I move toward him and notice the angry scowl on Eileen’s face, which gives me pause. Not for long though. She asked for me. I’m not going to let her down. The doctor leads me down a short hallway, and points at the room with a glass wall opposite the nurses’ station. “She’ll be in there for the first twenty-four hours, then she’ll be moved to a more private room.”
“Thank you,” I mumble absentmindedly, already on my way into her room.
She offers me a smile, which ends on a wince. “Hurts,” she moans.
“Did they give you anything for the pain?” I take her hand and lean closer, pressing a soft kiss on her lips. “I love you.”
“I love you, too. And yes, they gave me a shot of something, so I may fall asleep on you.”
“Don’t worry about that. I’m just so fucking relieved you’re going to be okay.”
“Did they catch up to the boat?”
“Jared said it was two drunken college students up from Boston for the weekend.” I shake my head. “Now they’re facing charges for what they did to you, and whatever other shit Jared can pin on them.”
“Anyone else hurt?” she asks, starting to drift off to sleep.
“They narrowly missed Teagan, which scared the fuck out of Travis.” I brush a kiss over her lips. “Sleep.”
“Parents?” she mumbles.
“I’ll let them come and see you, then I’ll be here. I’m not leaving you alone.”
14
Louisa
Waking slowly, I keep my eyes shut while I concentrate on my body and the aches and pains. I’m relieved to discover my head isn’t hurting as much as it was yesterday. There is a dull throb but at least it isn’t taking my breath away like it had. I peel my eyelids open and sigh at the dimmed lighting in the room. I wince slightly as I look around and smile, my heart turning over, when I find Shep asleep in the chair.
His eyes shoot open and meet mine. “How are you feeling?”
“Still sore. Not as bad as yesterday though.”
Sitting forward, Shep takes my hand and rests his cheek on the bed. “I want you to come home with me when you’re released.”
“Okay.”
“You don’t need to think about it?”
“Shep, I’ve always wanted to be wherever you are. That isn’t going to change with a bump to my head.”
He groans. “It’s a bit more than a bump.”
“I know,” I admit quietly. “I love you.” I brush the tips of my fingers over his rough cheek. “Have my parents been in?”
“They came in with Amber, but you’d already fallen asleep.”
“Hmm, I remember you saying about them going to come see me.” I hold his gaze and ask, “Blu knows about us, right?”
“Yes. I haven’t seen her since the lake though.”
“What a mess.”
The nurse comes bustling into the room. “I need you,” she says to Shep, “to go home and get some rest and let me do my job in peace.”
“I, um, I…”
She smiles and shakes her head. “I promise to take good care of her.”
“I’ll be okay, Shep. Come back once you’ve rested and eaten.”
“You sure?”
“Not really, but I don’t want you getting sick.”
“Okay.” He grimaces as he stands. “God, I really am too old for sleeping in chairs.”
“Come back this afternoon. You’ll have to check in at reception though as we’re moving her after breakfast,” the nurse says.
He leans over me and whispers, “I love you. I’ll be back later. I promise.”
“Love you, too.”
I sigh as I watch him leave, his steps hesitant.
“He’s a good one,” the nurse comments.
“Yes, he is. He’s going to be my husband one day.”
“At least you’re both on the same page.”
“What?” I frown.
The nurse laughs. “He told me you were his future wife.”
I smile as my heart fills with love and excitement. “That’s good to know.”
The nurse smirks before becoming serious. “How are you feeling today?”
“Better than I did last evening.”
“I’m going to check the dressing on your head and then I’ll fetch you something to eat.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m Jolene. If you need anything, just ask for me.”
I nod and wince. I reach up to my head as pain shoots through my skull.
“Maybe refrain from doing that for a day or two.” Jolene fusses around me and gets herself situated beside me. After checking the dressing, she takes my blood pressure and checks my blood oxygen.
“How am I doing?”
“Just fine.” She pats me on the hand. “Breakfast will arrive shortly.”
“Thank you.” I lie quietly, not stopping my eyes from drifting closed.
Seconds later they snap open when I hear footsteps approach the bed.
Beatrice.
“You’re here…alone?”
Bea snorts. “Ryker’s in the waiting room.”
“Ah.”
She moves the tray table closer to me and places a hot cup of coffee down, then starts emptying the box she carried in. “I didn’t really know what to bring you, so I made comfort food, or rather, Ryker made us both some comfort food.”
“Thank you.”
I watch her lower herself carefully into the chair. She lets out a loud sigh once settled. “I feel ninety with how much everything aches when I move.”
“You’re doing okay, right?”
“I’m doing fine, and Ryker is the most amazing man ever. I’m halfway there and I’m hoping to finally get some energy back. I’m drained all the time… Anyway, I’m not here to talk about me. How are you feeling?”
“I have a headache, not as bad as the one I had yesterday. I’m tired too. They have me on some pretty good painkillers.” I open the chicken and avocado toasted sandwich and sigh in pleasure at the first bite. “This is really good.”
“I know.” Bea grins.
After taking a careful sip from the cup of coffee, I ask, “Has Blu said anything?”
