Chapter Twenty
G uilt swamped Charlie as Jared’s family piled into the waiting room, a place they were too familiar with even if it was a different hospital. She backed against the wall, hoping nobody sought her out. She didn’t know what to say beyond telling them it was her fault Jared was injured.
He’d come to as the ambulance arrived and not only did she refuse to leave his side, he refused to let them transport him in the bus without her. But when they pulled into the emergency room, they’d rushed him inside, leaving her to sit in the waiting room where she called Noah. She asked him through her tears to let the family know, and settled in to wait for word from a doctor.
Noah and Fallon walked in last. They’d needed to get a babysitter before they could come. Though she hated to leave here, Charlie had offered to go home to the girls so Fallon could be here for her brother, along with her husband. Maybe it had been due to the hysteria Charlie couldn’t control but Noah insisted she stay put and they’d be there soon.
Before the couple could make their way to her, Remy strode over and leaned against the wall by her side. “Hey.”
“Hi,” she said softly. “I’m so sorry.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “Did you hit him with the tire iron?” he asked.
She shook her head, her lips lifting in an unwilling semi-smile. “No.”
“Then don’t apologize. When I met Raven, she was being stalked by her half-brother. If I’d been injured, would it have been her fault?”
Again, she shook her head.
“Nobody blames you,” he assured her, astutely getting to the core of her concern. At least her second worry because she was jumping out of her skin not knowing anything about Jared.
She swiped at her eyes. “I called the police as soon as those guys jumped out at them, but it took time for them to get there. The ambulance took even longer. But Jared was awake the last time I saw him.”
Remy squeezed her hand. “That’s good, honey. Now breathe. If I don’t take care of you, my brother is going to kick my ass.”
She blew out a long breath. “Where’s Raven?” she asked.
“She went to get some coffees.”
“That’s good. I’m sure everyone can use them.”
He nodded. “I wish we’d hear some news about Jared, though.”
Charlie nodded. “I know. I can’t take the wait.” She looked around, noticing Raven walk in, coffee in to-go trays in her hands. “I’m fine. Go help Raven,” she said.
He cocked his head to the side. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah. Thanks for checking on me.”
He winked at her. “Anytime.”
She glanced up at the ceiling. Brown stains—water marks—told the tale of how old the structure was. Closing her eyes, she forced herself to box breathe, a count of four in, hold for four, and breathing out for four, then repeating the cycle to calm her anxiety.
“Charlie?” Noah said her name.
Her eyes snapped open. “Hey,” she said to him and Fallon. Meeting the other woman’s gaze wasn’t easy. “I’m sorry. He was helping me rescue my brother and… it shouldn’t have happened. I—”
Fallon grasped Charlie’s hand. “It’s not your fault.”
Charlie swallowed over the lump in her throat. “That’s what Remy said but it sure feels that way.”
“I—”
“Jared Sterling’s family?” Fallon spun toward the doctor and rushed forward to hear what the man had to say.
Charlie lingered in the back, hoping to hear or have the news repeated to her secondhand.
“There are a lot of you,” he said, chuckling.
That had to be a good sign, right? Charlie wondered.
“We ran scans and besides a concussion, there’s nothing alarming about the results. We used staples to close the wound. He’ll have a nasty headache and some side effects of that but otherwise he’ll recover just fine.”
Charlie didn’t hear anything else he had to say. Her legs began to shake and dizziness assaulted her. Spots floated in front of her eyes and she recognized the signs. She was going out. A glance told her the nearest chair was too far, so she tugged on Noah’s sleeve and lowered herself to the floor, putting her head between her knees.
“Jesus.” Noah bent down and she heard the rest of the family’s chatter, but all she could do was breathe and think, thank God .
Jared was going to be okay.
***
Jared loved his family but if one more sibling walked in—he’d seen his father, then his brothers with their wives—he was going to scream.
Remy and Raven strode in after Fallon and Noah left, and Jared narrowed his gaze. “Nothing personal, but where the fuck is Charlotte?” he asked.
Raven inclined her head. “You tell him,” she said.
Remy stepped forward. “Charlie insisted the family come in first. Believe me, we tried to convince her otherwise, but she feels guilty and doesn’t want anyone upset with her. Or, to quote her words, more upset with her—though nobody’s mad. Everyone understands the situation.”
