.”
“What’s that? You’re in pain? Don’t worry, Bree. I’ll carry you,” Ren says loudly, so the whole household can hear him.
It’s the loudest I’ve ever heard him speak.
I wrap my arms around Ren’s neck, loving the feel of being held in his arms. His heart feels as though it’s about to beat out of his chest.
I do that to him. Me.
As we enter the living room, Jack raises one eyebrow. “You two aren’t fooling anyone.”
“I don’t know what you mean, Dad. Just helping a girl in need.”
“Yeah, and the sun is red, and the moon is purple.” Jack takes a large bite of waffle.
Kate squishes her face in thought, then runs to the window. “The sun isn’t red, Grandpa.”
We all burst into laughter at her cuteness.
Ren explains the joke to her so she doesn’t feel as though we’re all laughing at her.
The family has chosen to watch The Sound of Music together. One of my favorites.
Ren sits close to me. Not too close, but close enough for comfort. Close enough for my heart to beat double time. Because that’s what he does to me.
A small smile overtakes my face. It won’t go away for anything.
A WEEK LATER, I’m back in my townhome. I still have a cast on my arm, but my ribs are left free to heal on their own. Evidently, wrapping them with an Ace bandage for support constricts deep breathing, which isn’t healthy for the lungs. Sorry, ribs. You’re on your own to heal naturally.
That being said, I’m basically recovered, but I still need to be careful as my bones mend.
I’m continuing to work from home, which Mandy loves. She won’t leave my lap. What happened to my independent cat? Now she’s my constant companion.
I’m not complaining, though. She loves me. I’ll take all the love I can get.
After three days stuck at home, I’m about to go stir crazy.
I decide to visit Allison again. I miss the connection I was creating with her.
I love that Ren not only approves of me visiting her, but he appreciates my efforts as well.
Doing something for her is the same as doing something for him. Such a sweet concept.
Quinn was right. Ren’s the best of the best, and I need to recognize his strong qualities, not turn away when those qualities don’t go along with my agenda.
I’m going to hold on tight to him. There aren’t very many Rens in the world.
Allison does stand between me and Ren, yet I feel for her situation. She doesn’t spark jealousy in me. Instead, she’s my soft spot. She deserves love and attention. She’s the weakest of the weak, relying on other people for her mere existence.
I actually am becoming a better person. The old Bree would’ve written them all off and walked away without looking back. Instead, I’m invested.
Of course, once I’m sitting across from Allison, there’s no recognition in her eyes. She does look at me with her strange deep stare, like she’s trying to communicate. But I’m still convinced I’m imagining it.
I tell her all about what happened with Quinn, with the accident, with saving Jordyn. About feeling loved by my tribe and how it has changed me.
She barely blinks, and her stare is vacant. It doesn’t matter. I still feel a strange connection to her. Maybe it’s because we both love Ren.
Jack arrives to feed her dinner. I’ve stayed for far too long. I try to avoid running into Jack. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s because he’s a bit intense when he’s with Allison.
I get it. It’s not an easy thing to witness.
For the second time, Allison grabs my wrist as I lean down to give her a quick hug. I look into her face, but it’s still as blank as an erased chalkboard. Yet her grip on my wrist is iron-like. At least as iron-like as her insufficient strength allows.
When I straighten, she doesn’t release her grasp.
Jack grabs my arm and peels back each one of Allison’s fingers. “Now, Allie. Bree can’t stay all night. It’s dinnertime. Your favorite time of the day.” He laughs a little too loudly.
A chill runs up and down my spine. There’s something off about Jack’s tone of voice, his wild laughter. It’s so unlike him. Again, I chalk it up to the difficult situation.
“I’d better go. You’re a brave man to take on the task of feeding her every night.” Although I don’t blame her for hating the food. Even when her brain won’t work properly, she recognizes distasteful food. Poor thing.
Jack shrugs. “Allie and I have come to an understanding. If she eats her dinner like a good girl, then I’ll stop pestering her.”
I force a smile. What a strange thing to say.
Jack might be a doctor, but his bedside manner around a woman with brain damage leaves a lot to be desired.
Although she does need to eat to survive.
Ren refused to take away water and food, which would allow her to pass.
He said he couldn’t watch her die from starvation.
A natural death, yes. But not a forced one.