Divine Charity (25 page)

Tank went out to start the helicopter and Troy was very careful to not bump her as he worked around her, not allowing her to lift so much as a bottle of conditioner. He ran all the boxes out to the helicopter and was very solicitous as he helped her and the other ladies into the helicopter. After making sure they were securely in their seats, he jumped in next to Tank who was speaking into his headset as the speed of the blades picked up and they took to the sky.

* * * *

Val smirked at Charity as she sat up in the hospital bed and argued with him. “I don’t see why I have to stay here overnight. I can take ibuprofen for the pain at home.”

“Baby, you have a concussion. Emma wants you to stay, so you’re staying.”

With a pout, Charity replied, “It’s a
mild
concussion. I won’t sleep well here and I don’t like the food. I’ll be exhausted tomorrow. Won’t you go talk to her and explain? I want to go home with you.” She slid her lip out and gave him the doe eyes and Val tried to give her a serious look but wound up laughing.

“You’re good, baby. That almost worked on me. Look at it this way, Justine is staying overnight and Grace will be here for several days.”

She grimaced as she shifted trying to get comfortable and he rose from his chair to help her. “See? You’re hurting.” When he thought of how much more serious that accident could’ve been, it gave him cold chills. They were damn lucky the accident hadn’t happened on a thoroughfare with a higher speed limit.

Lying back against the pillows he positioned behind her, Charity clasped his hand as she looked up at him. “I don’t like being in this hospital. It reminds me of when Mom and then Dad passed away.”

Val stroked the back of her head and kissed her brow over the cut on her forehead that had required butterfly stitches. “I’m sorry, baby. I know you don’t like it, but if Emma says you need to stay, then you need to follow her orders. I can stay with you, if that would help.”

Her characteristic naughty grin made him smile as she patted the bed. “I’ll bet this bed is big enough for both of us.”

Chuckling, he took her hand and sat down on the edge beside her. “Nice try, sexy. Maybe later tonight when you’re ready to sleep, until then you’ll have to keep your lecherous hands to yourself.”

“Shoot,” she said, trying to sound disappointed. “This accident is really putting a cramp in my style.”

“Same here, sexy. After listening to you and Ransome in the shower this morning, I’m aching for a little alone time with you. Having to wait makes it hard.”

She gave him that sexy grin, her eyes lowering to his groin as she made a soft purring sound and licked her lips. “I’ll just bet.”

Val growled back in reply and gently tipped her chin up. “It’ll have to keep until you’re better. For that reason alone, I want you taking whatever Emma prescribes. I don’t like seeing you in this hospital bed but you’re here for a good reason. You didn’t see your vehicle. I’m just grateful we’re here talking.” She yawned as he spoke and grimaced as if it hurt a little and he said, “See, baby?”

With a disappointed sigh, she said, “I’m actually pretty tired now. I know they’ll be waking me periodically during the night.”

“Then you should nap while you can. Besides that, if they get a load of me sharing your bed they may fuss at us.”

Charity shrugged. “Let them. That’s going to be my best chance for getting any rest. It amazes me how fast I’ve gotten used to sleeping with the three of you.”

He stroked the top of her hand, tracing the delicate contours of her knuckles and her wrist and said, “I feel the same way. I don’t even mind when I wake with your elbow or your knee in my back…or when you snore.”

Pretending to be outraged, Charity said, “I
do not
snore! Do I?”

Val just grinned and laughed. “Not bad. It’s a nice little lady snore,” he added as he tilted his head back and did a teasing impersonation, making her giggle.

“Hey,” Ransome said from the door, smiling when he noticed her good mood. “I see she’s taking the compulsory overnight stay better than Justine is.”

Val shook his head. “Nope, like mother like daughter. She’s been bargaining for a little late-night canoodling. Is that where Justin and Beau are—with Justine?”

Ransome nodded. “I told them I’d come and check on her.”

