Page 11 of Renewal After Dark

“I want to feed you. It’ll help.”

“Okay then, but only if you let me be your sous-chef.”

She forced a smile for his benefit. “You’re my sous-chef for life.”

He gave her a soft, sweet kiss. “No matter what happens, we’ll be okay. I promise.”

As long as she had him and their blissful life, she would get through this.

But she sure as hell hoped her pain-in-the-ass ex-husband wasn’t dead.

At Rhode Island Hospitalin Providence, Kelsey Gordon adjusted the sling that supported her surgically repaired broken right forearm, which was now encased in plaster. The meds she’d been prescribed kept the pain manageable, which was a relief after a rough couple of days following surgery to pin the broken bone. She waited by the nurses’ station, hoping for an update on the condition of her fiancé, Jeff Lawry.

Her fiancé.

She still couldn’t believe they’d gotten engaged during the storm, before the roof over her apartment collapsed on them, leaving Jeff seriously injured. Other than the broken arm, she had bruises and lacerations all over her body, but she was in good shape compared to him.

He’d suffered a broken pelvis and fractured hip, injuries that had also required surgery. For a time, they’d feared he wouldn’t survive long enough to be airlifted off the island to get the urgent care he needed. Thanks to Dr. David Lawrence and the team at the island’s clinic, he’d been stabilized to travel by helicopter to the mainland.

Her parents had spent a week in Providence with her and Jeff and had left this morning to return home to Illinois. Jeff’s brother John had also been with them until yesterday when he went home to Gansett. Kelsey had been staying with Jeff’s mother, Sarah, stepfather, Charlie, and grandparents, Russ and Adele, at Frank McCarthy’s home, which had been made available to them for as long as they needed it.

Debbie, the nurse who’d cared for Jeff overnight, approached the desk and smiled when she saw Kelsey waiting for her. They’d gotten to know most of the nurses who worked on the floor. “He had a restful night, and the doctor upgraded him to good condition when he came through on morning rounds. They’re working on a plan to discharge him to a rehab facility in the next week to ten days.” She squeezed Kelsey’s shoulder, reassuringly. “It’s all good news.”

“Oh, yes, I know. It’s still a lot to process.”

“He’s young and strong, and he’ll bounce right back. Try not to worry.”

“Thank you. It’s been…” The dreadful twenty-four hours she’d spent fearing the man she loved wouldn’t survive had taken a huge toll on her. The fear had been far more painful than the broken arm. She’d never forget the way he’d lunged to cover her in the one second they’d had to prepare as the roof came down on them. A beam had landed on him, resulting in the most serious of his injuries. “It’s been hard. He got hurt saving me.”

“He’s on the road to recovery, honey, and everything will be all right in a month or two.”

“I appreciate your kindness.”

“Go see your love. He was asking for you. I’ll be back tonight.”

“We’ll see you then.” Feeling better after her talk with Debbie, Kelsey walked down the hallway to Jeff’s room.

Sarah, Russ and Adele were outside the room with Jeff’s eldest brother, Owen, who’d come over yesterday, hoping to convince the others to go home to the island so they wouldn’t wear themselves out. Jeff’s recovery would be a long one, and they’d been encouraged to pace themselves. Sarah wasn’t having it, though, and as long as she was staying, so were Charlie and her parents.

“The morning nurse is in with him,” Owen said. “He asked for a few minutes.”

Kelsey nodded. “I just saw Debbie. She said he had a restful night.”

“That’s good news.” Sarah wore a pinched, stressed look about her since her youngest child nearly died in the storm. The four of them had been in Italy on vacation but had flown home when Sarah sensed something was amiss. She’d been right about that, and Owen had filled her in on Jeff’s condition after they landed in the US.

Charlie approached, carrying trays of coffees that he distributed to each of them.

Kelsey smiled at him as he handed one to her. “Thank you.” Charlie was such a love. He’d asked how she took her coffee a week ago and had kept her supplied ever since.

“How’re you feeling, honey?” Charlie asked.

“Sore, but better knowing Jeff is improving.”

She would never forget the ordeal of being pinned under him and a ton of debris for hours while firefighters and townspeople worked frantically to get them out.

Tears flooded her eyes as she relived the horror.

Sarah’s arm gently encircled her shoulders, giving silent support that Kelsey needed badly. The four of them had been so good to Kelsey. She’d be forever thankful to them and her own parents, who’d come running when they heard she and Jeff were badly injured after the storm.

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