Chapter 29 #2
Ash sighs. “I’m just so glad you’re okay. Can you not do anything else to scare me like that?”
“As long as Sheriff Lennon keeps Dax’s brother behind bars, I won’t have another reason to risk my safety.”
“By the way, I saw Hope in the hall earlier. She gave me the heads-up about LJ, and I took care of him.”
“What does that mean?”
“That you don’t need to worry about yelling at him. He knows not to step foot in this hospital.” Ash smirks. “Before he hung up on me, he said, ‘like I’d want to go to such a diseased, flea-ridden place.’”
I laugh, unsurprised. “Certainly not the description he used when trying to become my date for the gala.”
“I thought he’d be one less headache for you to deal with.”
Guilt swells inside me. “I’m sorry what I did caused Christie to leave.”
“It’s okay. I’ve been on the phone with her. Her family is happy to come back now that Sheriff Lennon has the crooks behind bars.” Ash leans down and kisses my head. “Love you, sis.”
“Love you, too.”
“Vanessa?” my mother’s voice enters the room.
Anger flames inside me, and I swing around to the doorway. I’m caught off guard when I find her standing beside my father.
“I’ve already heard this,” Ash whispers. “I’ll leave you to it.”
Before I can reach for him, Ash walks out of the room.
I stay firmly seated in my chair, glaring at my parents. “What are you two doing here?”
Mom steps forward. “Your father knows everything.”
I pivot between the two. “What?”
Mom nods solemnly. “After you left us in the hallway, I was shattered. Coming home, my goal was to make you and Ash happy. I was overzealous about it because I wanted you on my side when I had divorce papers drawn.”
My heart aches. “That was your plan?”
Mom blinks back tears with her false lashes. “I couldn’t stand the idea of you and your brother hating me.”
I sigh. “I don’t hate you, Mom.” I turn to Dad. “When she says you know everything?”
“Switzerland and the tutor,” he replies solemnly. “I had an inkling long before because of the growing distance in our relationship.”
My shoulders slump as a wave of sadness drags me under. “Oh, Dad. I’m sorry.”
He sighs. “It’s not your fault, darling.”
Gradually, all eyes fall on Dax. Mom and Dad creep closer to the bed, and Mom’s the first to comment, “I know he’s special to you, Vanessa.”
“I love him, Mom.”
“Sheriff Lennon has other witnesses who say Dax was a victim too,” Dad says. “A young girl, and one of the older bikers.”
My heart skips a beat. Stella and Boscoe.
Dad squeezes my shoulder. “If he fought to get you out while suffering with this illness, he must really love you. Any man who can protect my daughter like that, I can accept.”
A tear rolls down my cheek. “Oh, Dad, thank you.”
Mom brushes back my hair. “Take all the time you need, darling. We’ve told Dr. Harris, we’ll take care of Dax’s medical bills.”
I look up at my parents, adoration in their eyes. “So, what does this mean for the two of you? You’re divorcing?”
Dad puts an arm around Mom, and she leans into him. “We’ll officially separate for the time being,” Dad says. “We have a lot to work through, and going through a divorce with such bitterness won’t be good for either of us.”
“Your father agreed for me to stay on at Ashworth Estate,” Mom adds.
“I can’t see it being awkward,” Dad says, his expression undecided on whether he should laugh or cry. “There are wings in the manor I haven’t been in in years.”
I exhale hard. “Whoa. Okay. I’m glad you two are finally talking and figuring this out.”
“I’m sorry to have put you in the middle,” Mom apologizes with anguished eyes.
“Me too,” Dad says. “I know I haven’t made things easy on you or Ash.”
“Thank you for saying all this.” I get out of the chair and open my arms. “And thank you for helping and accepting Dax.”
“We know how much you love him,” Mom says, wiping under her eye.
My heart squeezes and I blurt, “Dad, you have to let Murphy stay on at the manor. It’s my fault those guys robbed us. I gave Dax a swipe card for the service entrance.”
Dad looks over at Dax, sleeping. “And he gave it to them?”
“They threatened his safety.” I gulp. “And my safety. He didn’t have a choice. Have you heard what Sheriff Lennon is charging his brother with?”
“I know.” Dad nods and puts an arm around me. “So, Murphy has continually shown loyalty to you? A man who’ll protect my daughter at all costs is someone I need to keep around the manor.”
A tear spills from my eye. “Thank you, Dad. And what about Dax? He protects me too.”
“Wait,” Mom pipes up. “Are you asking for him to move in too?”
I nod, reaching out to grasp her hand.
My parents exchange a look and return smiles in my direction.
“In a separate wing, of course,” Dad says.
Exhilaration rushes through me as I hug my parents. They kiss and hug me, and I’m overwhelmed with the surge of warmth and love. They tell me to call if Dax or I need anything, and leave me to wait by his side.