“How is Grace?” Charity asked. “Is the baby okay? Have they moved her yet?”

Ransome nodded. “The baby is fine. Emma wanted her moved up to the labor and delivery department so she could be monitored tonight. Her right collarbone is broken so she’s in a brace, and she has some severe bruising across her sternum from her seatbelt, but nothing else is broken. Emma was worried about her blood pressure and she needed fluids. She’s probably going to be here for a few days.”

“Damn,” Charity said. “Will they let me go see her?” A broken collarbone sounded incredibly painful.

“She was asleep the last I heard,” Ransome said, taking her hand as he sat down on the other side of the bed. “It’s getting late so why don’t you try to get some rest and you can ask about seeing her in the morning.”

“Okay. And Justine is all right?”

Ransome nodded and then jumped up as the door swung wide open. “You can see for yourself,” he said as a nurse wheeled Justine into the room, followed by Justin and Dr. Emma Rivers. Justine sported a cast on her right forearm.

“Mom! Hey!” Justine said, her eyes squinting as though her exclamation made her head hurt.

Emma walked in behind them, and said, “You two can stay together as long as you rest. And no sneaking up to see Grace tonight.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Charity said with reluctance.

Emma chuckled and shook her finger at Charity. “That’s what you were planning, wasn’t it?”

“I plead the fifth.”

Emma turned her attention to Val and Ransome and said, “Lydia and I moved Jessica up to the ranch house today. That’s where I was when I got the call about the accident.”

Val nodded, glad that Jessica was closer to town now that it must be getting close to time to have her baby. “She doing okay?”

“She’s fine. She’s been a trooper.”

“I worried a little about her being so far out, even though it was the best place for her.”

“She’s done well. I think she enjoyed the peaceful environment. She’ll be having that baby sometime in the next week or two.”

“Good. Did she mention her plans afterward?”

Emma grinned. “Lydia wants to keep her, I think. They’ve become close, since she’s been visiting her regularly.”

Val nodded, unable to imagine having to make all the choices Jessica was going to be faced with soon. It was nice that the girls had taken a liking to her. She deserved happiness after what she’d been through.

Ransome got out of the way when Emma came closer to check Charity and ask her a few brief questions about how she was feeling.

When Emma was done, Charity asked, “Is there any word about Patterson Elder? The guys told me it was him behind me.” Her voice grew husky as she said, “We just saw him earlier today at Stigall’s, visiting Leah Woodworth. I can’t believe this has happened to him, and to Leah.”

Emma shook her head, her expression neutral. “It’s too soon to tell.”

“Emma, this is me,” Charity said, searching her face for a more solid answer.

Emma sat on the edge of the bed after a second. “I love practicing medicine in a small town but it’s hard when I feel so close to so many people in the community. I can’t really say much else.” She looked Charity in the eye and added, “Except to tell you to hold on to each other tight. And please don’t try to tough it out, ladies. Take the meds I gave you exactly as prescribed. You’ll thank me in the next few days. I’d better go. Make sure if you get up during the night that you have someone help you. I don’t want you falling and hitting your head again.”

The slump of Emma’s shoulders told Val what she was unable to. It didn’t look good for Patterson Elder. He vowed to never grumble about wearing his helmet when he rode his bike from then on.

After Emma left, Justin sat down on the edge of the bed, taking Charity’s hand in his. “We’re going to get some supper, baby. Can we bring you anything?”

Charity nodded and she and Justine told him what they wanted. The three of them took off and ate at Rudy’s then brought the girls their food back, complete with dessert and Rudy’s wishes for a speedy recovery. Val chuckled when he walked in the hospital room with the food and found Charity and Justine curled up in one bed watching The Voice, with Justine’s hard cast carefully positioned between them.

* * * *

Charity sighed as her eyes landed on Val standing in the hospital room doorway. Peace flowed through her at his warm look. She hated to be a baby about staying in the hospital, but she didn’t like it there. No matter how courteous and caring the staff was, it was still the place where both of her parents had passed away.