Bea groans. “She came straight to my cottage from the lake and told us what had happened.”
“Tell me, Bea? Please. I need to know what she’s thinking.”
“She couldn’t understand how you could date Shep behind her back. Ryker being, well, Ryker, pointed out that if Blu hadn’t told everyone she was going to marry him, then you wouldn’t have had to date Shep behind her back. Which is true.
“She settled down after that and was genuinely worried about you. I think she’s also embarrassed.”
“Embarrassed? Why?” I ask between bites of the delicious sandwich.
“Because of how she’s been with Shep when all the time he was in love with you. She also admitted that she doesn’t love him in that way. Her love for him is brotherly, so she’s confused as to why she carried on saying they’d be married one day. I think she just got used to it, you know?”
“I love him. I always have.” Feeling sleepy, I add, “My only regret is that we stayed quiet at first instead of reaching out for what we wanted, which was each other. We should have told Blu years ago.”
“Blu is a friend, and you didn’t want to upset her. I get that. Personally, I agree with you, you should have told her years ago.” Bea strokes her belly. “She knows now.”
“It’s a mess.”
“Not really.” Bea smiles. “I have wondered at different times if there was something going on between you and Shep. But I could never pin anything down.”
“I hate that she found out with the rest of the town. The funny thing is, I went to talk to her before heading to the lake. But she’d already left.”
I rub at my brows, and Bea seeing this, stands and presses a cold hand to my forehead.
“Ah…that feels so good.”
“Don’t worry about Blu, okay? She’s still your friend.
Shep’s too. She’ll come visit once you’re out of here.”
“Yes, Mom.”
“I can’t wait to have a little baby in my arms. Ryker’s son or daughter.” Bea looks surprised and continues, “I forgot to tell you. Ryker has a job.”
“Do tell?”
“He’s got a full-time position with the mountain rescue team.”
“Is that the same place where some of the firefighters volunteer?”
“The one and only. He’s so excited. I’m a little nervous, to be honest. But I know he knows what he’s doing, so he’ll be fine.”
“I had no idea he knew that stuff.”
“Me either. Over in Europe, he was on the mountain patrols during ski season, so he has training from that. He’s done extra training here and qualified. I’m really happy for him.”
“Then I am too.”
I stifle a yawn and a bigger one escapes.
“I better go,” Bea says. “Should I leave the coffee?”
“I’m not sure I’ll get to drink it. My eyes won’t stay open.”
“I’ll take it with me.” She hesitates, glances at the door, then takes sip of coffee. She sighs in pleasure. “That is the first sip of coffee I’ve had since I told Ryker I was pregnant.”
I chuckle, and say, “Thank you for coming to see me, and for breakfast.” I frown. “The nurse went to get me breakfast.”
“Your nurse was aware I was waiting with breakfast.”
Typical Beatrice.
She takes the trash with her and disappears from view while I give in to my tired eyes.
15
Shep
All morning I’ve been thanking God for Rob because I hadn’t given one thought to the coffeehouse. Not one. My every thought had been on Louisa.
The smell of coffee reaches me in the apartment above the shop and my stomach growls. I need food and coffee before going back to the hospital.
Beatrice called to let me know Louisa had eaten and was taking a nap when she left. So that’s reassuring.
There is something I need to do for the both of us before heading back, and that is have a talk with Blu. The other night her emotions were raw, so hopefully she’s had time to think things through now.
Food. Blu. Hospital. In that order.
I grab my keys, wallet, and phone, and head downstairs only to have the few patrons turn to gawk at me. “I suppose word has gotten around, huh?” I ask Rob, who is wiping down the counter.
“People should mind their own business.”
I grin at the nineteen-year-old. “That they should.” I grab a sandwich and help myself to a coffee. “I’m going next door then to the hospital.” I pause. “Are you sure you’re okay managing this place?”
“I’ve got it. Take care of Louisa.”
“I’ll make sure you’re covered in your paycheck.”
He salutes me as I leave and head a few stores down. I’m not looking forward to this, but I need to talk to Blu.
Blu’s door is open as usual during the warm months, so I walk inside and find Blu cutting the stems off some pink flowers. She glances up and her eyes cloud over.
“Can we talk?” I glance at the sharp looking scissors in her hands then and back to her face. “Preferably without you holding a sharp object.”
Her lips turn up into a smile. “Better get it over with, right?” she mutters. She walks to the door and closes it, then flips the sign to “Closed.” Blu flicks the lock and sighs.
“I’m really sorry, Blu. I’m sorry you found out the way you did. The book club and the lake… Please look at me.”
When she does, I notice how pale she is. I take a chance and step into her space and take hold of her hand. I lead her toward a chair and gently shove her into it. “I’m not helpless, but thank you.”
I crouch down in front of her. “You are my friend, Blu. Louisa’s too. We planned on telling you. However, we chickened out a few times. Neither of us wanted to upset you.”
