Chapter 10 #2
I hung up and shoved my phone in my pocket, then hugged Demi full on.
She squeezed back just as tightly. Both of us appreciated the deep pressure for regulation.
We always had. When we were little, it wasn’t uncommon to find us wrapped around each other.
Mom joked that was how we were in the womb too, even though I knew it was impossible since we were di-di twins, because we were fraternal, and each had our own gestational sac.
“Go on now. Let’s keep the line moving.”
I nodded, gave her one last squeeze, and headed down the hall. Dad was seated at Mom’s bedside, holding her hand. She was clearly still a bit out of it, but since they’d only done sedation and not general anesthesia, she was awake and talking.
“What’s the verdict, Dr. Harrington?” She asked, some of her usual twinkle in her eye.
“All fixed up now, Mother mine. And you’re going to do everything the cardiologist says from now until forever so we don’t have a repeat, yes?”
Mom’s face became serious and she held out her left hand. I rounded the bed and took it quickly, being careful of the IV in the back of it.
“Thank you for insisting, honey. I really thought it was nothing. I would have continued to ignore it.”
“Makes the expense of medical school worth it, huh?” I waggled my eyebrows and perched on the edge of bed. Mom tightened her hold until the pull of the needle made her wince. “I wouldn’t have let you, Mommy. But you’re going to be just fine.”
“Thanks to you.” Dad’s voice was gruff and he squeezed my elbow, which was all he could reach.
For a few minutes, we sat there in silence, just soaking it in. Mom was fine and on the road to recovery. In a few weeks, it would be like it never happened, except for the semi-regular cardio visits and the new daily medication. She’d be back to herself and hopefully, never have this issue again.
I had to hope. The world would stop turning if Mom wasn’t in it.
Hawk and Dad got a hotel room for the night and since I’d driven Dad’s truck to Colorado Springs, they had a way home. Gemma had decided to stay with them as well, still too worried about Mom. The rest of us piled into the remaining vehicles and headed home.
It was almost midnight by the time our caravan of vehicles pulled onto the ranch.
Juanpablo started to bray the moment Bodhi’s truck, which was in the lead, rounded the curve.
I’d ridden back with Luke, Crew, and Demi.
We’d tossed the car seats into the storage space of Luke’s SUV, and Demi and I spent the ride cuddled up with each other in the backseat.
None of us reacted to the donkey at all.
The front door opened just as we pulled to a stop. Getting out, I saw Mal and Carter standing under the porch light, the latter with Aria clinging to his neck. Demi broke into a jog and took her daughter into her arms. Luke joined them a second later.
I glanced around, seeing Mal and Crew meet in a hug, and Isley and Jerrica hauling their luggage into the house.
Kee clapped me on the shoulder as he and Judson trudged into the house.
Bodhi didn’t say a word as he too, tried to walk inside.
But he had to stop and step back, as Ville was trying to get out.
I bolted across the three feet and threw myself at him.
Ville didn’t hesitate to hug me hard, lifting me with the motion.
I wrapped my legs around his waist and just held on.
Taking in his scent and trying to suppress the shudder.
Ville turned and pressed my back up against the side of the house next to the door, pushing all his weight against me.
Finally, I could breathe. I didn’t know I hadn’t been until just that moment. I thought I had, really. But my lungs expanded, fighting against his weight, and loving it. That fast, and he was already holding me together.
“I’ve got you,” he murmured against my ear.
I nodded quicky because I couldn’t form words.
My mom had been in danger, and while the logical part of my brain said she most likely wouldn’t have died, even if I hadn’t caught it when I did, my limbic system didn’t know that.
It had been in panic mode since the moment I saw her struggling and now, with Ville pressing me back into my body, I was finally able to regulate.
“What do you need, baby?” he asked, keeping his voice low. He put a hand under my ass and hitched me a little higher but then kept it there. I could feel all the points we were connected and it helped me settle even more.
“I need to be in bed with you, you curled around me so completely I’m covered. But that can’t happen yet. Because Isley and Jerrica just got home, and I’m sure there needs to be a family meeting right now. So let’s go do that so that when we’re done, you can take me to the cabin.”
Ville lowered me to my feet slowly and then gently eased back. He moved his hands to cup my face. “Sounds good. I made coffee. Let’s see to your family and then I’ll take care of you.”
I wrapped my fingers around his wrists and just hung on.
