Chapter 22
Cody sat next to Katherine in her hospital room, her hand sandwiched between his. Machines beeped beside the big bed where she lay with eyes closed. After the wound from the bullet graze had been tended and a complete exam finished, he hadn’t left her side.
Refused to leave until he saw those beautiful brown eyes open.
She hadn’t woken since she’d slipped into unconsciousness on her way to the ambulance. There was no medical reason why she shouldn’t be awake. All that was left to do was wait and pray and pour every ounce of positive energy into her that he could.
“How’s she doing?”
The raw emotion in Mike’s voice matched what Cody felt. He glanced up at the older man and swore he’d aged in the last hour that they’d been there.
Cody cleared his throat and kept a firm grip on Katherine’s hand. “Vitals look good. She’s all stitched up. Now all we need is for her to open her eyes.”
Mike kept his gaze locked on Katherine’s face. “She will. Just give her a little time.”
“Any word on Keith Stiller? Did he talk when Owen got him to the station?” He couldn’t bring himself to really care about anyone else right now, but he asked anyway.
“Told Owen everything, and you were spot on. He blamed her for his arrest. Thought she’d told me, and I’d sent in the cops. Her face was the only one that stood out to him, and he spent fifteen years being angry at the wrong person.”
“And Katherine paid the cost.” He was too tired, too scared, to be angry. That would come later.
A hand on his shoulder lifted his gaze. “I’m going to see Ollie. He’s chomping at the bit to see his mom, but I think it’d be better if she’s awake when he visits. I’ll tell him as much as I can. Let me know as soon as she opens her eyes.”
“I will.”
Mike leaned down to kiss Katherine’s cheek. “Come back to us, sweetheart. We love you.”
Cody waited for her father to leave before focusing all his attention back on Katherine. “Did you hear that? Your dad’s going to see Ollie. It’s going to take a small army to keep that kid away from you. He was pretty scared. It’d be better if you were awake when he got here.”
Her finger moved a fraction in his hand, and he sat up straighter. She’d wake up eventually for everyone, but she’d fight the hardest for her son.
“He’s with Elsie now. Bailey went with him. That’s the only way I could get him to leave my house. I’m not sure I’ll get Bailey to come home without him. You might have to adopt an over-eager Bernedoodle when you get out of here.”
Her eyes fluttered open, and the hint of a smile lifted the side of her mouth. “No way.”
Relief expanded his chest. He pressed the hand he still held to his lips then tucked a slip of hair behind her ears. Standing, he leaned over her, resisting the urge to climb into the bed and gather her in his arms. “I won’t tell her you said that. It might hurt her feelings.”
Her grin grew. “We need a reason to visit you.” Her voice was dry and low, and she lifted her fingers to the base of her bruised neck. “Hurts.”
“Don’t talk. Save your strength. My God, Katherine, I’ve never been so damn scared in my entire life. When I ran into that house and found him on you, I nearly died myself. But you’re a fighter. That was clear in the blood and bruises you left on Keith.”
“Is he gone?”
“Gone forever. You and Ollie can go home and forget this ever happened. Life can go back to normal.” The words were like chalk in his mouth, but he needed her to know that no matter what she decided to do from here on out, all that mattered was that she was safe.
That she was happy.
Her smile fell and tears hovered on her lashes and slid over her cheeks.
“Hey, now,” he said, brushing away the tears with the pad of his thumb. “It’s all over. You don’t need to be afraid anymore.”
Lifting a shaky hand, she covered his knuckles with her palm and anchored it against her cheek. “Not scared. So sorry,” she whispered, wincing.
“We don’t need to talk about that right now.”
She shook her head, then squeezed her eyes shut for a beat before setting them on him once again. “You matter. To me and Ollie. I love you, Cody.”
She opened her mouth to say more but he stopped her with a kiss. Talking was the last thing she needed to be doing, and there was nothing more he needed to hear.
“I love you, too, Katherine. I was afraid I’d never get a chance to tell you. It’s fast as hell, and I don’t know how I got so lucky, but I love you and that kid of yours so damn much.”
A soft tap at the door drew his attention to Jenna.
“Glad to see you’re awake,” Jenna said. “How are you feeling?”
“Sore, but not too bad,” Katherine said, a smile fixed on her beautiful face.
“I want you to stay overnight for observation. Especially since you lost consciousness.” Jenna studied a tablet before glancing at the machines next to the bed.
“Everything else looks good. Just take it easy for a few days. Your stitches are the least of your worries. The head wound will leave you nauseous, possibly dizzy, and the headache will linger for a while. Stick with liquids and soft foods until your throat feels better. Wouldn’t hurt to have someone help you until you’re one hundred percent. ”
“I’m on it,” Cody said. “Between you and Ollie, I’ll get some nursing skills of my own.”
Jenna grinned. “Looking forward to hearing about that. Let me know if you need anything while you’re here.”
