Page 71 of The Angel and the Agent

“I may be her boyfriend now, but we both know it’s headed someplace deeper,” Piedmont said.

“Until that time occurs, I want to be the one to stay,” Maggie said.

“Why don’t we ask Amelia what she wants?” Piedmont suggested. They turned to look at her while she eyed them owlishly, blinking slowly, one eye occasionally going crossed before straying back into its lane.

“A half hour ago she asked me to buy her a wallaby, so I’m not sure she’s the best judge of what she wants right now,” Maggie said.

Piedmont leaned over the bed and took Amelia’s hand. “Amelia, who would you rather have stay with you tonight, me or your sister?”

“Ethan. I want Ethan,” Amelia replied. She tried to sit up and look around. “Where did he go? Why did he go away?”

Piedmont stood looking at her a few seconds and then released her hand. “Well, that was unexpected.”

“She’s had a rather intense week, and they’ve been together nonstop,” Maggie hedged.

“I get it, Maggie, I’ve met the guy. I could see how a woman like Amelia could be bowled over by that sort of protective masculinity, and I’m sure it didn’t help matters that he was literally her rescuer. I guess my question is do you think it’s permanent?”

“I think this is something you need to talk about with Amelia,” Maggie tried.

“Do you think it’s permanent?” Piedmont demanded in his bestLaw and Ordertone.

Maggie nodded. “I think it’s permanent.”

“No one gets perms anymore,” Amelia muttered.

Maggie gave her a pillow. “Take your wallaby.” She took the pillow and cuddled it close. “I’m sorry, Piedmont. I’m sure Amelia will want to have a conversation with you, one on one, when she’s lucid again.”

“What’s the point of that?” he asked. “I worry he’ll break her heart. He doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who will stick around.”

Maggie didn’t say what she knew about Ethan—that he was slow to make a decision but, once committed, would never go away again. The question in her mind was whether he had actually made that sort of commitment to Amelia or if it had all been part of the heat of the moment of the mission.

“I think this is the first time I’ve ever not gotten something I wanted,” Piedmont said, his tone dismal.

“I’m sorry,” Maggie said, although she couldn’t actually relate to a nearly thirty-something man who was only now facing his first disappointment.

“I’m not really sure what to do now,” he said.

“You go on, minute by minute, day by day, and then suddenly you look back and it doesn’t hurt so much anymore and you realize you’ve moved on,” Maggie said.

He blew out a breath and, reluctantly, turned and walked away. Maggie waited until he was gone and then flopped onto the bed beside Amelia, stretching out, drained of all energy.

“That was definitely above and beyond the call of duty. I don’t think it’s anywhere in the sister code you’re supposed to break up with her boyfriend for her,” Maggie said. “Ugh, I feel terrible, and I’m not even the one who broke his heart.”

“Jones knew a bloke who got a stick lodged in his heart,” Amelia muttered.

“What?” Maggie asked. She turned to look at Amelia and was answered by a few soft and gentle snores.

Chapter 26

The next morning Amelia awoke alone in her hospital room, confused but feeling better. She reached for the remote for the television, but Maggie arrived before she could turn it on, a bakery box tucked under one arm.

“Hey, you’re awake. I had some croissants delivered for us.”

“Oh, my lands, you’re precious,” Amelia said, reaching eagerly for a chocolate croissant.

“How are you feeling?” Maggie asked.

“Good but foggy. Everything yesterday seems like it was being pulled through a layer of tulle. Did they give me something for the pain?”

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