I did some box breathing, a trick I learned in undergrad when I was starting to feel overwhelmed by the course work.
Feeling much more centered, I kissed Ville’s palm, and then eased out of his hold.
But I grabbed his hand, not willing to let him go.
When we entered the house, everyone was seated around the table. Aria was back in Carter’s arms, but she was holding her mom’s hand and finally asleep. Everyone had something to drink, and Carter had a tablet in front of him.
“Ville and I made a plan and a schedule. Marielle is going to find us a chef and get them here, ASAP,” Carter said, taking control. I saw a glimpse of who he was as a powerful CFO before he retired from his former life and started a new one with my brother. “Ville, you want to outline the plan?”
Ville set a mug of steaming coffee in front of me, kissed the side of my head, and then took a seat beside me. He gestured for the tablet and Carter slid it across the table. Ville touched the screen and then cleared his throat.
“We didn’t worry about the animals, as we know you have competent staff and that Crew would arrange things with the hands.
Mal thought Hawk would still want to be hands on with his projects, and Carter agreed.
But we’ve arranged a loose schedule so that one of us is always here at the house for the next couple of weeks.
” He slid whatever he was looking at sideways, to look at something else.
“Given everything, I’m going to space out some of the contractors coming in, so there’s less interruption.
The gates are set to be installed at the beginning of next week and I’m leaving that.
I’ve rearranged the schedule for camera installation so the house is last. That way, Jenn will be well on the road to recovery by then.
Mal, you’re still good to spend afternoons here, right? ”
Mal nodded but didn’t move from where he was leaning against Crew.
“I’ll be here to help with the kids all afternoon until dinner time, when we usually collect them from Mimi.
Pay will be fine with her during the day, since he’s independent enough to handle most anything.
She can keep her eyes on him from the couch. ”
“And Aria can play in my office with me for the mornings,” Carter added, smoothing a hand down the toddler’s back. “Normally, I don’t work here that often, but it won’t be a problem for a bit. I’ll reschedule any calls that need to be moved.”
Demi yawned so widely her jaw cracked. “And the twins?”
Ville once again tapped on the screen, and then passed it over to Demi and Luke.
“We have a schedule, and they’re still taking two naps.
Mal said that gives us at least a couple hours a day where they just need to be in someone’s presence.
We’ll set the play pen up in someone’s office, either Crew, Wy, or Hawk’s, for morning naptime.
After lunch, someone will be here with Jenn until Mal joins them. ”
“You and I can baby wear and instruct from the rails,” Mal interjected. “Plus Tommy can take them for a bit too. He’s always asking to babysit and I know you’ve used him a couple of times for date nights.”
Luke nodded. “I’m sure Wy will give me some leeway and I can have a later start, too. It’s just for a couple of weeks.”
“Right.” Ville pointed to the tablet. “We counted on that, so we’ve scheduled that in. And if things need to change for whatever reason, there’s flexibility.”
Bodhi gestured for the tablet and Demi passed it over. He studied it for a moment or two, and then gave a single nod. “You’ve got it all covered. Logistics and operations would have been happy to have you.”
It was high praise coming from my Marine brother.
“That was all Ville,” Carter said, adjusting Aria. “He had it done and dusted quickly enough.”
I glanced at Ville and though he wasn’t smiling, there was something in his eyes that showed his pride. I slid my hand onto his thigh and he covered it with his own.
“It sounds like we’re all set. Kee, did you talk to mom about the chef?”
He nodded and listed sideways into Judson, who wrapped an arm around him. “I went in all big eyed and pouty lipped. She didn’t stand a chance. Of course, in a couple of days, when she’s back home and feeling better, we’ll probably have a fight on our hands. But I figure Dad can handle that.”
We all laughed, but it sounded tired. We were all beat. It had been an emotional day and we all needed rest to process and recover. As if reading my thoughts, Ville cleared his throat.
“That’s all we can do tonight. We should eat and then all head to bed so we’re ready for Jenn’s homecoming tomorrow.”
As if he dismissed us, people started getting up to make their plates.
I leaned against Ville as I watched. After the pizza had been all but demolished, Luke and Demi decided to spend the night since it didn’t make sense to pack up their sleeping children at this late hour.
Bodhi made sure Isley and Jerrica didn’t need anything before turning in.
Judson and Kee linked arms and headed upstairs after calling goodnight.
Ville stood, closed the tablet, then held out his hand.
“Come on. Let’s get you put back together.”