Chapter 55
“Iwish that doctor would hurry up,” Frankie Slip grumbled, her hand squeezing Colette’s.
Her hospital stay had been extended thanks to an infection in the wound, but after a round of antibiotics, they were waiting for their discharge papers.
The thought of being out of the hospital and sleeping without being awakened by nurses, blood pressure cuffs, or random machine noises sounded heavenly.
Her father and Aurora sat in chairs on the other side of her bed.
“I heard you’re allowed visitors,” Simone spoke in a sing-song voice from the doorway. She danced her way into the room holding refreshments.
Roger and Evan got stuck coming in, each trying to beat the other to get in first and growling at each other.
Alpha males fighting for supremacy. Something like that.
A tray of coffees and pastries made her mouth water.
Marshall had managed to sneak in a few more substantial meals, but that was only when Colette could convince him to leave her to get some real food.
He watched over her like a mother hen, constantly reacting to her slightest noise, movement, or change in breathing.
It was…a lot.
If she had ever doubted whether their relationship was serious, that uncertainty disappeared when he helped her go to the washroom for the first time.
Or the time he helped her shower and washed her hair.
The tenderness with which he brushed her tangled curls brought tears to her eyes every time she thought about it.
In relationships, there was romantic love, and then there was that deep kind of love where you knew that person would do absolutely anything for you.
It wasn’t showy or glamorous; it was a sentinel protecting you in your most challenging seasons.
Though they hadn’t been together long, Colette knew.
His every action filled her with overwhelming certainty that he would be there when she needed him.
This deep down knowing that theirs was a forever kind of love.
The kind of love that snuck up on you quietly, filled all the empty spaces within, and settled in to stay.
It would be impossible to replicate with anyone else.
Frankie remarked upon it every time she visited.
How he fought to stay with her, bothered the nurses too much with his multitude of concerns, and watched over her lovingly as she slept.
Her recovery was narrated by his soothing voice as he read through her romance novels.
He hated reading the sex scenes, his cheeks flushing each time one came up, but Colette insisted. It helped her heal faster.
So, he read them.
And she healed faster. She would never admit otherwise.
Her friends introduced themselves to her parents, and her mother, in true Frankie Slip fashion, squealed as she threw her arms around Evan.
Tears welled up in the woman’s eyes as she rubbed his cheek.
“Our angel Evan. You were so brave trying to save our baby girl,” Frankie said, wrapping her arms around him again. Evan blushed at her attention, clearing his throat.
“I would do it again in a heartbeat,” he said, shaking Rupert Slip’s hand. “We always take care of our own at Rosebud Ranch.”
“Are you okay? Did you sustain any injuries? Was it terribly frightening? Oh, you must have been so brave to want to go into that house when it was on fire. Were you burned?” Frankie’s questions poured out of her mouth like a stampede of cattle at feeding time.
“Mom!” Colette chirped from the bed. “Leave the man alone. He’s not prepared for that many questions.”
Gobsmacked, Evan’s gaze darted between Colette and Frankie, unsure how to react. “Jarrett got me in the head really good, but I’m okay now. Don’t worry about me.”
Frankie gave a small laugh and pressed a hand to her chest. “Of course, thank you so much, Evan. We can never show you how grateful we are for your bravery. And yours, well, you know that already, Marshall.”
“Mom, leave them,” Colette insisted.
“Now, Colette, if your mom wants to tell everyone I’m a hero, I don’t mind at all,” Evan said, his hands on his hips and his chest puffed up with pride. “Or, sorry—Angel. She said I was an angel. I like it.” He nodded; a wide grin plastered across his face.
Colette rolled her eyes and accepted the drink Marshall handed to her.
He sat on the edge of the bed, his thigh brushing up against her leg.
As she recovered and the pain lessened, he had relaxed, reaching out to touch or cuddle her more confidently.
Her hand instinctively reached for his on the blanket and he gave her a knowing smile.
She wasn’t sure what the future would look like yet, but she knew they would be together.
“So, do you have a cool scar to show off?” Evan asked, approaching the bed.
Aurora hid a giggle behind her hand.
“She’s not taking her shirt off, pervert,” Marshall warned.
Evan scoffed. “Of course not, but like maybe just a little peek?”
“No,” Marshall said with a glare.
“I do have a cool scar, and I’m still scared to touch it too much. The infection is healing up nicely, but it’s not completely gone,” Colette explained. “I’ll show you later.” She winked and Evan grinned conspiratorially, quite pleased.
“Are you ready to come home with me after you sign the papers?” Simone asked.
“Yeah, it’ll be a real slumber party,” Colette said with a laugh. “We can do each other’s hair, and you can help me change my bandage. A real blast.”
