Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
The hospital room door swung open. My mom hurried to Dash’s bedside. Her eyes—so much like mine—filled with tears as she reached for Dash’s hand. “Dash, darling, you’re awake.” She pushed the nurse’s button as Carter came to her side.
Dash gave a valiant effort to speak. His words were soft and garbled under his oxygen mask.
“You’ve been sick, son,” Carter began. My mom stepped out of the way, allowing Carter to step closer to Dash. “You’ve been intubated for several days. It’s going to take time to get your voice back.”
Carefully, without thought of the repercussions, for him or me, I leaned in to kiss his lips then did it again. “I love you.” My face stayed inches from his. “You have to focus on getting well. We need you, Dashing.”
He managed to croak out two words, “How…long?”
“A couple of weeks. Carter and Mom came because I was unreachable. Carter’s the reason you’ve come this far. He stayed with you and had doctors all over the United States consultin’.” I lost Dash’s gaze as he searched out Carter. Their connection was palpable.
“Discount,” Dash managed to say after several moments. I wasn’t sure I heard him right, but Carter burst out in laughter.
“I’d believe free, but we can talk about that later.”
Dash tried to smile, but it didn’t reach his lips.
His gaze sought mine again. “Tired.”
“Sleep, I’ll be here.”
Dash held my hand marginally tighter. His eyelids blinked a few times before shutting all the way. He was back asleep again as the nurse stepped inside the room.
Dash
Ten Days Later
Houston Methodist Hospital
“I really don’t want the kids to see me like this,” I confessed, understanding how ridiculous I sounded since I’d be home in about an hour, a place I’d fought to be for days now. They still had no clue what had hit me, but the outcome wasn’t good. The frail weakness refused to release its grip. I felt like a limp noodle, unable to walk on my own. It exhausted me to have Beau dress me, and this relentless cough made my lungs feel like giving up by the time it ended.
“They miss you,” Beau said, bending to prop my feet on the wheelchair’s footrest. “They’re excited to see you and be here at the hospital. The staff who took care of you want to meet the kids. They’re getting balloons and teddy bears from the gift shop.”
What had really happened? In what world had Beau become the reasonable one between us?
“How’s my hair?”
“As well as I could manage. You look like a model. I like your hair longer.”
I was fully aware of my appearance, and it was nowhere close to a model.
“Do you like my beard?”
“Of course.” I always liked him with facial hair, no matter the amount. The noise at the room’s door drew both our attention, Beau standing to his full height. “Remember the carnations.”
I did forget my gifts and reached for the rolling tray to grasp the four stems that Beau had picked up from the gift store downstairs.
The door latch released. My heart softened as Mia, in her pigtails styled just how I loved, rushed for me. She wore blue jeans, a jersey T-shirt, pink sleeves and a white chest, the words I love my daddy imprinted on the front. Her runners flashed with color as she bounded forward. “Daddy, I missed you.” Her upper body fell against my thighs, hugging me. “Are you still sick?”
“I am,” I said, laying a palm on her back. “But I’m gettin’ better every day.”
Beau had Livie and Ava on each hip. Livie’s head rested on his shoulder. Ava hugged Beau around the chest, staring at me. They each wore the same outfits, only Liv’s was in blue, and Ava’s in lavender. We’d assigned them colors at birth to tell them apart and they’d stuck.
“I don’t like us being separated,” Livie added. “You’re skinny, Daddy. You don’t have the fatness on your tummy anymore.”
“Is that right?” I managed a grin before Beau had a chance to scold her for stating the truth.
“Mia, give your sisters a chance to see your dad,” Beau said, putting Livie and Ava on their feet. Mia jumped up, Beau catching her to lift into a hug. I hugged both girls too, grinning sweetly up at me from my lap.
Kailey laughed and gave me a side hug. “What’s that tube in your nose?”
“Oxygen,” Carter answered beside her. His hand rested on my shoulder, giving a squeeze.
“And he’s coming home to get better?” she asked him instead of me.
“Yes,” Carter answered again.
“Where’s Amelia and Linda? Did they bring West?” I asked, handing each girl a flower. They beamed as if I’d given them the rarest of jewels.
“Abuela and Gigi are waiting in the van for you. With West,” Ava said. “Abuela’s a big crybaby. She cries all the time now.”