With the heavy weight of my emotions, I flop my head on the bed. I watch Dax’s side profile as he sleeps, and sigh. My hand runs up and down his arm, careful not to nick any tubes attached to him. I squeeze his hand and continue to lay my head next to him.
As my breathing grows heavy, I focus on the beeps of the machines by his bed. I trace a finger around the rose on his hand and close my eyes.
“That tickles,” he mutters croakily.
I shoot up to sitting, whipping my head in his direction.
He rubs his chapped lips together and squints his eyes open.
“Oh my gosh!” I squeal. “You’re awake.”
His eyes scrunch closed. “Ouch. My head.”
“Whoops, sorry,” I whisper. I get up and edge away from the bed. “I’m just going to get Dr. Harris.”
He opens his eyes and gradually lifts his hand. “No, come back.”
I hang a head out the door and spy Trisha in the hallway. I motion to her, calling out, “He’s awake.”
When her pace quickens toward me, I return to Dax’s side. I scoop his hand and smile. “I’m here. I’ve got you.”
He frowns, and his puffy eyes are cloudy. “Am I dying?”
“No,” I whisper, lowering to kiss his hand. “No, you’re okay.”
He grunts, wincing from the pain in his throat. “It felt like I was dying.”
“You were just sick. But you’ll get better now.”
“Dr. Harris is on the way,” Trisha says, bustling into the room. “Dax, how are you feeling?”
He grunts again, and his voice is hoarse. “Like hell.”
Trisha smiles at him. “But you’re awake, and that’s tremendous.”
I turn to her, bursting with happiness. Before this day, I’d never heard her say a nice word about Dax. She’d cower in fear if he were brought up in conversation. Now, she’s elated he’s on the mend.
Dr. Harris enters the room, steadying the stethoscope around his neck.
He flashes a torch in Dax’s eyes, and asks him to follow prompts like wiggling his toes and saying what day of the week it is.
Dr. Harris marks Dax’s chart, and a smile brightens his face. “This is an excellent start, Mr. Malone. Better than I could’ve hoped for.”
I clutch my hands over my chest as my heart swells. “Oh, really, Doctor?”
Dr. Harris looks at me, beaming. “Yes. He’s still got a way to go, but I’m very impressed.”
I sit back down and throw my arms around Dax.
He gradually turns his head toward me and plants a dry kiss on my forehead.
“Just take it easy, Dax,” Dr. Harris says. “Don’t strain yourself. Your body needs time to heal, and stress will be your undoing.”
Dax nods, and I say to Dr. Harris, “Don’t worry, I’ll be here for anything he needs.”
Dr. Harris nods and moves past the bed. “I’ll be back to check on you later.”
Nurse Trisha follows him out, and I stroke Dax’s arm. “I was so worried,” I whisper gently. “But I knew you’d come back to me.”
“I don’t think I would’ve been able to without you by my side.”
I lift the pendant from beside his pillow. “I think this helped too.”
Life comes back into his eyes. “You found it.”
“It gave me hope again.”
“Your bracelet…” He tries to sit up. “It’s at the clubhouse… I…”
I press on his shoulder, lying him back down. “You need to rest. The bracelet means nothing if you don’t get better.”
“But my brother…”
I smile. “Your brother is locked up. Baby, you’re free.”
His chin drops. “What?”
I nod eagerly. “It’s over. Sheriff Lennon has him in custody, ready to throw away the key.”
“You’re serious?”
“Yes!”
He blows out a breath. “Wow.”
I caress his cheek. “You’re going to be fine.”
He swallows roughly. “You know, I really thought I’d get better on my own.”
“I know you did. Now you can get treatment, and my family will make sure you get the very best.”
“I don’t want to take advantage of you.”
I laugh nervously. “You’re not. I’m doing this because I love you.”
A sparkle lights his eyes, and his smile curves. “I love you too.”
I lower myself to press a gentle kiss on his lips. He doesn’t have the strength to kiss me back, but the fact he’s present is all I need.
“I’ll also make sure you’re on a healthy diet. I’m going to help you through this no matter what.”
“The cigarette I used to free you was the last I’ll ever smoke. I swear.”
I tear up, nodding.
He gasps and jolts his head up, forcing me to recoil in alarm. His eyes widen, and he searches for my arm.
“Your wrist. You got burned. Is it okay?” he asks in panic.
I place a hand on his chest, feeling the drumming of his heart. I shush him gently, smiling as I lift my bandaged wrist.
“I’m okay. Remember what the doctor said, no stress. You can lie down.”
His head falls back onto the pillow out of necessity.
I run a finger over the bandage that encases the burn mark. “It still stings, but it’ll heal.”
“I hate that I burned you.”
“Baby, you saved me.”
“But I ruined your precious skin.”
I grin. “I don’t know. Maybe you marked me for the better.”
He tilts his head; the sparkle enlivening his eyes. “There’s something deliciously bad in you, Vanessa Ashworth.”
I run a finger under his bottom lip. “That’s Sassy to you.”