Page 51 of Jonathan

Reaching out a hand, she placed it over Leonie’s in comfort. “Master Jonathan can take care of himself.”

She nodded, her expression pensive. “I am allowed to worry, it’s part of the job of being a mother. Oh, I hope that she is not stringing him along. I know it sounds dreadful, Helen, but I am upset that he’s suffering because of her.”

“It sounds like a mother.” Helen patted her hand. “It will work out.”

“I hope so.” She sighed. “I really do.”

*****

She looked tired, he thought with a pang as he took a seat on the chair next to the bed. He had consulted with the doctor and was reassured that her vitals were stable.

He reached out and gently took her hand in his, feeling the warmth of her skin against his. "I'm here," he whispered softly, his voice thick with emotion. "You don't have to go through this alone."

Her eyelids fluttered weakly, and she managed to make a faint smile. "Jonathan," she murmured, her voice barely audible. "I'm glad you're here."

He squeezed her hand gently. "I thought I lost you," he admitted, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I can't bear the thought of you being hurt because of me."

"You didn't do this," she reassured him, her voice gaining a little more strength. "It wasn't your fault."

"But I should have been there," he insisted, his jaw tightening. "I should have protected you."

She shook her head slowly. "You're here now, and that's what matters."

The room fell silent for a moment, the only sound the faint beeping of the heart monitor. Jonathan took a deep breath, trying to steady the storm of emotions swirling inside him.

"I'm going to make this right," he vowed, his voice firm. "I don't know how yet, but I will."

She stared at him steadily, noticing the shadows under his eyes and the weariness on his face. “Did you sleep at all?”

“A few hours….” He brushed that away. “I heard you had a restless night.”

“Dreams, nightmares. I kept seeing myself being chased by that monster and could not escape.” Her fingers tightened on his. “I keep seeing his face,” She shook her head. “Keep smelling that mold in the cottage and seeing the filth. It’s going to take me a while to get the image out of my head.”

“You should consider counseling.” He felt wretched and wondered how he was going to make it up to her.

“I might.” She managed a smile, hoping to wipe the worry and torment from his eyes. “I don’t expect you to be by my side every day.”

“It’s where I want to be.”

“You have a ranch to run.”

“I have people for that.”

“I got the impression that the place would fall apart without you,” she teased.

He knew what she was doing and loved her for the effort. “Not for a couple of days.” He linked their fingers. “I asked mother to get in touch with your family.”

“Oh. Of course.”

“Was it the right thing to do?”

“Yes.” She nodded and heaved a sigh. “It’s just that I never told mother where I was going.”

“I see.”

She sighed softly. “We don’t see eye to eye and now she’s going to use this opportunity to slip by an ‘I told you so’, which will in turn piss me off.”

“Kamilah…”

---