Page 68 of The Angel and the Agent

“And you thought the solution to being nervous about having to re-qualify on your physical was to eat a quarter of a sheet cake the night before?” he said.

“Apparently yes because I passed,” she said.

“You passed because I spent the month beforehand training you,” he said.

“Maybe it’s because you trained me, or maybe it’s because I ate the cake. There’s really no way to know for sure.”

Ridge picked her up under one arm and shook her up and down. “This is what happens when you marry an Eldridge woman, Ethan. You’re never sure if you want to spank her or kiss her.”

“Um, hello, I’m being wheeled to an ambulance here,” Amelia called as the medics led her away.

“I’ll go with her. You guys do your post-mission decompression thing,” Maggie offered.

Ridge and Ethan looked at each other. “How was the mission?” Ridge asked.

“Good,” Ethan said. “What else does she think we do?”

“I’m not sure, but in her mind it probably involves crying and maybe singing and some kind of craft,” Ridge said.

“Huh,” Ethan said, ending in a face-splitting yawn.

“Are you sure you want to go to the hospital? I could take you home,” Ridge said.

“I’ll go to the hospital, make sure she’s settled,” Ethan said. He fell asleep as soon as they were in the car. Now that they were back and Amelia was safe, he could let go and relax. Beingconstantly vigilant for days on end caused an unfathomable level of exhaustion.

When they arrived at the hospital, the emergency room would only allow one person to be with her. Maggie was already there, so Ridge and Ethan waited in the lobby. Ethan fell back asleep almost immediately. He felt as if he hadn’t slept in years, and it was comforting to have Ridge beside him again, keeping watch.

Finally she was admitted and they could see her. “Did they say what’s going on?” Ethan asked when they entered the room.

“Not yet. They’ve been running tests and doing scans. Hopefully we’ll hear soon,” Maggie said.

“How are you feeling?” Ethan asked Amelia, going forward to perch on the edge of her bed.

“Ethan!” she exclaimed, her voice light and loopy.

“Did they give you something for the pain?” he guessed, smiling.

“No, it just went away. It’s magic,” Amelia said.

“They put something in her IV,” Maggie said.

“Magic,” Amelia insisted.

“You’re high as a kite right now, huh?” Ethan said.

Amelia shook her head. “I don’t do drugs.”

“I think someone did them for you,” he said.

“Don’t tell my mom,” she pled, pressing her finger to her lips. “Shh.”

“Our secret,” he agreed, mimicking her gesture and pressing his finger to his lips.

“And don’t tell her what we did in Africa,” Amelia continued. “And don’t tell Maggie.”

“I don’t think I have to,” he said.

“You’re so handsome, and I love you so much,” she blathered, smooshing her hand along his cheek. “Why can’t I feel my fingers?”

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