Chapter 44

44

She had never really seen the hospital rooms on the third floor from this angle. It took Genny a few minutes of panic to remember why she had ended up here, flat on her back. Someone was holding her hand. She turned her head slightly. The lights were dimmed, but light was coming through the crack in the window. Morning, then.

Her entire body felt like lead. It took more energy than she wanted to think about to turn her head the other direction to see who held her hand.

No surprise, her mother was right there. That woman did like to hover over her babies whenever she got the chance. “Mom…”

Genny squeezed her mother’s hand.

Eyes the same shape as her own opened. “Genesis, Genny, honey… you’re awake. And you’re okay.”

“I… remember… what happened. Is Aubrey okay?”

“Your friend is fine. A few bruises, and I believe he cut her arm when she was trying to get to you. They said she was trying to protect you. I adore that child. Guthrie and Gunn took her and her sister back to the ranch. Guthrie’s keeping an eye on her.” Her mom gave a soft smile. “I think he’s wanting to get more than just his eyes on her, though. We should probably warn her, if she hasn’t figured that out already. But I think that’s rather wonderful, personally.”

Genny smiled, then a sound had her looking toward the second chair, off in the far corner. She was in room 312, she thought. It was one of a dozen private rooms.

There was a familiar man asleep there. “Chad’s here…”

Her mother gave her a probing look. “He insisted he was staying with you. That he had the right. Rather stridently, actually. He said you would want him in here with you when you woke. Is there something you need to tell your mother…?”

“He is a rather insistent man when there is something he wants.” She tried to move a little. She never had dealt well with feeling weighed down like this. She could wiggle, but it hurt. She thought she’d reinjured her ribs, too. Her entire body hurt, really. Maybe she’d just stay still for a while. “Single-minded, for sure.”

“A bit stubborn, hmm? Well, I suspect the two of you will be fine company for one another, then. Passionate, most certainly. It’s probably the red in his hair. You had red as a baby, for all of three weeks. Then it darkened. Such a pretty baby girl. I couldn’t look at you without melting with love. You were always my sweetheart. I think Dr. Chad Fields might almost be good enough for you, baby. Might. If he’s the man you want?”

Genny nodded. More than anything else in the world. “Very much so. Forever.”

“Good, then. Now, you rest. Everything else will work itself out in good time.”

Her mother stayed with her until she drifted off again.

When her eyes opened later, and she had most of her senses back, there was a tall, strong, beautiful man standing right there next to her bed.

“Chad…” Genny held out her hand and reached for him. Like she probably always would. “There you are. I was waiting for you, you know.”

“I’ve been with you the entire time.”

“I know. But I was still waiting.” She yawned. Maybe she wasn’t making sense, but his warm hand wrapped around hers… was exactly what she wanted forever now.