Cody waited for Jenna to leave before reclaiming his seat besides Katherine. “You okay with me taking care of you for a while?”
“I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
“Good, because I plan on doing it for a very long time.”
She lifted her arms. “Hold me?”
“Always.” He moved with care as he circled his arms around her and held her close. He kissed the side of her face, up to her forehead then briefly touched her lips with his.
And everything shifted into place, his heart and arms full and his future filled with wonderful possibilities.
Three months later, the summer heat beat down on Katherine as she carried her last box out of the moving truck. Her muscles burned and exhaustion slowed her steps up the walkway toward Cody’s house. It’d been a long, emotional day. One that was as difficult as it was exciting.
Cody jogged outside. “Here, let me get that.” He took the box from her and led the way back inside.
Stacked boxes greeted her in the living room.
Ollie ran down the hall and gave her a huge hug, Bailey right behind him.
“I’m not sure who’s more excited about move-in day,” she said with a small laugh. “You or Bailey.”
“Me, for sure!” Ollie gave her one more squeeze then threw his arms around the dog’s furry neck. “I finally have a dog.”
Cody’s warm chuckle covered her like a soft blanket. “I hope it’s not just the dog you’re excited about.”
“Are you kidding?” Ollie asked. “My new room is so cool.” In a flash, he was back down the hall, disappearing into his room with his dog at his side.
Katherine leaned against Cody and sighed. “You sure you can handle us?”
“I have no doubt.” He kissed the top of her head. “You sure you’re okay with selling your house? I know it means a lot to you. You have a lot of memories wrapped up in that place.”
She turned to face him, circling her arms around his waist and resting her head on his chest. “Memories stay with us no matter where we are. Ollie and I needed a fresh start, and your place feels like home.”
He held her tight. “You feel like home.”
She grinned up at him. “Right back at ya.”
“I just hope this space is big enough. I didn’t realize how much stuff you two had.”
She laughed. “We’ll find a place for it. It just might take a while.”
“We have all the time in the world.” He stepped back and whistled. “Ollie, you ready?”
“If you think he’s going to help put all this stuff away, you’re in for a big surprise. I’ll be impressed if he can figure out how to put his own clothes in the closet.”
Ollie and Bailey bounded back down the hall. Ollie’s ear-to-ear grin had her on high alert.
“What’s going on?”
Ollie stopped in front of her and took hold of one of her hands then grabbed one of Cody’s. “Ready.”
Cody captured Katherine’s free hand, creating a little circle amidst the chaos around them. “Ollie and I had a very important talk last night.”
Ollie nodded his head up and down in an exaggerated motion. “We sure did.”
“I wanted to make sure he was comfortable moving in here. That he knew this was his home in every way and that his being here made me happier than I ever thought possible.”
Katherine’s heart stuttered. She hadn’t taken this step lightly, and there’d been many conversations with her, Ollie, and Cody about what was best for all of them. But the fact that Cody had spoken with Ollie on his own solidified that she’d made the right decision.
“I told him I was happy,” Ollie said, as if it wasn’t obvious.
“We also talked about being a family,” Cody continued.
The air left Katherine’s lungs and she squeezed Cody’s hand.
“I made it clear that I’ll never take the place of his father, but that I’d like to be there for him if he needs anything. Ever. That I can be whoever he wants, as long he knows I love him and want the best for him.”
Ollie’s chest puffed out.
“And,” Cody continued. “I asked him if he would be okay if we made this little family official.”
“I said yes.” Ollie rolled his eyes. “Why wouldn’t I want that?”
A sob caught in Katherine’s throat. She didn’t know if she wanted to cry at the sweetness of Cody’s words or laugh at her child’s reaction to it all.
“You’re supposed to wait to tell her that,” Cody stage whispered then let go of her hand to reach into his pocket.
He pulled out a black velvet box and dropped to one knee.
“I have Ollie’s permission to ask you this.
Katherine Milton, you’ve been one hell of a surprise that I’ll forever be grateful for.
You brought love and hope and happiness into my life. ”
“And me!” Ollie chimed in.
Cody laugh. “Yes, and Ollie. Would you make me the happiest man on the planet and be my wife?”
Tears fell down her cheeks. She brought Ollie’s hand to her lips and kissed it before letting go and dropping to her knees in front of Cody. “I’d be honored to be your wife. Thank you for loving me and my son. I love you so much.”
He slipped the princess cut diamond onto her finger and grinned. “Good job, Ollie.” He lifted his fist and waited for the little boy to tap it with his own before standing and sweeping her off her feet.
Laughing, she held on tight until he set her down.
She looped one arm around Ollie and stared at the ring then back at the man who’d be her husband.
The man who’d opened his heart to her and her child and shown her that life might hand out surprises, but if you let it, those surprises can turn into the biggest blessings of all.