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)
13: The Recovery
Beau
I headed into our bedroom, where Dash was peacefully sleeping. He had rested more today than he had over the past couple of days. His care team must have tired him out. Duke and Dixie were quietly lying on their beds, staring out the large window to our backyard, until I came inside the room. I tossed my baseball cap on the dresser, and tore out of my T-shirt, throwing it closer to the bathroom. Then I went to the dogs, bending and taking the few minutes—maybe ten—to quietly pet, and love on each one. They were remarkable creatures. I’m not sure how I sensed it, maybe it was through Duke’s heartbeat or the way his head fell between my crossed legs, but Duke felt calmer. Dixie scooted against the length of my thigh, content that we stay just like that through the night.
“How much longer until you join me in bed?” Dash murmured in the quiet of the dim room. Dixie lifted her head to the voice then stood. Not in her normal rambunctious way, but cautiously plodding to Dash’s side of the bed.
“I didn’t mean to wake you. They looked like they needed some attention,” I said, getting to my feet.
“I think you were right,” he replied. “I may have overdone on my first night home. I hope it doesn’t set me back. I’m exhausted.” He snaked a hand out of the heavy blanket to reach for Dixie’s head. “I miss my old life.”
“You’ve been through hell, Dash. It’s important to give yourself a break, reevaluate in a couple of weeks,” I said, dropping my shorts where I stood. I kicked those toward my T-shirt and pushed back my side of the blanket. I left our bedroom door open, allowing the dogs to roam free. My fingers went to Duke’s head, scratching behind his ear. “Do you need anything before I lie down? A sip of water?”
“No, I’m fine. The catheter makes me uncomfortable. I hope they remove it tomorrow.” Dash stared at the ceiling as I climbed into bed. It was always cold inside this room.
“Do you need more blankets?” I asked.
“More than the five covering me?” He chuckled. Apparently losing thirty pounds hadn’t messed with the internal heat he always generated. “Come closer. It’s been too long since we slept together. I don’t like it. You make me believe everything’s going to be all right, or that I’m safe, or whatever I feel.”
I scooted closer, finding his hand. His sleeping position had been set up at a pretty decent incline to help with his lingering cough. I tucked my free hand under the pillow at my head. I needed to be closer, and lifted his hand to his lips, pressing against his scaley skin. Something else I needed to work on.
“I wanted to be home,” Dash started, his face turning to mine. “But now, I’m not sure if it’s good for the children to see me this way.”
“I disagree,” I said. “We’re a team. A family. We need each other. They were beginnin’ to act out. West, our mild-mannered little guy, was fussy most of the time. They needed you home. And now you’ll have three little nurses tryin’ to take care of you, and West scootin’ on his belly to get to you.”
“What if I don’t get better?” Dash asked, his brows wrinkled, his handsome face turning to stare at the ceiling. I watched his Adam’s apple bobble as he swallowed the worry he was having.
“You’ve come so far, Dash. I think they expected the worst but here you are. There’s no reason to think you won’t return to your old self. Have you met you? You’re pretty stubborn,” I said, trying for a laugh. I didn’t get that, but he managed the faintest of smiles.
He swiveled his head back to me. “You shouldn’t have to be a nursemaid to me. You have UPS, the charter company, this family.” That was all his lungs could handle, and he took deep breaths and closed his eyes.
“I’m on leave at UPS. I have six weeks off and a gazillion hours of vacation and sick leave. Scott’s got the business taken care of. He says we’ve been busier than ever. His old man wants to invest in us with a substantial deep-sea boat. We’ll be able to offer expensive charters. Our company seems to be doing good.”
“Listen to me, Beau,” Dash started with labored breaths. “You, Amelia, and our children are taken care of if something happens to me.”
“Dash, stop. You’re on the other side of this health deal. Save your breath.”
“Beau. I need you to promise me that when my time comes, you’ll seek happiness. I don’t need to ask you to watch our children and Amelia, I know you will.” A tear slipped from the corner of his eye down his temple. I could hear the fear and weariness in his labored breaths. A second tear followed. “Since the first second I saw you, all I’ve wanted is your happiness, and I hoped that was with me…”