Chapter 14

14

brOOKE

J onah calls the hospital to let them know we're on our way and will need an x-ray done, then reaches out to stroke my hair, flashing me a dazzling smile.

This is caring, not controlling. He knew there was a chance I wasn't safe on my own and he still didn't stop me.

And right now, he's more concerned about explaining the differences between a sprain, a fracture, and a break than saying, "I told you so."

I listen to his detailed descriptions, loving how enthusiastic he is when discussing the intricacies of the human body. I love the way he doesn't talk down to me, just shares his knowledge like he would with a colleague. Jonah is a genuinely smart guy, and I could listen to him forever.

Sure, my wrist really hurts if there's any kind of pressure on it. But it doesn't hurt nearly as much as the knowledge that I upset him by endangering myself. And yet… Our relationship has now officially taken its first hit of pressure, and Jonah's only thought is to care for me.

From the way he takes me into the hospital with his arm around my shoulders, he might as well be waving a neon sign saying "My girl. Hands off." I think I like it.

I'm second in line for the x-ray machine, and after the technician does the imaging Jonah waits with me for the doctor to appear. All the while, he's distracting me with plans of what he's going to cook me for dinner, talking about all the nutrients that help bones heal.

"What if nothing is cracked, though?" I laugh. "Then can we just order in pizza?"

He holds my right hand gently and shakes his head. "Out here you can only order pizza for delivery on Friday and Saturday nights. Otherwise, you have to pick it up from town yourself. Or, if you're me, you keep the ingredients on hand to make it fresh."

A motherly woman in a white coat appears and brings us into a small room to go over the x-ray with us. Jonah joins Dr. Biro in discussing the hairline fracture. It's clear that they've worked together many times before.

Standing up, I peer at the light box closely. "Where's the fracture? I don't see anything."

"Right here." Dr. Biro points to a faint shadowy line. "It's slight, but it's there. Since you're a responsible adult and clearly have a medic with you, let's go with a brace. You can take it off to shower but make sure to keep it on otherwise. Just remember RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. Jonah knows the drill. Do not put any weight or pressure on it at all. The less you use it for the next three weeks, the better. If it feels like it's getting worse, come back and we'll do a cast. Okay?"

"Okay. Big question, though: is it a light enough crack that we can have pizza tonight, or should we start with the bone-fusing vegetables immediately?"

Dr. Biro laughs, then shoots Jonah a look. "I like her. She's a keeper."

"I know." He smiles proudly, making my heart actually expand in my chest. I wonder if that would show up on an x-ray?

As they talk about painkillers, and braces, and ice packs, I watch Jonah's deep eyes. His focus as he listens to the doctor and his attention to detail as evidenced by his questions is admirable.

Once my left hand and wrist are immobilized in a surprisingly comfortable blue brace, Jonah is extra careful helping me into the truck. Before he starts the engine, I say, "Hey, I need to explain something."

He turns and reaches over to hold my knee. "I'm listening."

A deep breath flows through me. I already know that he won't see me as broken or strange. He's the steadiest man I've ever met, and he always seems to want the facts. And yes, I can tell he is truly listening to me.

"My father controlled my mother completely. Every penny she spent, everywhere she went."

He nods. "I was starting to wonder if it was something like that. Go on."

"He wasted all her money. Racked up debt. Ruined her life, then took off when I was nine." I stare down at my hands, picking at the brace. "She eventually managed to make more money, get out of debt, fix her life. But the way he controlled her while he was still with us…" My head shakes. "It's like how someone who was attacked by a mountain lion is going to spend the rest of their life looking over their shoulder, you know what I mean?"

"Absolutely. It's only logical that you're going to be extra sensitive about that."

Looking into his deep green eyes, I melt. He didn't say over- sensitive, as in, I'm a helpless, hyper-emotional girl. He said extra sensitive. As if my childhood glitches are simply a part of me that needs a little longer to heal.

"Yeah. So, what I'm saying is, it might take some time to lower my shields, but I'd like to try. You know…if you would."

He turns his thick shoulders so he can rest his right hand along the back of my neck, his fingers sliding into my hair. His left hand squeezes my knee gently. Every gesture he makes is both comforting and sends a wild zing of excitement zipping through me.

"Brooke, I never want to control you. Ever. But I do have a deep, inexplicable urge to keep you safe."

He takes a deep breath, choosing his words carefully.

"It's not controlling. It's…caring. I'm never going to force you to do something or forbid you from doing something. I'll only ask you to take reasonable precautions. Like not hiking alone. And not visit a skeezy town like Pinesley alone. Is that fair?"

"Perfectly fair."

"If you want to dye your hair green, I'll drive you to the salon, and try not to make cracks about you blending into the forest. If you want to go skydiving, I'll be upset, but I'll help you find the place with the best safety record." He sighs heavily. "Okay, I really want to forbid you from skydiving, but that's the only thing. Anything else, we'll work it out together."

The way his smile lights up his eyes makes me melt. "I know you'll be safe here in Old Hemlock Valley. At least, you will be once you learn the roads a bit. Then you'll be free to go wherever you want, and I won't freak out." Thick fingers squeeze my knee. "We'll figure it out. Go over maps. Give us some time and we'll be a two-person team whose mission it is to keep you safe and happy. Sounds good?"

I nod enthusiastically, and we laugh together. It's the most comforting feeling in the world. "I think that's the most I've ever heard you say at once."

His eyes widen. "You know what, you're right. Other than about medical issues, you're the only person I've ever really felt comfortable talking to."

"I like that. But it sounds as if you have plenty of friends? Carson at the gas station. And you sent Clark to check on me, for goodness' sake."

"Yeah, but we only talk about practical things. Weather, roads, trucks."

"I already talked to Ernest about tractors, I can learn how to talk about trucks too." I laugh. "Oh, and thanks for the gas. I think the premium might have been wasted on my poor ol' beater, but Carson got my windshield cleaner than it's ever been." My right hand covers his on my knee. "I'm so sorry that I didn't listen to your warning. I'll be more careful in the future."

"Yes. And I can be a little more open. You might not have gone to Pinesley at all, if I'd told you more about it. So we'll have to work on you becoming a mountain woman, and me…well, becoming a relationship guy, I guess."

My mouth falls open with a dramatic gasp. "Wow, did you just say the forbidden word?"

The slight sun lines at the corners of his eyes crinkle as he grins. " Re-la-tion-ship. Yeah, I guess I did." Jonah straightens up and pulls out his phone. "Now, what do you want on your pizza? It'll be ready for pickup by the time we're driving through the valley."