“Do me a favor?” Jared asked. “One of you go get her?”
Raven smiled. “I’ll do it. They’re enforcing the ‘two at a time’ rule. Remy, stay with your brother. I’ll be in the waiting room with your father and Lizzie. Everyone else has seen you and gone home.”
Once Raven had left, Remy pulled up a chair, sat down, and leaned forward. “I also think Charlie’s feeling out of place without you.”
Jared knew better than to nod, add to that shake his head or move much, because the pain was excruciating. The doctor had ordered a pain killer he didn’t want to take until he’d seen Charlotte. Then he’d be happy passing out since they insisted on keeping him overnight for observation.
Charlotte’s feelings didn’t surprise him. She wasn’t used to having a family who cared. People who, once they included you, never let you go no matter what happened.
A light knock on the door had him turning his head. Catching sight of her dark hair, he did his best not to wince. The last thing she needed to see was how much pain he was in.
“Come on in, sweetheart.”
Charlotte tentatively stepped inside and Remy rose from his seat. “I’m going to get going. Raven and I need to get back to the bar.” He shot Jared a meaningful look. He was leaving to give them time alone.
“Thanks for coming.”
Remy patted his shoulder, obviously aware of what a concussion felt like, and said goodbye, then added, “I’ll make sure your car is taken care of,” Remy assured him.
“Thanks, Bro.”
With an incline of his head, Remy walked out and Jared turned his attention to Charlotte.
“Sit down,” Jared said in as strong a voice as he could manage.
She did as he asked. “Jared, I am so—”
“Don’t say it. Don’t be sorry. Shit happens in life. I’m just relieved I’m the one who was hit over the head and not you. If you’d gotten out of the car, I don’t know what I’d have done. So please stop apologizing.”
“Okay.”
“Now slide in closer.”
She lifted herself and dragged the chair nearer to the bed.
“Did the police get the guys?” he asked.
She nodded. “Another squad car saw them running from the scene. And they took my brother in, too.” Her eyes grew glassy and sad. “I’m honestly glad. He needs help and he’s not going to get it at a luxury detox place. He has to face the consequences of his actions and addiction, and if it means getting clean behind bars, so be it.”
He doubted it was as easy for her as she made it out to be. She was protecting him because of his injury when he wanted to be the one to look out for her.
“I changed my mind. I want you right here.” He slid over, ignoring the pain in his head that throbbed and stabbed like a son of a bitch, and patted the mattress.
Her eyes grew wide. “Jared, don’t move. I could see how much that hurt.”
Guess he hadn’t hidden it as well as he thought. “Okay, but still, come lay with me.”
She did as he asked, carefully climbing in and stretching out next to him, and resting her head on his arm closest to her. Her body heat warmed him and every muscle relaxed. Even the pain was manageable with her so close.
He had everything he needed within touching distance. Closing his eyes, he savored the scent of her hair and let himself drift off.
***
Jared woke up to debilitating pain and Charlotte was gone. He rang the buzzer. The nurse walked in, the promised medication in hand, she just hadn’t woken him to administer it. A first for a hospital, he was sure.
According to her, the shift before her had insisted Charlotte leave when visiting hours were over.
He was pissed, knowing how many walls she could construct around her while he lay here incapacitated. Not happening, he thought.
He was getting out of here tomorrow.
***
When the nurse told Charlie it was time to leave because visiting hours were over, instead of packing up and returning to her apartment, she went home to Jared’s. She called her girls, promising to bring them home to their new place tomorrow. Then, she took a warm bath, letting the water soothe her aching body. Tension was a bitch and she’d tightened every muscle during tonight’s ordeal.
Once she’d seen Jared, felt his arm around her, and known for certain he’d be okay, she had finally been able to breathe. She’d lay beside him as he slept, listening to the soft sounds of him snoring, so damned glad he was alive. And as she thanked God, Leo’s words came back to her, reminding her of what was important.
She was finished being her own worst enemy. Finished running. And ready to tell Jared she loved him.
She also loved his family, who had been incredible earlier, bolstering her while she waited, trying to get her to go see him ahead of them. But Charlie thought his family should go first. Not to mention guilt kept her waiting until last.
