Page 30 of Pulse

A glance at the clock told Talia it was shortly after eight in the morning.

“Morning.”

“How are you feeling this morning, sweetie?” Mindy asked, making Talia chuckle. The woman had to be five years younger and about a thousand notches perkier than Talia had ever been.

“I’m all right.”

“How’s the pain?” Mindy scanned her badge to log into the computer and then pulled up Talia’s chart with a few mouse clicks.

“I have a mild headache. My sternum is very tender to touch and hurts like hell when I move, but it’s okay when I’m still like this.”

“Okay.” Mindy click-clacked away on the keyboard, documenting everything Talia reported. “Have you been out of bed at all?”

She nodded. “Walked to the bathroom a few times and up and down the hallway once.”

“Great. Well, your doctor should be stopping by for rounds in a bit. If he’s satisfied, we can get you home this morning.”

“Oh, thank God.” The idea of being in her own space worked better at easing her discomfort than any painkiller could. “No offense, but I hate it here.”

Mindy laughed as she stepped away from the computer and over to Talia. “None taken, I promise. I hate it here sometimes too. Let me have your arm so I can take your blood pressure. The quicker we get through everything, the quicker you can go home.”

She’d let them shave her head if it would get her home faster.

Everything moved at a surprisingly rapid pace after that. The doctor came by, checked her forehead stitches and her bruised chest, and ran through a quick neurological assessment since she had a concussion. After she passed all those tests, he pronounced her free to go. Of course, she couldn’t hop out of bed and stroll out the door. They made her call Margo for a ride home and promised someone would stay with her for forty-eighthours. She lied through her teeth when she assured them Margo would be by her side for the next few days. Nothing sounded worse than having her friend hover like a mother hen. Talia wanted to be alone in her space where she could be free to finally let out the emotions of the past fifteen hours by sobbing on her couch.

By eleven in the morning, armed with a brown bag of medication, a nursing assistant wheeled her out the door to where Margo waited in her brand-new Mercedes. She let her friend fuss over her but fell asleep as soon as they hit the highway.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay?” Margo asked after she’d helped Talia into her house. “I can cancel court this afternoon.”

Settled on her couch with a blanket and a hot tea, Talia shook her head. “No, you can’t do that. That case has already been delayed twice. Go. I’m fine. I’m going to drink my tea, nap, watch some trashy TV, then probably nap some more.”

Margo studied her for a moment as though having an internal debate on whether she should leave. She’d worn coral wide-leg pants with a white silk camisole and stylish black blazer, ready for the busy day of work Talia had interrupted.

“Go. I’m fine. I promise.” Talia yawned, tossing in a mouth pat and heavy blink to show her friend and boss how tired she was. If she was a bit dramatic, so be it.

“Okay, fine. But I’m coming back with some dinner later, okay?”

“Kay. Thanks, Marg.”

“And you are not to do anything strenuous, you hear me?” She pointed an accusatory finger Talia’s way, knowing full well that sitting still wasn’t Talia’s strong suit. She was as good at relaxing as she was following orders.

“I hear you.”

“I can’t believe you didn’t call me until this morning,” Margo muttered as she swiped her purse off the couch. “I bet you never would have called me if the hospital hadn’t forced you. You were planning to take an Uber, weren’t you?”

Ooh, the lawyer you-better-not-lie-to-me stare. “Um…”

“That tells me all I need to know.” Margo rolled her eyes while shaking her head, but her affectionate smile told the truth. Talia’s stubborn streak forever amused her. After she slipped her feet into her nude pumps, she strode over and kissed the top of Talia’s head. “Call if you need anything.”

That would never happen. Margo had already wasted enough of her busy day on Talia’s nonsense.

“Will do.”

Margo snorted. “No, you won’t. You do know it’s okay to lean on people occasionally, right? You do not always have to be the strong one.”

Ugh, this again. “I know,” she said because it was the expected response.

A half hum, half snort was Margo’s only reply. She knew pursuing this conversation was pointless.

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