“I got your back, Slip,” Simone said, rubbing a hand on Colette’s shoulder. They had decided it was best if Colette stayed with someone while she recovered and she reluctantly agreed to use Simone and Roger’s guest room for a few days. Only a few.
She was itching to be alone with Marshall. To have some quiet.
“You could still come stay with us, Colette. It’s not too late to change your mind,” Frankie noted, eyebrows lifting to the ceiling. Colette shook her head.
That was a hard pass.
“It’s okay, Mom, it’s only a few days. I want to be on my own soon. I don’t want anybody fussing over me anymore. I love you all, but I’m feeling good.”
“Well, I’m still visiting every day while Simone and Roger are at work, so you’re not getting away from me that easily,” Frankie announced, daring anyone to contradict her.
“Of course.” Colette gave a tight smile, her gaze wandered to Marshall’s.
He planned to return to the ranch once she was settled at Simone’s. She hoped they wouldn’t be separated for long, but the conversation hadn’t happened yet. Just the idea of it made her nervous. It was hard for her to say exactly what she wanted.
The doctor wove through her friends and family, as they were catching up and Simone rushed everyone out the door.
“We’ll get your room ready. Marshall is going to drive you to our place,” Simone said, her words barely making it from the hallway.
Her parents gave her a kiss and a hug and reminded her of what time they were going to stop by the next day.
Aurora squeezed her shoulder. “Be brave, sis, the hard part starts now. Mom is gonna put the mother in smother for the next little while.” Her sister left, chuckling at her own joke.
Colette sighed. So much for having some time alone.
The doctor checked her wound; the stitches having been removed the day before.
The site of her new scar was puckered and tight. Even though the wound had closed, she could still feel the tug of the injury every time she moved.
After going over the precautions she would need to take and emergency symptoms that would require her to return to the hospital, he signed her discharge forms. A nurse came to review wound care procedures, recovery expectations, and limitations.
Colette was glad her employer was understanding. She wouldn’t be feeling normal for a little while. Sitting up for long periods of time was tiring.
It was basically a prescription for reruns of The Golden Girls and rotting on the sofa.
The nurse finished her paperwork and handed a stack to her “husband”. He thanked the woman, then sat back on the bed.
“Are you ready?” he asked, resting a hand on her thigh.
Colette nodded, attempting to mask the sadness within. The reality of her leaving the hospital and Marshall returning to the ranch was just hitting her. It would be hard not to see him every day.
“Yeah,” she said softly. “I think so.”
“It won’t be forever,” he said as he squeezed her thigh. “Just until we know you’re in the clear.”
“Then what?” she asked tentatively. Was she ready for the answer to that question? Not really. Could she go any longer without knowing? Also no.
“I’ll help you get back to your apartment. You’ll be comfortable there,” he explained, his mouth turning down into a frown. “I don’t want you far from the hospital. We discussed this. You need to be in the city for your follow-up appointments. Frankie is looking forward to taking care of you now.”
She watched his hand as it gave her a comforting squeeze. It wasn’t the answer she wanted. Then again, she wasn’t sure what answer she expected.
“And after that? When I’m all better, then what?”
“Then it’ll be up to you what you want to do,” Marshall said, his tone grim. “I’ll never ask you to give up your life here for me. It’s too much sacrifice. I love you too much to ask for that. You can still do your job from here when you’re all better.”
Colette opened and closed her mouth; her words stuck. Pain slashed through her at the thought of a long-distance relationship. It sounded like torture. He tipped her chin with his finger.
“Don’t look like that. We’ll make it work,” he spoke softly.
A heavy sigh released from her lungs. “I don’t want to just make it work.”
“What do you want then?” he asked, his breath caught in his chest. The fear in his eyes broke her heart.
She sniffed, a sheen of tears welling in her eyes. “I want to go home.”
Marshall swallowed and nodded, his lip trembling. Blinking back tears, he swiped a finger to wipe under his eyes. With a heavy sigh, he cupped her face in his palm, stroking her cheek with his thumb.
“I want to see Hank and Pablo Picasso again. I want to watch the sunset over the hills every night. I know the guest house is gone, but I could maybe rent a place in Rosebud. Then we don’t have to be apart.
We can see where this goes.” Colette dug her teeth into her bottom lip, watching for his reaction.
His shoulders lifted with a heavy breath. “No, I won’t hear of it.”
Her stomach dropped down to her toes. Colette stilled, unsure what to say. His denial was a dagger to her heart. Maybe he could have had a better delivery. She had received enough stab wounds to the torso to last her a lifetime.
His mouth pulled into a wide grin. “If you come back to the ranch, you’re bunking with me.”