Chapter Thirty-Six
Kiyah
When I entered the Intensive Care Unit waiting room, I was surprised to find only Dad, Uncle Ant, and Ronan. It was Uncle Ant who noticed my presence first.
“Glad you made it, Kiyah,” he greeted, standing to hug me.
“I came as fast as I could. Where are the others?” I asked, leaving him to embrace my father, who looked like death warmed over.
“Casey and Kieran had to get some rest for work, and your mother is halfway through a ten-hour flight.”
“You should probably get some rest yourself.”
“Nah, I’ll be here until your mother arrives.”
“You’re so stubborn, Dad,” I said, pulling him in for another hug. He chuckled and squeezed me tightly.
“Look who’s talking,” he joked. “How long do we have you for?”
I pulled away from him and dapped Ronan up before answering.
“For as long as you’ll have me.”
“You’re not returning to work for Mr. Branson?”
I shook my head.
“No, I don’t think being a nanny is the right move for me.”
“I’m sorry to hear it didn’t work out, but we’re happy to have you home nonetheless. We freshened your bedroom up while you were away.”
“I’m not staying at the house.”
“Where—”
“I don’t mean to be rude, but I really want to see Daisy and Nori.”
“Oh, of course. We can talk later. They’re in Room Two.”
“Thanks. I’ll be back soon.”
I rapped my knuckles against the door twice before easing it open and poking my head in. Nori was hovering over Daisy, constantly checking the vital signs machine.
“Thank God you’re here. Get her out of here,” Daisy croaked. My jaw slackened, and I wondered if Daisy had a death wish. “Don’t worry. She can’t hear me. She lost her hearing aids in the attack.”
Nori glanced up and smiled at me briefly before pulling Daisy’s oxygen mask down.
“How are you feeling?” I asked Nori, signing and circling the foot of the bed.
“I feel like I nearly lost the love of my life, and I got my shit kicked in. How the fuck do you think I feel?” she asked loudly.
“Right. It was a dumb question,” I said, signing a quick apology. Daisy slid the mask off her face to join the conversation, tapping Nori on the hand. Daisy signed slowly.
“Lose the attitude or get out. I didn’t fight that hard to survive to hear you yelling.”
“Yeah? Well, maybe you should’ve let that bullet hit me instead! Dumbass!”
My jaw slackened from Nori’s outburst, and I stumbled slightly when she shoulder-checked me with her good shoulder on the way out of the hospital room.
Daisy flashed me a crooked smile when we were left alone. “She loves me,” she said, sighing wistfully. I snorted and sat on the edge of the bed.
“What gave you that crazy idea?”
“She’s a little testy—upset that I jumped in front of that bullet for her. But she’s the fucking dumbass if she thought I wouldn’t put my life on the line to save her.”
“You’re always coming to her rescue; she might want to wear the cape every once in a while.”
“Hm,” she replied noncommittally.
“Will you bite my head off if I ask how you’re feeling?”
“That really is a stupid question. You should work on your bedside manner.” We laughed until Daisy groaned and patted the bed for me to lie down.
It took a few minutes of maneuvering around wires and tubes, but soon enough, our heads were butted together—just like old times when Daisy used to sneak into my bedroom during a thunderstorm. “This reminds me of back in the day.”
“I was thinking the same.”
“I was never afraid of thunderstorms,” Daisy confessed.
“What?” I asked incredulously, scanning her face for any signs of deception.
“I wasn’t afraid of the storms. I just wanted to sleep in your cool race car bed.”
“Daisy,” I said in our mother’s tone when she was in disbelief at something we’d done.
“It’s your fault.”
“My fault?”
“You wouldn’t let me get in your bed, and anytime I tried, you’d run off and tell Mr. Jonathan. Daisy, stop jumping in my bed! Daisy, I’m gonna count to three, and if you’re not down, then I’m telling.”
“You were doing too much on that little bed. I didn’t want you to break it!”
She scoffed. “Dad would’ve bought you a new one, and it probably would’ve been bigger and better than the original.”
“So, you cooked up the bright idea to pretend to be afraid of thunderstorms so you could sleep in my bed?”
“That’s right.”
I snorted derisively. “Nori’s right. You are a dumbass. You could’ve jumped in my bed while I was at school. I wouldn’t have been none the wiser.”
“Nah. I couldn’t chance it. You made your bed up with military precision. You would’ve known.”
Jesus….
“Anything else you want to confess?”
“Yes, but I’ll save that for when I’m on my next deathbed.”
“Awesome. When are you being released?” I asked, sliding my fingers through hers.
