Page 20 of Love and Memories

She relaxed as Anna’s fingers moved around her hair, careful not to disturb the bandage on the side of her head.

“So,” Hadley said as she scooted around on the bed. “Travis, huh?”

Of course they would touch the one topic Bella wasn’t ready to face. “Yeah?”

“He’s a total catch,” Hadley said. “I’m engaged to his best friend.”

Well, that was one observation Bella had made on her own, but it was nice to know he hadn’t just put on an act because they’d just met.

Anna massaged Bella’s head as she lathered the shampoo. The touch was relaxing, but she was hyperaware of the new topic of conversation.

“Agreed. Travis is awesome,” Olivia added. “He doesn’t date a lot, but he has a good job, and he’s nice.”

“You already know he’s good at his job, but he really cares about helping people,” Hadley said. “I fell off a cliff a few months ago, and he just happened to be there. It’s scary being injured, but it helped that he knew what to do. He kept me calm when I was on the verge of panicking.”

“You fell off a cliff?” Bella asked. “That sounds awful.”

“It was terrifying. Thankfully, the river broke my fall.”

Bella recalled the clawing fear when she’d woken up in this room. Having Travis here had calmed her too.

She’d been trying to keep a tight leash on her emotions, but it was difficult not to like the man who’d been so good to her when he didn’t have to. Knowing he’d done the same for Hadley when she was in a relationship with his friend had Bella wondering if he thought of her like any other woman.

It wasn’t a bad thing if he was just being nice to her out of the goodness of his heart. Why did it sting to realize it was probably platonic?

“Anyway, Travis sounded concerned for you when I talked to him,” Hadley said. “Do you think he likes you?”

“Come on, Hadley. We can’t get in the middle of that,” Olivia said. “She has more important things to worry about.”

“I know, but wouldn’t it be so sweet if they ended up together?” Hadley asked. “He saved her. How cute is that?”

Anna reached for a cup on the tray and started rinsing Bella’s hair. “I agree. Travis is a good guy.”

“Noted,” Bella said as she worked to keep her eyes open. She’d been sleeping a lot, but the medical staff promised it was what her body needed. She’d already been up for an hour longer than usual.

“Oh! I almost forgot,” Olivia said. She rummaged in a bag and suspended two books over Bella’s face. “I brought you these.”

The Holy Bible was stamped in gold on the front of one, and the other was a book of devotions for women.

“Thank you.” Bella reached up for them, but Olivia jerked them back.

“I’ll just put them right here beside your bed.”

Anna wrapped Bella’s hair up and took the pan to get fresh water. Hadley and Olivia chatted while Anna finished rinsing Bella’s hair. The warm water and soft words of the women nearly lulled her into sleep.

“All done!” Anna said in a peppy voice.

“Wow. I feel like a new woman,” Bella said as she raised her head.

Anna handed the pan to Hadley and brushed her fingers gently through Bella’s hair. “This is a beautiful color.”

“Thanks.” She’d always thought her hair color was dull, but it was nice to hear someone with hair as gorgeous as Anna say anything about it.

“You want me to braid it?” Anna asked.

Bella sat up and raked her hands through the clean strands. “That would be great.”

Hadley plopped back down on the foot of the bed when she returned from the bathroom. “So, you liked the strawberry muffin. What else can we bring next time?”

---