Page 55 of Hold the Line

I blinked at her, taking in everything she’d said and getting stuck on me stinking. Sweating all over Phoebe’s sheets. Disgusting and gross. She’d be glad I was gone when she finally turned me out.

Elena put her hands on her hips. “Meds first, then we’ll see if you’re steady enough to get in the shower. I brought the stool my father-in-law had to use after he had surgery so you can sit. Phoebe would murder me if she came home to you having cracked your skull on my watch.”

“I—thanks. Thank you.”

Making my mouth move was difficult, but I wanted to tell her thank you for being so kind to me. I shouldn’t have been surprised Phoebe came from a mom like this, acting like her generosity was nothing special.

Her movements were fluid as she flitted around the room. First, she dosed me up and made sure I drank as much as I could. Then she opened the curtains and cracked a window. “Letting the sickness out,” she’d said. After, she brought me breakfast and fed me by hand when my arms proved too damn weak to do it myself.

“Thank you,” I said again.

“That’s not necessary, Deke.” She shook her head. “I would hope if one of my kids were in your position, someone would help them too.”

Elena Kelly had always been a mythical story I’d only heard bits and pieces of. The queen of the Kelly fortune she ruled with her husband, Lachlan. I’d seen her in town plenty. With her icy-blonde hair and height putting her above most women and a lot of men, she was impossible not to notice. Never thought I’d have the opportunity to spend time with her, though. Hadn’t even considered what it might be like. If I had, it wouldn’t have been like this. Feeding me, caring for me, being nicer to me than my own mother had ever been. It made me uncomfortable. I didn’t understand it.

Didn’t know how to handle it either.

“Lotta people wouldn’t,” I said.

Her eyes narrowed. “I think there’s more good in the world than you know.” She lifted a shoulder. “But suppose you’re right. Suppose most people wouldn’t help someone in need. Should that stop me? Honestly, Deke, once upon a time, I tried being like everyone else, and it made me utterly miserable. Ages ago, I decided to do what I wanted, damn what anyone else thought, and surprise, surprise, I found my happiness.I’mhelping you because I love my daughter, and she cares about you. There’s nothing more to it.”

Fortunately, she wasn’t waiting for a response. I couldn’t begin to formulate one. Even if I hadn’t been sick and sluggish, I didn’t think I’d know what to say to her. I did see where Phoebe had gotten her straightforwardness from, though. Knowing that poured a good kind of warmth into a hollow part of me.

Elena dragged my smelly carcass into the bathroom after breakfast. I was so damn wobbly she had to help me take my clothes off but refused to let it be awkward.

“It’s either me or Phoebe. I have a husband and two sons. There’s nothing you have I haven’t seen before, kiddo.”

By the time I was finished with my shower, I felt steady enough to put on my own pants. Dressed and clean, I shuffled into the bedroom, finding she’d stripped the sheets and replaced them with fresh ones. Shoved back into bed, I had my temperature taken then was bundled under the covers.

As I fell back to sleep, I thought this must’ve been what having a real mother was like.Wouldn’t that be nice…

I woke to warmth and softness, but this time, I could easily discern it as real. Not a dream anymore, even if it felt like one. Phoebe was stretched out beside me, her side flush with mine.

“Did I move?” I croaked.

With a gasp, she dropped her phone onto her chest and turned her head. “You’re awake.”

“Yeah.” I scrubbed my face with my hand. “Did I move over to you?”

“No.” She rolled to her side, propping her head on her hand, and reached over, tentatively stroking the edge of my jaw with her other hand. “When I got into bed, you kept writhing and groaning like you were in pain. I scooted close to check on you, and you settled down, so I stayed.”

I exhaled toward the ceiling. “I’m not surprised I wanted that. Surprised you stayed, though.”

“Really?” I turned back to her, and her eyebrows lifted. “I’ve been taking care of you for twenty-four hours, and you’re surprised I stayed beside you?”

“Surprised about that too.” I rubbed my dry lips together. “Thank you. You want me gone, I can go. I’m feeling better.”

She shook her head. “I’d like you to stay at least one more night. You’re still feverish and, from what my mother said, pretty weak. You shouldn’t be on your own.”

“I don’t wanna get you sick.”

“I took extra vitaminC. I’ll be fine.”

“Not gonna be happy if you get this.” That was an understatement. I’d be pissed as hell, and it’d be aimed squarely at myself.

“Worry about getting better. I’m fine.”

Not waiting for me to argue—not that I had it in me to do so—she hopped out of bed and started fussing over me. Temp, meds, water, then she brought me soup and fed me herself like her mother had. I couldn’t begin to guess why she was doing this, but I soaked up every ounce of her attention while I had it because I knew it was temporary.

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