“According to the doctor, I’ll be out of here terrorizing my wife in a week if I’m lucky.”
I’m sure Nori’s looking forward to it.
“What does your recovery look like?”
“I’ll be on bed rest for a week or two. After that, no strenuous activity for two additional weeks and plenty of physical and emotional therapy.
Along with a boatload of couples counseling.
We’re not currently having problems, but I don’t want the trauma to get us off track.
Nori’s angry and scared, and I think a part of her is upset with me for not seeming to be as affected as she is.
It hasn’t quite settled in yet, you know?
” I nodded. “It will eventually, but for now, I’m just happy to see another day. ”
“We’re happy you’re here, too. I don’t know what I would have done if I had lost my little flying squirrel.”
“Kiyah, it’s been over two decades. You’re gonna have to let that shit go.”
“I’d never seen anyone fly through the air in slow motion before.” I lifted my hand and demonstrated how Daisy’s body sailed from the back of the couch and crashed and burned.
“Get out,” she groaned. “Wait, don’t go. When are you going back to Austin?”
“I’m not. I resigned.”
“Did something happen?”
“Yeah, you got shot. By the way, is it cool if I crash with you and Nori while y’all recover? I’ll do the household chores, grocery shopping, cooking, and laundry. I can also drive y’all to your appointments.”
Daisy smiled gently.
“That’s unexpected. I thought for sure you would’ve wanted to return home to Grant.”
“Dais—”
“He wants you back, Kiyah.”
“I’m sure,” I said, rolling out of the cramped hospital bed.
“It’s the truth.”
“Mhm. I’m assuming Nori is staying with you until you’re discharged, right?”
“Yeah, I can’t get that psycho to go home.”
“If you want, I can swing by your place and grab toiletries and clothes for you two.”
“That’d be great. Check with Nori to see if she wants anything specific, and don’t look in the nightstand drawer unless you want to see all our toys.”
She doesn’t have to tell me twice. Knowing them, they probably have one of those tentacle dicks in there.
“Thanks for the warning. I’ll see you later. Get some rest.” I leaned down and peppered her temple with kisses. “I love you, Daisy.”
“I love you, too.”
I was leaving when I bumped into Nori and Grant in the hallway.
He was holding her while she sobbed. I looked away while he comforted her and ignored how difficult it had become to swallow.
Grant had always been the nurturing type, which was one out of one hundred reasons I thought he’d be a good father.
“Can we take you home?” he signed.
We?
“I need to stay here with Daisy.”
I tapped her on the shoulder and relayed the conversation I had with Daisy.
“That’s fine. Don’t look in the nightstand drawer unless you want to see a fat dick.”
“Jesus Christ!” Grant complained. “Can you say that a little louder?”
“Is he talking shit?” Nori asked.
“No, but you’re being a little loud,” I said, signing to her. “I’m sure you were heard from the parking lot.”
“My bad,” she whispered. “Also, I’m sorry for going off on you. I’m not okay.”
“Don’t apologize, Nori. What you two went through was fucking awful, and I hope that son of a bitch Daisy shot died and the other one is found and locked up for life.”
“Fuck that. I want them both found, and then we can take a field trip to Burgess’s pig farm.”
That’s one way to get rid of a body.
“I don’t mean to interrupt, but the detective is here to ask some follow-up questions and get a statement from Daisy,” Uncle Ant informed.
“You ready?” Grant asked.
Truthfully, I wasn’t ready because I knew he’d want to talk about what happened that night, and I didn’t, but I knew I couldn’t push it off any longer.
Grant
I leaned against the doorjamb of Daisy and Nori’s bedroom and watched Kiyah pack their belongings.
I should’ve helped, but I didn’t want to suffocate her.
She’d been quiet and closed off ever since we left the hospital, and I didn’t miss how she purposely distanced herself from me in the elevator as if I had a contagious disease.
It sucked, but I had to remind myself that had I not been so reactionary and had I not turned to alcohol to drown my sorrows that we wouldn’t be in this predicament.
I wouldn’t be silently begging for her to acknowledge my presence and praying for a miracle that we’d embark on a healing journey and find our way back to each other again.
Fat chance, Grant. It’s over.
I cleared my throat and asked, “Do you need help?”
She didn’t look up from the mountain of leisure wear she piled onto the bed, but paused packing to consider my offer.
She can’t even look at me, but can I blame her?
“Daisy’s favorite blanket. It’s not in here. It might be in her office.”
“Got it. Anything else?”
“Nori’s Sudoku puzzle book, a few books for Daisy to read, and any personal electronics and chargers you can get your hands on.”