Chapter 28
Even though it was possible she might be asleep, Seamus called Carolina just to hear her voice.
“Hey,” she said in the sleepy, sexy voice that only he ever got to hear. “Everything okay?”
“It’s much better now that I’m talking to you, love.”
“How is it that you’re still a charmer even when you’re miles from me?”
“You inspire my charm no matter where I am.”
Her low chuckle made him smile for the first time in hours.
“Where are you?”
“Steaming back toward you and the boys.”
“I can’t wait to have you back.”
“I can’t wait to be back. Been a long coupla days.”
“Sure has.”
“How’re the boys?”
“Getting restless after being cooped up inside, but they’ve been such a big help with PJ and Viv.”
“Are they taking good care of you, too?”
“Very. They bring me everything I need.”
“They’re good boys.”
“Yes, they are. Jace has called a few times to check on us and said to let him know if we need anything.”
“He’s good people, too.”
“I agree. I’m glad he’s become part of our family.”
“It’s the right thing to have him be part of it. I’d hate to have the boys resent us someday for keeping him from them.”
“Yes, for sure. And he’s a wonderful guy. Can’t hurt to have more people to love them.”
“I’ll admit it was hard for me at first, but like always, you made me see the way of it. More people to love them is indeed in their best interest.”
“They adore you more than anyone, and they always will,” Carolina said. “They know who was there for them at the most difficult time in their lives.”
“That includes you.”
“It does, but you… You’re their true north.”
“Maybe so, but you’re right there next to me, making it all happen and giving me the family I never dreamed I might have.”
“You were born for this.”
“I was born to love you.”
“Charmer.”
He chuckled. “I just hope the place is still standing when we get home. Poor Shannon is trying not to think about the wedding, but I know it’s on his mind.”
“We’ll make it work. Somehow.”
“Yes, we will.”
“How many more hours until you’re home?”
“Just a few. I’ll see you soon.”
“I’ll be counting the minutes.”
“Me, too. Can’t wait.”
“Love you, my crazy Irishman.”
“Love you more.”
“No way.”
“Yes way. We’ll finish this argument when I get home.”
“I can’t wait.”
Eight hours after he began, David completed the surgery. He felt like he’d done what he could to keep Jeff alive long enough to get him to the mainland. Without the surgery, he surely would’ve died from blood loss.
“He’s still in critical condition and needs to be airlifted as soon as possible,” David told Jeff’s exhausted siblings. “But we bought him some time.”
“Thank you so much, David,” Owen said for all of them. “We’re so thankful for you and Vic.”
“And Katie,” David said. “She was a rock star in there.”
“And Katie,” Owen said, putting an arm around her.
She leaned her head on her older brother’s shoulder.
“You should go home and get some sleep. This’ll be a long haul for Jeff, and he’ll need you guys to be rested. I’ll let you know as soon as we’ve arranged to get him off the island.”
The siblings looked to Owen to decide what to do.
“David’s right. This will be a marathon, and we need to keep ourselves healthy so we can help him.”
“That’s right,” David said. “I’ll call you if anything changes.”
“Thank you again, David,” Julia said.
“I wish I could do more.”
“You did what you could,” Cindy said. “And we’ll never forget it.”
After they had left, David went in to check on Kelsey, who’d been asleep when he looked in on her after the surgery.
Vic had reported that Mac and Maddie had left because she had to go home to feed the babies, and he needed rest before the big cleanup began, but they planned to be back as soon as possible.
“Is the surgery over?” Kelsey asked him.
“It is, and Jeff did very well. We got him stabilized to make the trip to the mainland.”
“When will that be?”
“We’re hoping it’ll be soon. The storm has started to move on.”
“That’s good news.”
“He’s hanging in there and fighting hard.”
“I’m so scared.”
“I wish I could tell you there was no reason to be, but he’s not out of the woods yet. The sooner we can get him to Providence, the better. But the fact that he’s made it this far is encouraging.”
“Could I see him?” Kelsey asked.
“We could arrange that, but I have to warn you, it might be upsetting to see him hooked to machines.”
“I can handle that if I get to see him.”
“Okay. Let me get a chair for you.”
With Victoria’s help, they transferred Kelsey into a wheelchair and got her broken arm settled on a pillow on her lap.
“Are you comfortable?” Vic asked her.
“As much as I can be when everything hurts.”
“We can give you something for that,” David said.
“I want to stay awake, so I know what’s going on with Jeff.”
“I’ll give you something that’ll take the edge off without knocking you out.”
“Thank you.”
David carefully wheeled her across the hallway to the largest of the exam rooms, where the beep, beep, beep of monitors was the only sound.
Katie stood at her brother’s bedside.
David got Kelsey as close as he could to the other side of Jeff’s bed, close enough that she could put her hand on top of his.
“It’s me, Kelsey, and I’m here, Jeff. I’m right here, and… I love you. Please stay with me. I need you.”
David and Victoria both looked down at the floor in the same instant, moved to tears by the young woman’s heartfelt words.
“Could I stay with him for a while?” Kelsey asked.
“If you feel up to it.”
“I’m okay, and I’d rather be with him than not be.”
“It’s fine by me,” David said. “It might make all the difference for him to hear your voice.”
“I’ll stay with them,” Katie said. “Go get some rest, David. I’ll come get you if anything changes.”
Since he’d done all he could for Jeff until he could be airlifted, David left him in the hands of his sister and fiancée and went to sleep while he could.