Page 64 of The Twelve Knots of Christmas
That thought haunted me, and it took forever to fall asleep. When I did, dreams that I couldn’t remember had me waking up with sweat pouring down my back and tears in my eyes.
Miss Eloise looked much better than she had a few days ago, even if she was still incredibly weak. I’d come to take care of her, but she ended up soothing me as I cried off and on for over an hour.
In the morning, I helped her with her bathroom routine and fed her breakfast. Afterward, I painted her fingernails with a bright red polish Lyla had left on the bedside table. There were tiny snowflake decals to put on when the paint dried, and it took a few tries as my hands weren’t the steadiest.
“I’ll have to bring in your Christmas pajamas, and then you’ll look even more festive.” I planned on decorating the room too. The doctor expected to send Miss Eloise home before the new year if she continued to do well, but she’d definitely still be in the hospital for Christmas.
“Both pairs.” She smiled and glanced at the TV on which her roommate was watching some morning show. “Plus have Lyla bring the Christmas knit cardigan she gave me last year. Sometimes it gets chilly here.”
I knew the one. It had an army of nutcrackers on it. Absolutely Lyla’s style.
Lyla, who was at the moment locked up in her suite with two Alphas. I didn’t know why I was finding it so hard to believe.I hadn’t meant to find a compatible Alpha at a Christmas tree farm, never mind a whole pack of them, and then to have my heat triggered. The pieces of my heart still sat heavy in my chest, but I wanted Lyla to be happy. If Jason and Ozzi were the Alphas for her, then I would support that. Even if they were in Primrose House.
Did Miss Eloise know? Surely Lyla wouldn’t have told her, so I wouldn’t say anything. It wasn’t my place. “I don’t know if Lyla will be able to come today. She isn’t feeling that well.”
“Oh? I hope her Alphas are taking care of her.” Miss Eloise nodded with lips pressed together in concern.
I almost choked on my next inhalation. Panic fluttered in my chest. Miss Eloise knew? How much did she know? Oh God. I grabbed my bottle of water and took a swig. “What?”
“You didn’t know? Oh dear.” Miss Eloise sighed and lightly patted my hand. “Lyla didn’t tell me herself, and while I was asleep most of the time she was here, I know the signs of an Omega going into heat. She tried to hide it, like you.” She gave me a patient smile. “Yet Jason came in and asked my permission for him and his packmate to care for her while in heat. He’s a nice young man. I’ve known his family for most of my life. He’ll be good for her.”
“You knew?” And she was absolutely fine with it. More than fine, it seemed. My mouth still felt dry and I drank down the rest of my water. “I saw them when I stopped in at the house before coming here. I didn’t know if… Perhaps you ought to tell Lyla you know and that you’re okay with it. I bet she’s really worried about it.”
Miss Eloise nodded, her eyelids drooped. “I’ll do that later when I send her a picture of my nails. Right now, it’s time for a little nap before lunch.”
I lowered her bed back and pulled up her thicker blanket. “All right. I’ll go grab some brunch from the cafeteria.”
A nurse walked in and smiled at us. “Are you Mariska Belmont?”
“Yes.” My stomach tightened. Why would a nurse be asking for me unless it was bad news about Miss Eloise?
“Your ride is waiting outside for you. Just go out door F.” Her smile grew as she said it.
My ride? I’d planned on calling Lyla to maybe pick me up later, but if she couldn’t, I’d get a ride share. I hadn’t called for anyone yet… Unless Lucian came back.
I’d said my teary-eyed goodbye to him and told him not to worry about me. He offered several times to do any errands I needed, to bring me anything I wanted, and to help any which way. So sweet, but I was done with the pack. I had to cut every tie to them off cleanly to be able to break away, or I feared I might find myself back at the farmhouse.
“Is it a blue pickup?” I asked and then just in case added, “Or a black one?”
“Nope, not a truck.”
My cheeks heated as I thought of the next possibility. “A Mustang?”
“No.” The nurse laughed, a light and musical sound.
“Are you sure the ride is for me then? I didn’t call anyone.” The last possibility was that Lyla had sent Jason or Ozzi. I wasn’t terribly comfortable with that, but maybe she needed me for something.
“They said your name specifically, and they knew you’d be here with Eloise.”
This was strange. I had to at least go see who it was. I wasn’t planning on going anywhere just yet, but if it was really a fluke and it was a ride share, I could reserve them for later.
“Go on, dear.” Miss Eloise made a weak shooing gesture. “Go home, relax for a while, get something to eat. I’ll be just fine.”
I bent and kissed her cheek before fetching my coat and phone. “I might not go anywhere, but I’ll text you if I do. Get some rest and I’ll see you later this afternoon.”
The nurse kept smiling this big smile as I walked by. She went in to check on Miss Eloise and her roommate as I left. I heard laughter ring out from their room fifty feet down the hall.
Other members of the hospital staff grinned at me as I walked to the exit. What the hell was going on?
