Page 36 of Keeping Winter

“Dallas is staying in the spare bedroom while he heals,” I add. “Starla insisted. She’s on the air mattress in the nursery.”

Gabriel nods, his expression growing serious. “I’m sorry you boys had to take care of everything—”

“Fuck off,” Rico cuts in. “You think we were going to hold it against you while your brains were oozing out your skull?”

Gabriel groans lightly as he gingerly lifts his palm to his temple. “It still kind of feels like it’s trying to find its way through the cracks.”

“I’ll go get the doctor,” I say gently. I kiss him once more, relishing the way his lips respond to mine, knowing that he’s awake and alive and remembers who I am.

It doesn’t take long for the doctor to come assess Gabe. He flashes a light in Gabe’s eyes, lifting each lid as he examines the way his pupils react. After testing his vision and his ability to track motion, they talk about Gabriel’s level of pain and whether he’s experiencing any ringing in his ears. It’s funny to see someone working through Gabriel’s brain injury when not too long ago, I had experienced something so similar. And yet, so different.

The doctor ends up insisting he keeps Gabe one more night just to monitor him closely. The next day, he releases Gabriel with strict instructions that he stays off his feet for a few more days and to take it easy. Any exacerbation of the injury could lead to something far worse.

I drive him home in Ruby, which Knuckles has patched up with fresh tires in the meantime. Not an expense we can necessarily afford, but I’m not about to let Gabe get on his motorcycle. Starla’s already made soup for the boys, and it’s nice to have the house full of company after such a crazy, stressful week.

Over the next few days, we fall into a routine, Starla and me caring for the broken boys, who gingerly hobble around the house. While Dallas might not be in as bad a space as Gabriel, he’s helpless enough with only one working hand, and I find I quite enjoy the four of us sharing a space.

“So,” Starla says one morning as Gabriel and I join her in the kitchen.

It appears Dallas is still sleeping, but the smell of eggs and bacon has Gabe and me out of bed early.

“So?” Gabe and I echo in sync.

“I’ve been thinking. Well, not so much thinking as doing….” She pauses to turn and look at us from where she’s standing by the stove.

“Uh-oh, I know that look,” Gabriel says with a frown.

“Hear me out,” she insists. “I already spoke with my father, and he’s agreed to help you out with furnishing the rest of your house. That way, you can get more fully settled while you’re recuperating.”

“Starla!” I gasp.

“That’s too much. We can’t accept that kind of charity,” Gabriel insists.

“Hardly,” she says, her perfectly shaped brows pressing into a frown. “You’ve done so much for my family over the years,” she says, her eyes meeting Gabe’s. “And you can think of this as a housewarming gift—which no one’s been able to get you yet because we haven’t had a chance to put together a housewarming party.”

“You really don’t need to do that,” I cut in.

Starla plants her fists on her hips. “Well, how about this, then? As your house guest, I am desperately in the mood to go shopping. And I need some girl time with Winter. So you and Dallas are just going to have to fend for yourselves today because it’s high time I get to do something I actually came here for. And at the top of my list was shopping with Winter.”

“Are you sure?” I ask reticently.

“I would love nothing more.” Starla smiles warmly.

Two hours later, Starla and I wander the little used furniture shop at the edge of town. One of the Devil’s Sons’ new members, Skinny, is set to meet us with his truck a little later, once we’ve had time to shop. And as we peruse the aisles of furniture, I must admit that a shopping spree somehow relieves some of the tension from all the week’s events that had been weighing on me.

We pick out a nice-sized wood coffee table along with several dressers that will go in the master bedroom and the guest room. We also get a matching bedside table with a cute antique lamp with a shade fringed with purple string beads. Watching Skinny and the sales clerk load everything into the bed of the truck is quite a sight. I don’t see how we’re going to get this all unloaded at the house with only Skinny, who’s aptly named, and two girls. Gabe and Dallas are in no shape to help.

But when we arrive home, Knuckles and Rico are already there, horsing around in the living room while Dallas and Gabriel try their hardest not to laugh. It’s fun to see our little home come together. I’ll finally be able to unpack the rest of our things. And now that the guest room has a dresser and side table, Dally can get more situated while he recovers.

It might not honestly be what Starla had planned when she came to visit, but I don’t know what I would do without her. She’s the perfect combination of friend, sister, and helping hand.

“So, I’ve been thinking,” Starla says as we sit out on the front porch swing to watch the sun set.

We can hear the muffled sounds of the boys joking and laughing inside as we wait for the crockpot to cook dinner.

“More thinking?” I ask, widening my eyes and purse my lips to show that I know what comes of her thinking.

Starla laughs. “Yes, I’ve been thinking. I know I was only planning on staying through the weekend. But with Gabe and Dallas injured, maybe you’d like a little extra help around the house. Why don’t I stay a little longer? If you think that would be helpful,” she adds quickly. “I don’t want to be an inconvenience.”

---