Chapter Three
Brian
Fifteen minutes later, Doris Grossman, wearing a tie-dyed scrubs top and pink bottoms, walked into my room with a clipboard and started writing down the numbers on all the monitors I was hooked up to.
“Brian O’Shaughnessy, I hear you’re being a difficult patient.”
I twisted my mouth and shook my head like I had no idea what she was talking about.
“No, ma’am. I’m not being difficult.”
“I beg to differ. You ticked your nurse off, and not many people have been able to get under Jade Beaumont’s skin.”
I’d like to get Jade Beaumont under me.
“I told her I was sorry.”
The little voice in my head asked, “Mmm, didja though?”
“Pro tip—don’t tell the person administering your pain meds you don’t want her to be your nurse.”
“You’re right. I shouldn’t have said that. I didn’t mean it. I want her to be my nurse.”
“Sorry, she already headed back to the ER. I’ll be taking care of you for the rest of the night.”
I wanted to object, but she didn’t give me a chance before asking, “On a scale of one to ten, with a ten being unbearable and a one being nothing hurts, how’s your pain?”
I paused to assess how I was feeling.
Other than being mad that Jade had bailed on me—never mind I’d initiated it, I felt pretty good for having just gotten shot.
“Two, maybe a three.”
“That’s good; means your meds are working. The second you start to feel something, you need to let us know. We need to stay on top of it. The pain is easier to manage if we nip it in the bud. Once you’re really hurting, it’s too late.”
“Got it.”
“There’s a waiting room full of people anxious to see you. We’ll let your immediate family back first, unless—”
I interrupted her. “Are Lainey and Adam out there?”
She nodded. “They got here right after you went into surgery.”
“Send them back with my mom and dad.”
“We normally only allow two people at a time…”
I looked at her with raised eyebrows, and she murmured, “But considering how many people want to see you, I guess we could make an exception.”
“If anyone gives you a hard time, I’ll talk to Chad.”
She tilted her head, like she didn’t know who I was talking about. I clarified, “Chad Stravinski.”
Doris still looked confused, so I added, “The hospital’s CEO.”
“Oh, yeah. I usually work nights, so I don’t know much about the new administrative staff.”
“That makes sense.”
But it really didn’t. This was a small town. While Chad had only been here a little over a year, his staff should know who he is—even the ones who worked at night. I didn’t know if that was a boss problem, or an employee problem.
What I did know was that it wasn’t my problem, so I again suggested Doris send Lainey, Adam, and my parents back.
Lainey walked in first, took one look at me in the hospital bed, and burst into tears.
“Thank God you’re okay,” she sobbed as she rushed to my bed and gripped my fingertips, careful not to knock the tubes sticking out of my hand.
I squeezed her fingers and reassured her, “I’m okay, Lain.”
Adam ran his hand up and down her back while looking at me. “You had us worried, buddy.”
“I think you and Alan saved my life.”
My dad’s voice boomed, “Who?” as he walked in the room
Shit.
Adam’s brother, Alan, had been in counterintelligence in the Marines and had helped find who took Lainey. Then, while we waited for a search warrant, he disappeared. Not long after, Adam and I caught up with him outside where she was being held.
I’d given him instructions to hang back when Adam and I breached the barn after hearing Lainey scream. He did, but I remembered he was there, applying a tourniquet to my leg after I got shot.
That was about all I remembered.
Adam replied, “Me. I saved his life.”
“That’s what I thought.”
My dad’s knowing smile told me he knew exactly what had happened, he just didn’t want to “know” it officially.
“How’s Earl?”
Adam lifted his shoulders. “You’re a better shot than he is.”
I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. It had definitely been a “me or him” scenario, so I knew I couldn’t have done anything differently. I suspected I’d have to not only be medically cleared, but psychologically as well before I was allowed back to work.
“And the nephew?”
My dad answered that one. “In jail. He regained consciousness, the ambulance brought him here, Dr. Williams cleared him, and we booked him. He has an appearance before the judge tomorrow morning. The prosecutor is asking for no bail.”
“Good.” I glanced over at Lainey, who’d wrapped an arm around her middle. “How are you?”
I’d ask Adam later how badly they’d hurt her.
“I’m okay. You guys arrived just in time.”
I was glad about that. We didn’t have a lot of violent crime in Haven Springs, but the one rape case I’d worked a few years ago still stuck with me.
Lainey touched my arm.
“I’m sorry you got shot, though.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“Still… if you need anything.”
I felt a slow smile spread across my face.
“As a matter of fact…”
****
Jade
I was back in the ER at the nurse’s station, reviewing Dr. Williams’s orders for a patient in Room Six, when I saw my sister come through the automatic doors. For what she’d just gone through, she looked good. Strong.
Then as she walked toward me, our eyes met, and her bottom lip began to tremble. I immediately left the desk and headed toward her.
Without a word, she walked into my embrace, wrapped her arms tight around my waist, and buried her face in my shoulder.
“How you holding up, kiddo?” I asked against her blonde hair.
“I’m okay,” she whispered. “I think the adrenaline has finally started to wear off, and all the ‘what ifs’ are starting to dance around in my head. What if they hadn’t found me in time?
What if Brian would have been killed trying to save me?
What if no one would have found Conor, or worse, they’d hurt him? ”
“I know, sweetie. You’ve been through a lot.
Just let yourself feel all the emotions right now and get in to see a counselor to work through this stuff.
” I grabbed her upper arms and looked her in the eye.
“You’re safe. Take all the help that’s going to be offered.
People want to help you. Don’t feel like you’re a burden. You understand?”
She nodded, then let out a big sigh. “Brian wants you to be his nurse again.”
I pursed my lips, so she forged ahead. “I know he can be a stubborn ass but go easy on him. He took a bullet saving me.”
I felt my nostrils flare as I took in a cleansing breath while I stared at her. Before I could say anything, she continued, “Plus, you’re both going to be Conor’s godparents, so you’re stuck with each other for the next eighteen years. It’s kind of like co-parenting.”
“You don’t have to worry about when it comes to Conor. I’m sure we’ll be able to put aside our differences for him.”
“So, you’ll be his nurse again?”
I shook my head. “Me leaving the ER tonight was an exception because of the emergency surgery. He’ll be in good hands with the floor nurses.”
My little sister reminded me, “He got shot saving me, Jade.”
Damn it.
“Fine, I’ll see what I can do about tomorrow. But only because you’re asking.”
Her face split into a grin, but there was no disguising the weariness in her eyes that said she’d been through a lot. I ran my hand up and down her arm.
“You need to get some rest.”
“I know. Teresa and Hugh offered to keep Conor tonight, but Adam wants him with us.”
“So, you and Adam…”
She shrugged, then looked away like she was embarrassed. “We didn’t mean for it to happen.”
“I’m not judging you. I think it’s great, Lain. He seems like a standup guy.”
Her voice was barely above a whisper when she replied, “He really is. And he loves Conor so much.”
“And you.”
Her smile was sheepish. “And me.”
“Then I’m happy for you. And anyone who isn’t can fuck right off.”
“God, I wish I had your confidence.”
I laughed and pulled her in for another hug. “It’s all an act.”