Page 106 of Lassoed Love

Imogen chimes in, “And, plus, if he’s been visiting your dad, it shows he still cares. He’ll come around.”

It’s lunchtime, and Imogen kindly offers to run down and grab lunch from the café. Claire decides to stay with me.

I get a text from Olivia, saying she and Harrison want to swing by. They won’t stay long, as Harrison needs to get back to work, and he will pick Olivia up on the way. I assure her that it’s okay. Meanwhile, Amelia has been texting me incessantly since we exchanged numbers on Xavier’s birthday. I genuinely appreciate her friendliness, and honestly, her texts are a welcome distraction.

Shortly after this, while Imogen is still grabbing us lunch, Olivia and Harrison come in, offering their get-well wishes for my dad and hugging me instantly. Harrison turns to Claire with a curious look, and I realise I’ve neglected to introduce them.

“Oh, sorry! Claire, this is Olivia and Harrison. Guys, this is Claire, my best friend who lives in the city.”

I introduce Olivia as Xavier’s sister and Harrison as his friend, but Harrison cuts me off, saying, “Hey, I’myourfriend, too.” I give him a playful smile, and we share a laugh. Olivia rushes up to Claire, expressing that it’s nice to meet her.

Claire smiles warmly, extending a hand to both of them. “Nice to meet you both. Thank you for coming.”

Imogen walks in, her movements faltering as she takes in the presence of Harrison and Olivia. A subtle frown creases her forehead, and I can almost sense the internal agitation behind her eyes.

“Hi, guys,” she quips, offering a forced smile to Olivia before shooting a sidelong glance at Harrison.

He responds with a low whistle. “Nice to see you too, sugar.”

Imogen releases an audible groan and plonks herself down next to me and Claire. Olivia gracefully takes a seat on the small chair on the other side of the bed, attempting to steer the conversation.

“So, how’s everything going with Isla’s father?” she inquires.

Imogen doesn’t hold back, offering a detailed update on the situation. As they talk, Claire turns to whisper in my ear, “What’s up with the two of them?” She gestures discreetly to Imogen and Harrison, her expression curious and slightly amused.

I respond softly, “Beats me. They have this silent hate game going on, and if you ask me, I reckon it’s because she finds him attractive and hates herself for it. Always complaining he’s too childish. I don’t know why, though—he’s a catch.”

Claire nods enthusiastically. “You’re telling me! I mean, hello! Look at him—tattoos, dirty scruff, backwards cap… oof.” She fans herself, and I can’t help but giggle softly.

As Imogen and Harrison exchange snarky comments, Olivia smoothly changes the topic, asking about my plans and how I’m holding up. I update them on my daily routine, the hospital stays, and the ongoing struggle with my emotions. Olivia and Claire listen intently, offering their support in their unique ways. Claire suggests a change of scenery, a break from the hospital walls. Imogen proposes a weekend getaway once my father stabilises.

“Oh my god! YES! I think that’s a perfect idea, once things arebetter with your father, Isla, of course,” Olivia exclaims.

“I think that would be nice. We’ll just see how we go with Dad,” I say softly. “Plus, your brother and I…” I sigh. “He and I are not really…”

“Oh, screw him!” she says with a huff, and Harrison coughs out a ‘she already has’ and proceeds to cover it up with more coughs. Imogen smacks him on the arm—hard—muttering, “Idiot,” and he winces out loud.

“Ouch, woman! Why are you so violent?” he exclaims, and Imogen just rolls her eyes. We all laugh out loud.

Olivia continues. “Anywhooo, you don’t have to explain, Isla,” she says with a reassuring smile. “Bradley kinda told me what happened… I hope that’s okay?” she says with a worried expression.

I kind of had a feeling he’d mention something to Olivia sooner or later, but that’s okay. I give a reassuring smile and shrug.

“He’ll come around; he’s been moping around every day. Bradley and Mum keep pressing him to do something about it, but alas, he’s a stubborn mule—and not even Duchess or Blue are that stubborn.” I can’t help but chuckle lightly at this.

Imogen and Harrison, though engaged in their own silent war, manage to maintain a façade of civility as the conversation continues. Imogen’s disdain is thinly veiled, and Harrison, with his devil-may-care attitude, doesn’t seem bothered by it. For a moment, the weight on my shoulders eases. These friends, oldandnew, bring a warmth that contrasts with this gloomy environment.

Eventually, as lunchtime winds down, the group disperses.Imogen makes a swift exit, exchanging curt nods with Harrison. Olivia gives me a reassuring hug before she and Harrison take their leave. Claire promises to visit again soon, squeezing my hand before heading out.

Alone in the hospital room, I let out a sigh. The visit has brought a mix of emotions, leaving me both comforted and conflicted. I find solace in the camaraderie of friends but can’t shake the unspoken tension lingering in the air.

I move to sit beside my father, grabbing hold of his hand and squeezing it, feeling the warmth that brings a small comfort. I take a deep breath, absorbing the sight of him. The cuts and bruises are slowly fading, a hopeful sign, yet the uncertainty about his internal condition lingers.

Just then, one of the regular nurses enters the room, accompanied by Dr. Anderson, a male doctor I’ve briefly met before. He greets me, asking how I am. I’m fed up with people asking this question, each time a reminder of the difficulty I’m facing, yet I respond politely.

Dr. Anderson’s voice resonates with a calm assurance. “Isla, it’s been a few days, and your father’s body is responding quite positively to the treatment. The clotting issues are being managed effectively. In light of his progress, we are considering a significant step forward in his treatment plan. We plan to initiate the process of weaning him off the medically induced coma.”

His words hang in the air, a delicate mix of hope and uncertainty. He continues, choosing his words with precision, “This step is taken cautiously, with the intent of allowing him to gradually regainconsciousness. We’ll be monitoring his responses closely throughout the process to ensure it’s as smooth as possible.”

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