Page 14 of Return to Lovett Cove
Jasmine had her phone in her hand, with her assistant screaming to get Jasmine to the hospital.She has an ulcer,Kennedy yelled.
River ignored all the rules of the road to get Jasmine to the hospital. A burst ulcer could be life-threatening. How could he live with himself if something happened to Lily’s daughter? And he was the cause.
He’d come by the house to apologize for how they'd left things earlier. It gutted him how they’d left things. He never wanted to upset her about her life choices, the inn, nothing. He wanted to tell her that whatever she decided, he’d support her.
He thought he was too late. Jasmine was wheeled into surgery, and only hours later did a doctor say she had a burst ulcer, but the surgery was a success. Jasmine would remain in the hospital for at least three days—more if she didn’t improve as well as they liked.
Kennedy was inconsolable. She and Jasmine would miss the deadline for the project, and Jasmine would lose her promotion. After talking her down, Kennedy only got off the phone when he promised to stay by Jasmine’s side.
River camped out at the hospital until Jasmine woke up from surgery. She was shocked to see him and thanked him for getting her to the hospital so quickly. Then she fell asleep. For the next few days, each visit to Jasmine’s hospital room lessened the sense of hopelessness and fear that another complication could arise and he could lose her. She regained her strength, her unforgettable wit, and that smile that summoned the butterflies in his stomach to flight. With the doctor’s blessing, she was discharged four days after surgery.
River heard Candace’s voice before he heard her vehicle come up the driveway. She had agreed to pick up Jasmine from the hospital while River worked on preparing a room for Jasmine on the first floor. Although the en suite could use a makeover, the plumbing worked, and she wouldn’t need to walk up flights of steps to her mother’s old room.
River jogged to the car and opened the front passenger door. “Morning, Jasmine.” He offered his hand.
Jasmine’s smile was slight and shaky. “Morning.” Her face twisted in pain as she rose.
“Easy,” he encouraged. “Lean on me.” He wrapped an arm around her waist and lifted her the rest of the way. As his face relaxed, he breathed a little easier. He couldn’t stand seeing her in pain.
“River,” she began as they approached the porch. “I…I think I owe you an apology?—”
“No, you don’t.”
“The other day, at the dunes, I was short with you, and you’ve been nothing but kind and helpful.”
He gently squeezed her waist. “Jasmine, it’s okay. Lovett Cove is an adjustment. Especially for people from the city, like us. I understand. We’ll take the steps slow,” he said. She gripped his hand, and he tightened his hold on her hips to leverage her weight.
Candace followed behind with her arms full of bags. “Now, Doc said nothing strenuous. I’ve got all the food she’ll need for the next few days. Plenty of biscuits and honey, sandwiches, soup, water. I’ll be by every day to check on you.”
“Really, Candace, this is too much. I’m fine.”
“Sweetie, you just had surgery.”
“But the doctor said if I felt up to it, then I should move around.”
River led her into the bedroom. She refused to sit, wanting to stand after spending days in a hospital bed. River wanted to protest, but he suppressed his protective instincts. Her laparoscopic surgery went smoothly and would require less recovery time. As long as Jasmine felt comfortable, he wouldn’t overstep.
Candace set out a container of soup on a table across the room. Tangy tomatoes and fresh herbs. “Mmm, is that your tomato bisque?” he asked.
“The creamiest in the state.”
River grinned at Jasmine. “You’re in for a treat. Candace’s bisque is the best.”
Candace lifted her right hand and rubbed her thumb and fingers together. “Sprinkle some extra cheese on it.” She pointed to the smaller container near the soup. “Plenty in there. I’ll put the rest of the perishables in the fridge.” She sent River an inquiring look. “The fridge is working, right?”
River tapped a small fridge next to the bed that doubled as a nightstand. “Right here.”
Candace patted his cheek. “You think of everything, don’t you, Riv?”
“I try, ma’am.”
Candace hugged Jasmine goodbye and said, “take your time and heal. No job’s worth dying for.” Jasmine looked away, and River could sense her discomfort. Candace promised to return when the lunch rush was over.
Jasmine looked awkwardly at River. He suddenly felt like he was overstaying his welcome. “I can stay if you want,” he offered. “There are a few things around the inn that I can fix before my next appointment.”
Jasmine’s expression hardened. “I wouldn’t bother. This inn is the reason I was in the hospital for almost a week.” She looked around the room with disdain.
Her harsh tone stunned him into silence. She blamed the inn?