Finally, Jared’s dad had walked over and given her a lecture she’d wished her father had ever cared enough to give. “In this family, once you’re in, you’re in. Jared’s feelings for you are obvious and that’s enough for us. So stop tiptoeing around us and act like you belong. Because you do.”
She did. She belonged with Jared.
She slept in his big bed, missing him, and the next morning, after a call from Alex, she arrived at the hospital bright and early.
If Jared was going home, she would be the one to take him.
***
The doctor on shift signed Jared out of the hospital. The nurse took out his IV and gave him instructions not to get the staples wet for forty-eight hours. He listened to the instructions and said he’d make an appointment with his physician to have them removed in seven to ten days. A painkiller prescription was sent to his pharmacy but he didn’t plan to take it. He’d deal with the pain using acetaminophen. No more falling asleep, waking up, and finding Charlotte gone.
“Do you have all that, Mr. Sterling?” the gray-haired nurse asked.
“He’s got it. So do I,” Charlotte said from where she’d been standing silently by the door.
He hadn’t realized she was there, but damned if his mood didn’t improve and his heart began beating stronger.
The nurse smiled at Charlotte, waving her in. “I was going to ask who was taking him home. Doctor’s instructions. He’s not to be alone for another forty-eight hours.”
“I think we can handle that.” She nodded, a surprising smile on her face. He wasn’t sure what mood he’d get today, whether he’d have to track her down and talk her out of her guilt, or deconstruct her emotional walls.
So far, it seemed, he’d been wrong on all counts.
“Are you okay dressing?” the nurse asked.
“Yes.” Nodding still wasn’t a good idea.
“Then I’ll leave you to it. Buzz when you’re ready to leave. I’ll call for a wheelchair.” At his grimace, she said, “Hospital rules.”
The nurse walked out and Charlotte walked in. Her cheeks were a healthy pink and her eyes bright. No sign of yesterday’s guilt in sight. Trauma? Probably. He was still horrified by the possibility of her being hurt. She’d watched him get hit over the head with steel. Even he winced at that.
“Good morning,” he said.
“Morning to you, too.” He scanned her from head to toe, taking in the fitted shirt, highlighting the slight bump of her belly, and leggings.
A swell of pride and excitement filled him at the thought of seeing her getting large with his child. Because it was Charlotte he was having this baby with. He’d spent the morning making plans in his head. Plans he wasn’t ready to share with her.
“You’re here early,” he noted.
She nodded. “Your father told me you were being released today, so I’m here to take you home.”
He liked the take-charge tone she’d acquired between last night and this morning. “Then I should get dressed.”
She strode to the closet in the corner of the room, opened the door, and pulled out a bag with his clothes, placing them on the bed. “I brought you a button-down shirt to wear so you don’t need to try and pull something over your sore head.”
He lifted his gaze. “Where did you sleep last night?” He’d assumed she went back to her apartment.
“Your bed.” She dug into her large bag and pulled out one of his shirts, laying it on the hospital mattress. She leaned in close. “So I could smell your pillow all night.”
He stared at her, stunned. “Who are you and what have you done with Charlotte?”
She leaned in and pressed her lips to his, then raised her head. “That was Charlie. Charlie was uncertain and afraid of her feelings and lacked the ability to trust. I’m Charlotte. And she almost lost you last night and all her insecurities became clear. And silly in light of life and death.”
So that accounted for the change in her, making him wonder what else she had in store for him.
He called for the wheelchair and suffered the trip to the Uber downstairs. Together they rode in comfortable silence to his apartment building, him wincing at the potholes on the street. Once they arrived, they took the elevator to the penthouse.
“I know you must be in pain, and I swear this will only take a few minutes and I’ll herd them back downstairs to Noah and Fallon at my place. But I couldn’t talk them out of it,” Charlotte said, just before the elevator doors opened.
“Welcome home, Daddy Jared!” the twins yelled with homemade welcome home signs in their hands.
They were a little loud for his concussed head, but he didn’t care. Nor did he care that they still meant daddy in reference to his and Charlotte’s baby. Over time he was going to let them find their own name for him. Knowing how he felt about Charlotte and all three girls, he absolutely knew what he wanted.
The twins? They were his and Charlotte’s as much as they were Noah and Fallon’s.
This woman wasn’t going anywhere and he had a hunch she finally knew it.