Blu takes her hand from mine and fiddles with a piece of hair that has fallen free from her ponytail. “I’m embarrassed, Shep. In fact, I think I’m more embarrassed than upset.” She cringes. “I am hurt that you both kept your relationship from me, and now that I’ve had time to think about it, I honestly understand why you did. I’ve been a bad friend.” She covers her face. “And Louisa. Oh God! I took you away from her to dance with me at the wedding. I’m kind of mortified about the whole schoolgirl crush thing.
“That’s what I had, Shep. You’re a good-looking guy, but I realize I don’t love you in the way I did when I was seventeen and had my first crush on a boy. I’m sad and embarrassed to say that it took these past couple of days to snap me out of it.”
“Thank God,” I mutter.
Blu punches me in the arm. “Hey! I’ll have you know I’m a catch.” She smiles and I feel a weight lifted from me as I see the Blu I know.
“We’ve known each other our whole lives, Blu. I do love you, but as a sister and best friend.”
“That’s how I feel about you.” She chews her bottom lip, which is usually a sign she has a confession to make. “Spit it out.”
Blu huffs. “I got used to pretending I’d one day be Mrs. Shepard Carter. It was second nature to tease about it. The thing is, as I got older, the thought of being…intimate with you made me feel icky.”
I burst out laughing.
“Well, I didn’t expect that reaction.”
Shaking my head, I tug Blu up and wrap her in my arms. “You are still an amazing friend, and I hope that never changes.” I kiss her on the cheek and step back.
A blush coats her pale cheeks and she smiles—a true smile that enters her eyes. “I’m going to call and see Louisa later, so maybe you could take a walk while I talk to her. I promise it’s all good between us.” She chews on her lip. “I hope it is.”
“It is. She’s worried about you.”
“She’s the one in the hospital.” Blu unlocks the door and reopens the store. “Maybe, I’ll cast my eyes in a different direction now.”
I open my mouth to comment and think better of it. About to step through the door, I glance at Blu and notice her laughing at me.
“I know exactly where your mind went.” She laughs. “I am not interested in Blake and Emile, so there will be no threesomes going on. Feel better?”
“Yes.” I pause. “I mean, it’s none of my business, so if you want a threesome with them, just, well, maybe not tell me.”
She snorts. “As if I’d tell you about my sex life.” She waves her hands, shooing me away.
Outside the store I breathe in the fresh air, which I’m excited feels a bit cooler. I hope the cooler weather they promised us is on the way. Bea should find it easier to move around as well. I miss her being around all the time.
Thinking of Bea, I wave to Ryker as I get into the car. I immediately turn the car on and sigh when the air conditioner blasts my way. Groaning, I open the window as Ryker taps on it.
“Are you heading back to the hospital?”
“I am.” I raise a brow, questioning the holdup.
“I don’t suppose Louisa would like to recuperate with Bea? She’s going out of her head with boredom, plus I don’t trust her not to do too much while I’m away.”
I frown. “Where are you heading?”
“Have a couple of training courses to do before I start work at the mountain rescue. I’m going to be four hours away, and I’m not happy about it right now.”
“Bea has a lot of friends here; she knows she only has to call one of us.”
Ryker adds, “You can stay too. There’s a nice guest room.”
I laugh. “I’ll ask Louisa, but what about your sister?”
“She has a job. I’m only asking because I know Louisa won’t be back at work for a while.”
I grin. “Tia? Your youngest sister is still in town, right?”
“Do not make me ask her.”
I laugh. “You’re pathetic. I’m sure we can stay at
your place, so don’t worry about Bea.”
“Thanks.” He adds, “I love Tia, but if I ask her to move in with Bea, she’ll never leave.”
“We’ll stay with Bea.” No sooner have the words left my mouth that I have thought. “You have told Bea you’re asking us, right?”
Ryker flinches. “I will.”
Laughing, I leave him on the sidewalk while I want to kick myself for not telling Blu sooner. All the doubt and sneaking around could have been avoided if we’d spoken to her at the beginning.
At the hospital, I discover I’m grinning like a fool, and I really don’t care. Louisa is going to be okay after I nurse her back to health, and I’m sure Ryker will be the one with a pissed off better half.
16
Louisa
“Thank God your mother left.” Shep shudders. “I honestly thought she’d check the bedroom to see if we have single beds.”
I giggle. “Don’t be so dramatic.”
“Dramatic! Did you see the look she gave me when you announced you were really tired?”
“My parents love you. Dad was trying not to laugh though.” I pat the sofa beside me. “Come sit. I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve been right—”
“Over there,” I say, pointing to the armchair.
He gently sits beside me and wraps an arm around my shoulders. I rest my head on him and sigh. “This is what I’ve wanted all day.”
“I locked the front and back doors; no one else is getting into this cottage until next year.”
I prod him in the stomach.
“Tomorrow afternoon, I guess.” He takes my hand from his belly and intertwines our fingers. “I’m glad we’re home.” He kisses the side of my head, opposite the side with the stitches and missing hair.
After spending a week at Bea and Ryker’s cottage, it really is good to be home. Shep has moved in with me now that there is nothing to hide. The coffeehouse is only five minutes away, so he won’t need to leave too early in the morning to get everything ready before opening.
Secret Love in Blossom Creek Page 6
