12. Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Calista
E van is coming home today. He got the okay early this morning. Mom had a doctor's appointment, so Cody is back in Whiskey River to pick up Skye, take her for a treat at the bakery, and keep her entertained until we get Evan settled at home.
That leaves me to go pick him up and get him home. To make it easier for Evan, I decided to bring my car. That way, he doesn't have to climb into Cody's truck. I have a bag that Dad packed of Evan’s clothes and other items, so at least he’ll be able to change into comfy clothes for the ride home. Yesterday when Cody finally left the hospital, he brought home the flowers and get-well cards, so I don’t have to worry about them.
When I walk into his room with his bag in hand, it looks bare from the other day when I was here with Skye.
“I’ve got some clothes for you that should be easy to get into. I can help you get dressed, but I completely understand if you'd rather have your nurse help,” I say.
He pauses and looks out the door and then back at me.
“My nurse said one girl quit last night, so they are short-staffed. I don't want to bother her.”
“Okay, well, trial by fire, since this is what I'll be helping you with at home,” I say. “Now, do you have anything on under the gown?”
“Yes, Don brought me boxers because I was not letting my ass hang out of the hospital gown,” he cringes. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cuss in front of a lady,” he says ruefully.
“I fucking cuss worse than Cody now. Don't hold back on my account,” I say, smiling.
For a moment, his jaw drops, and he looks startled. Then, he grins at me.
“Of course, I don't cuss in front of Skye,” I add.
“I appreciate that.”
After I pull his pants from the duffle, it takes some maneuvering to get him to the side of the bed and then get them on. Already a little flustered, I've never been happier my dad grabbed a button-down shirt for Evan to wear. But when I look up with the shirt in my hand, my eyes widen. Evan has dropped the hospital gown, and his tan and toned abs are on display, along with a few tattoos on his chest and upper arms.
Damn, he’s hot. But this isn't going to help me keep a wall up around him or ignore these weird feelings that are taking over at the thought of living with this man for a few weeks. It’s obvious he feels slightly awkward as well.
“Listen, I'm a nurse. I help patients get dressed all the time,” I tell him, trying to make him feel more comfortable, but it’s also a reminder to myself.
Watching his muscles ripple as he moves to get dressed gives me thoughts I've never had for a patient before. Then I immediately try to shake the very inappropriate thoughts from my head of what I'd like to do to those abs and finish getting him dressed.
Then we wait because the nurse takes about an hour to come in with the discharge paperwork and instructions. There are pain meds for us to pick up, along with a bunch of papers to take home.
The nurse helps get Evan into a wheelchair and takes him to the front door while I go grab my car.
“Good thinking on skipping the truck,” Evan says once the nurse and I have him all situated in my car and the rest of his stuff loaded in.
We swing by the pharmacy to grab his prescription, and then I make the drive to Whiskey River.
“Cody is getting me the paperwork today to get you added for pickup and drop off of Skye for school. I talked to them last week about getting you added and why, and they are working with me on it,” he says as we leave Helena behind.
“Let me know what you need from me. I know most of the teachers there anyway,” I smile at him.
Quiet a few of the girls I went to school with who stayed in the area are teachers in Whiskey River now.
It's quiet for a while before he breaks the silence.
“I don't think I ever thanked you,” he says.
“Thanked me for what?”
“For saving me that day. The Chief swears I'm alive because of you,” he says.
I fight the emotions that are trying to push through and overwhelm me.
“You don't have to thank me for that. There was no way I'd have let you die that day or any time soon. Cody would kill me himself,” I say, forcing a smile.
We make small talk the rest of the way home. He tells me about Skye's schedule and what she likes and doesn't.
Once we get to his house, it's just the two of us. Thankfully, his ankle is feeling better, and he can walk a short distance on it.
“Let's get you to bed,” I tell him, wanting to get him settled soon so Cody can bring Skye home.
“No, I want to be on the couch. I know I need to rest, and I will, but I still want to be as involved as I can with Skye. She will have homework, and I want to hear about her day. But if it makes you happier, I will stay in bed all day until just before she gets home,” he bargains.
“I can live with that as long as you don't overdo it,” I tell him, then help him settle on the couch.
“You can take the bedroom across the hall from Skye. You will have to share a bathroom with her, but my bathroom has the better tub, and you are welcome to use it,” he says.
I text Cody, telling him he can bring Skye home at any time. Then I take my bags up to the room he said I can use.
Once I’m settled in, I go to the kitchen to figure out what to make for dinner.
“Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!” Skye bursts through the door and runs over to Evan on the couch, but then stops in front of him and stares.
“You still have to be careful of my shoulder, but no more IV or wires, princess,” he says.
After Skye visited Evan in the hospital, we had to sit down with her and explain what the IV was for and the different machines. She felt a bit better, but she didn't want to go back to the hospital even after she knew what they all did.
Hesitantly, Skye sits and makes sure not to jostle Evan. Then she begins a spirited recounting of her day and everything that happened. Finally, she models her hair, showing Evan what we did this morning. When Skye finally runs down, she grabs her backpack and starts working on her spelling homework. She sits at the coffee table letting her dad help where he can. Satisfied that they’re both occupied, I work on dinner. At one point, Evan drifts off to sleep.
Skye finishes her homework and comes to me in the kitchen. “Daddy is sleeping,” she whispers.
“Yeah, the pain medicine he is on will make him tired for a few days. Do you want to help me make a banana pudding for dessert?”
Her eyes widen, and she nods so far that I think her face might fly right off her shoulders.
I set her up at the kitchen island to help me peel and cut banana slices with a butter knife. She then tells me all about her day, and I pretend I didn't hear it when she was telling her dad earlier.
Then we discuss how she wants her hair done tomorrow and what she wants for her lunch tomorrow and if it's possible to send her to school with banana pudding in her lunch. We decide no as that's a special at home treat, but I promise she can have some as an after school snack.
When I look, Evan is awake. He watches Skye and me giggle like we have a big secret as we look through hair styles on my phone. There is an intense look on his face when his eyes meet mine. I offer him a smile before I turn my attention back to Skye.
When Skye realizes her dad is awake, she talks to him about our banana pudding debate and how she is ready for a big girl body wash like her friend.
Skye is definitely going to keep me on my toes over the next few weeks, but I don't think I will survive those stares from Evan.