Evidently sensing her unhappiness with staying overnight, Justine had climbed into bed with her and cuddled up with her to watch their favorite television show. They’d had a quiet running commentary between them as the contestants auditioned until Val had walked in. Happiness filled her at the sight of him, because she loved him, but also because she’d been reminded of how fragile life was.

“How’re my girls?” Val asked as he brought the yummy-smelling food to the tray table and rolled it over where they could reach it. “You both look a little sleepy.”

“A little, but hungry, too,” Charity said, gazing up at Val as he stood over them. The man was seriously tall, almost as tall as Justin and every bit as broad at the shoulders.

Justine fiddled with the Styrofoam boxes with her left hand and Val helped her as he spoke to Charity. “I think since the two of you are sharing a room that I’ll stay home tonight with the guys.”

Justine waved her good hand and said, “Val don’t stay away on my account. I promise I don’t mind if you want to camp out with us.”

Val chuckled when Charity stuck out her lip but then she nodded in acceptance and said, “We should be okay on our own tonight.”

He leaned over and kissed Justine on the forehead and she smiled at him affectionately, and then he leaned in and gave Charity a tender, loving kiss and said, “I love you both and I’m so relieved you’re okay.” The love that radiated from his eyes, for
both
of them, spoke volumes as well before he said good night and departed.

Justine was quiet while they ate and for the rest of the show and then shut the television off after it was over. She cuddled up to Charity with her casted right arm between them and rested her head on her mom’s shoulder. “That friend of yours may die, huh?”

Disliking to even speak of it, Charity nodded. “There’s a possibility, yes.” Recalling how hard the impact from the rear end collision had been, Charity shuddered. The memory of the accident was going to give her the heebie-jeebies for a while.

“Thinking about that makes me worry about Beau…and Noah.”

While biting her lower lip, Charity considered her answer. Justine had always been one to keep her feelings to herself but she had a good idea of how much Justine liked Noah. She hadn’t dated much and as far as Charity knew, no other boy had gotten under her skin the way Noah had. But she also didn’t believe in sugar-coating the issue.

“I don’t like the idea of them going off into the sunset either, sweetie. But I can’t begrudge them taking that trip. Physically speaking, they’re both men now, and I think they view this adventure as a rite of passage. We can’t deny them the chance to test their strength and their wits just because we’re worried they’ll get hurt. Snakes, scorpions, sunstroke, bad people…I can’t dwell on those things.”

“I’m trying not to either. I understand all of what you’re saying, and I guess I agree as well, but…sometimes I wish I hadn’t agreed to date Noah until the school year ends.”

That was news to Charity but she wasn’t going to question Justine when it was obvious she had larger worries. It wasn’t like Charity would’ve told her she couldn’t go on other dates with him besides the prom.

“Is that because you don’t want to care and worry more than you already do if you get in any deeper? Honey, maybe it’s already too late. When you give your heart to a guy, regardless of your age, he owns it, in a way, until he breaks it or gives you your fondest dream. I like Noah. I think he’s a great guy and he’s going to grow into an amazing man, if he’s allowed to do what he needs to do. It sucks to think of them leaving. I know in my heart I’m going to cry when Beau sets out, but I wouldn’t stop him no matter how terrifying my worries become. He’s still my baby. Noah’s mom probably feels the same way. He and Beau have spent a lot of time in the outdoors so I’m sure they have the skills they need. And it’s only…three months,” she said, trying to ignore the pain in her chest at the thought of not seeing Beau’s sweet face every day. “I’m shutting up now before I turn into a blubbering wuss.”

Justine chuckled and hugged her with her good arm. Her voice sounded like she had a lump in her throat as she said, “That’s my badass mom fighting her inner hover-mother.”

Charity laughed out loud. “Am not. Just going to miss him.” With a sigh, she added. “My head aches and I’m getting sleepy.”