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Because eventually, this horrible disease would take him from her. A sob escaped. She tried to hold it in, but she couldn’t.
“What is it? What’s wrong? Are you in pain?” Alarm filled his voice as he tried to draw her back away from him.
But she clung to him like a barnacle to a ship’s hull. No doubt he could have removed her with some force. But she knew Ian would never risk hurting her.
The sound of the door opening barely registered.
“What’s going on? What’s wrong with Maggie?” Jack asked quietly. “I thought you said William was doing better.”
“As far as I’m aware, he is,” Jameson said.
Great. Jameson was here too.
“Ian? Did you say something to her?” Jack snapped.
She’d never heard him sound so angry. Maggie wiped at her cheeks, turning her face away from Ian’s chest.
“It’s nothing Ian did. I’m just . . . I’m relieved that Uncle Willy is okay. He’s . . . I’m much closer to him than anyone else in my family. He’s always been there for me, always understood me. When I desperately needed a job, he gave me one. I know it was because I’m his niece, but I’ve worked hard to help him. I hope I do.”
“Of course you do,” Jameson said. “And Kate said that he woke up and was conversing. So far, everything is looking really good. So you don’t need to worry.”
“I . . . yes. Thank you.”
“Jack said he went home and got you all some clothes, but I think you should go home and get some rest,” Jameson told her. “You look exhausted. I’ve finished my shift, but everyone here will take good care of him.”
“I don’t . . . I don’t think I’d sleep even if I went home.” All three men frowned. “But you don’t have to stay with me.”
“Stop that,” Ian commanded. “You know we’re staying.”
Jack just nodded.
Jameson studied her. Moving over to her, he took her hand in his, placing his fingers over her pulse. After a moment, he nodded. “All right, you can stay tonight. But you’re going to sleep in an actual bed.” He held up his hand as she went to protest. “These are the rules. I’m the doctor. If I wanted to, I could have you removed. Or I could have you admitted. And frankly, you look bad enough that no one would question me.”
Great. That was just lovely.
Such a boost to her ego.
“I’m going to have another bed wheeled in here for you. You’ll sleep in it. You’ll stay in the bed for at least eight hours. Understand me? Did you eat dinner?”
“She did,” Ian said in a strange-sounding voice.
“Excellent. So first, a shower. Then, rest. And I’m going to stay with you tonight.”
23
She shook her head. “No, you need your rest.”
“We’ll watch over her,” Jack said.
“The two of you need to go home and get some proper sleep.”
“She’s our charge,” Ian argued.
“You don’t trust me to watch over her?” Jameson challenged.
She didn’t understand why he wanted to stay, but she was too tired to try and work it out.
“I won’t let her out of my sight. You’re doing yourselves no favors by running yourselves ragged. How do you expect to care for her if you’re worn out? Besides, I think the hospital will feel better about how many people are sleeping in this room if one of them is my charming self.”
