Catherine swallowed and knew she’d acquired a breathing tube. Her ankle felt heavy, and her body ached everywhere. Splints covered two of her fingers. Her mom rose from a chair and clung to her other hand. Carol Reese cried in relief at seeing her daughter open her eyes.
Her brows deepened into a V in confusion at her mom’s tears. Leo softly explained, “You’re in the hospital, Kit Kat.” She rolled her eyes and presented him with a “duh” expression, making him laugh. “Your ankle is broken, along with two of your fingers. You have burns on your hip, thighs, and shoulder. You are intubated, but your numbers look good, so they’ll take the tube out soon.”
Catherine tried to communicate. She needed to know if Kassie and her daughter were hurt.
“Easy, Kit Kat. The doctor will be here shortly,” he ordered.
Kassie walked in, holding Melody with one hand, and Emma with the other. She let her daughter go and Melody climbed into Leo's lap.
“Hi, Mama. I'm happy you waked up. Will you draw on my cast? Aunt Kassie drew Rollo, Uncle Chase drew a rainbow, Uncle Jake made a unicorn, Gram Carol made kisses and hugs, and Gram Maddie made a smiley face.”
“Remember what we talked about June Bug? Mama is sore and tired. We need to let her rest,” he reminded Melody.
Melody pouted prettily as she clung to him.
Kassie smiled at her. “If it's okay with you, Chase and I will return to Serenity. If you don’t mind, Melody can stay with us. She's getting antsy at the hospital, and you need to rest.” Kassie eyes pooled with tears. It seemed she and her friend needed to schedule an overdue discussion.
Catherine gestured to Kassie. Carol moved over to allow Kassie closer to Catherine. Catherine lifted her hand, and her friend grasped it. She nodded her head slowly and looked over at Melody. Hoping Kassie understood what she meant.
“June Bug, you're going home with Aunt Kassie and Emma. I'll stay here to help your mama. You tell Aunt Kassie or Uncle Chase if your arm starts to hurt,” Leo instructed Melody.
Kassie glanced back at Chase, who smiled back at her. “I'm happy you're feeling better. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to call. I'll send texts and pictures regularly letting you know how she's doing.” She let go of Catherine’s hand and gathered Melody's things while her daughter made her goodbyes.
Her friend stayed true to her word. Over two days, Kassie sent a report to Leo or Carol's phone every four hours. Catherine read the last one. As her mom held her phone in her hand, she frowned. Kassie's texts reminded her of a nursing report and not their usual friend banter about their girls. Always polite, Kassie asked how Catherine fared before fully recounting Melody's eating habits, activities, and pain level. Frustrated, Catherine counted the time down until her release. She wanted to see her friend face to face.
The doctor came in and asked everyone to step out while he examined his patient. When he finished, he asked if she minded her family remaining present while he gave her his report. Catherine nodded. Her mom never let her out of sight longer than a bathroom break. The team provided meals and Leo never left her side unless the nursing staff requested time to bathe her or change her dressings.
“I don't anticipate any scarring from the burns, they’re healing nicely. You’ll need to continue with dressing changes, and I’ll send you home with ointment. Your oxygen levels appear normal. I sent a referral in for an orthopedic specialist for your ankle. I can discharge you as long as you have someone with you,” the doctor informed her.
Catherine smiled. She grew tired of the pale pink walls and her mom and Leo staring intently at her all day. The sooner she got back to life, the better.
“Mom?” Catherine expected her mother to say she’d stay with her in Seattle.
“I'm sorry, Baby. I didn't know when they planned to release you. Jake still needs a caretaker. He can barely cross the room without breathing heavily. The agency called, and they're short-staffed, and since I already know the routine, it’s easier for poor Jake if I stay with him. How about Kassie and Chase? I'm sure they’d be happy to help you out.” Carol pinned her innocent green eyes on her daughter.
Catherine narrowed her eyes. She wasn't mad at Kassie, but they needed to clear the air. Her friend already juggled Melody and Emma. She didn't want to burden her even more.
“She'll go home with me,” Leo stated. He raised a brow, challenging her to reject him. In truth, she felt better when he stayed the night. Images of the men grabbing Kassie and Melody played like a movie in her head. Leo’s presence chased them away. She smelled the spicy cologne when her dreams warped to the men beating her, and she felt his hand on her head, stroking her hair. With him, she felt safe.
She turned to see her mom smile, and Catherine shot her a look, asking if she played a part in his decision to share his home with her. Carol Reese jumped out of her chair and called Maddie and Jake. Her mother failed to pull the wool over her eyes.
Catherine closed her eyes as the doctor reviewed the list of prescriptions and things to watch.
An hour later, Taco pulled the car around as Shadow donated all the flowers and balloons to the hospital to give out. Saint appeared at the door and offered to drive her mother to Jake's and stop at the grocery store. Leo handed him a list of items and consulted with Chase.
The nurse rounded the corner with a wheelchair. Leo gently picked her up from the bed and sat her in the chair. He walked beside her and helped her into his truck. Pulling a blanket from the back seat, he tucked it over her. He pulled the seatbelt and clasped it. His eyes met hers.
“You comfortable, Kit Kat? We're about two hours from home. I brought more pillows if you need more,” Leo anxiously asked. She disliked the vulnerability she saw on his face. It reminded her of the day he showed up at her house after Olaf died.
Before she stopped herself, her hand caressed the side of his face. His beard tickled her wrist as she tried to swipe the worry from his face.
“I'm fine. Are you sure you're up to having a house guest?”
He smiled as he closed the door and walked around the truck. His eyes scanned the parking lot for any threat as he hopped into the vehicle.
“I'm more than up to it.” He drove out of the hospital parking lot.
Taco and Shadow followed behind them. She briefly wondered how he planned to get her up his apartment steps before she let the drugs kick in and closed her eyes.