Page 22 of Beautiful Dreamer

“Elizabeth’s life is complicated.”

“Is that right?” Devyn asked.

“No. Your sister is being kind. My life is basic at best. Can Isteal you for a minute?”

“Of course,” Devyn said.

“Don’t forget eight on that other arm. Be right back.”

Once they were safely in the hallway and out of Jill’s earshot,Elizabeth turned to Devyn. “First of all, how are you holding up? Did you getthe book I dropped off for you?”

Devyn smiled and leaned her shoulder against the wall. “I’mhanging in there, and yes, I read it in a day and half. I called Trevor beingthe killer, by the way.”

“Then you’re smarter than I am.” Now that she was up close andpersonal, she couldn’t help but notice the tiny flecks of gold in Devyn’s hazeleyes. Her jacket was nicely starched, too. “Listen, I had an idea for when Jillgoes home.”

“Okay,” Devyn said, frowning. “It doesn’t involve singing or dancing,does it?”

Elizabeth swatted Devyn’s shoulder. “No.”

“I’m sorry. You just never know with you.”

Elizabeth reined in her excitement, because she had a lot of itabout this concept. “I want to have her students in front of the house to cheerfor her homecoming. What do you think?” She braced herself.

Devyn tucked a strand of blond behind her ear. “It sounds great,but that might take some effort. You think that’s doable?”

“Please. Do you know who you’re talking to? You don’t worry about athing. Just keep me updated on a possible release day, and I’ll do the rest.”

“Are you sure?”

Elizabeth swatted her a second time. “Stop saying that.” Sheleaned against the wall, mirroring Devyn. “I’m definitely sure.”

“Then let’s do it.”

Elizabeth lowered her voice. “Level with me. You really saw thekiller coming?”

Devyn blinked. “Oh, sweet Elizabeth. How could you not?”

Chapter Eight

“Am I out of here today?” Jill asked her nurse, with hopeful eyes.She and Devyn had spent the morning prepping for the possibility. Devyn hadassisted Jill in the shower, using the special chair, she’d blow-dried andstyled her sister’s hair and even applied a little bit of makeup to herotherwise pale face.

Her nurse today, Eileen, held a folder full of paperwork, which hadto be a good sign. They waited for the verdict. “The doc just signed on thedotted line,” she said. “Which means…” Devyn did a drumroll on the side table.“You’re free.”

“You don’t know how wonderful those words are,” Jill said, sittingup straight in bed. While her mobility was still compromised, her strengthseemed to have returned, and she was anxious to get back into the real world.Devyn didn’t blame her. She was anxious herself.

She accepted the folder and listened to Eileen’s instructionsabout following up with physical therapy folks the next day to jump-startJill’s recovery, which would take time. She accepted the prescription for painmedication and list of activity restrictions, of which there were a lot. Jillfaced an uphill battle, but this was a big moment and a victory to celebrate.They were leaving this damned hospital once and for all.

It had been three weeks since Devyn had arrived in Dreamer’s Bay,but it had been hard to tell. She’d spent most of that time in Jill’s various hospitalrooms, making one day blend into the next. She’d been there with Jill throughtwo back-to-back surgeries, the therapeutic exercises that all but killed Jillwith pain and many a sleepless night, and now it was finally time to put thischapter behind them. While she’d been counting the days until Jill would bereleased, she was also sad to see their one-on-one time come to a close. Theyhonestly hadn’t spent this much time together in years, and now that Jill wason the mend, Devyn would start making plans to get back to her own life.

“We should call Elizabeth,” Jill said, of her most frequentvisitor. “Let her know I’m sprung, so she doesn’t stop by.”

It just so happened that Devyn was way ahead of her and hadalready dashed off a text to Elizabeth. She’d actually turned out to be ratheruseful, bringing Devyn the odds and ends she needed to get through the longdays, even taking her lunch order a time or two and dropping it by the hospitalas a treat. Say what you want about an overly upbeat woman, sometimes in achicken suit, but they really did come in handy. Elizabeth, she already knew,had plans that morning, and they were good ones.

Devyn nodded. “I will be sure to do that just as soon as I haveyou safely home.”

“Home,” Jill said with a big smile. “I can’t wait. It’s still thesame, right? You haven’t renovated with your own space-age style?”

“I was tempted, but the plans for your aluminum foil kitchencomplete with a mural of Elon Musk were scrapped last minute. Sorry todisappoint you.”

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