AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Luke then turned his attention to Emma. “I wish I had been there. If I knew, I would’ve—”
“I know you would’ve,” Emma said.
Luke nodded and looked at his son. “Jer, you can head home if you want. I can sit with Emma.”
“I want to be here—for both of you.”
The three of them sat down and settled into the floral-patterned wooden-armed chairs from another era. The room buzzed with soft conversations, the rustling of old magazines, and the occasional low whimper from a nearby pet. An overhead fluorescent light flickered intermittently. Time seemed to hang heavy, every second accentuated by the relentless ticking of the clock above and the distant footsteps of medical staff. Jeremiah scrolled through his phone while Luke wrapped his arm around Emma as she fell asleep on his shoulder. They remained like that for what felt like an eternity, but in reality was only another hour.
“Emma Wright?”
“Yes, that’s me,” Emma said, shooting up from her chair. Luke stood with her, squeezing her hand.“I’m Dr. Evans. After reviewing the x-rays, it looks as if Riley ran into the car, instead of the other way around. He’s in stable condition now, thankfully, but he has sustained some bruising and is understandably shaken up by the trauma. We’ve made him as comfortable as possible, and given his strong vitals, I believe he can go home today. However, you’ll need to keep a close eye on him, ensure he rests, and bring him back immediately if you notice anything concerning. We’re here if you need us, day or night.”
Emma let out a long exhale. “So, he’s going to be okay?”
“Absolutely. I’m going to prescribe him some anti-anxiety pills and pain medication to take over the next week. I’ll be right back.”
After Dr. Evans walked away, Emma collapsed into Luke’s arms. “He’s going to be okay. He’s really going to be okay.”
“Of course he is,” Luke said, hugging her. “He’s a tough guy.”
Emma chuckled and reached out for Jeremiah, bringing him into the hug. “I don’t know how I can thank you enough. The both of you.”
Jeremiah grinned. “Maybe you can bring Riley over once in a while. He’s a pretty cool dog.”
“You got it,” Emma said, wiping a tear from her eye.
Dr. Evans returned to the waiting room as they broke apart. “Someone’s eager to see you.”
The sound of paws clicking against the vinyl floor filled the room. A vet tech struggled to keep up with Riley, who pulled eagerly on his leash, dragging the tech behind him. Spotting Emma, Riley let out a series of joyful whines and his tail wagged furiously.
“Never scare me like that again!” Emma bent down and hugged Riley around his neck. She pulled back to look at him, her hands cradling his face. “You saved your momma today. I love you, I love you, I love you,” she repeated, kissing his head with each declaration before resting her forehead against his.
Luke looked on and smiled down at them.
Jeremiah’s stomach let out a low growl, drawing a half-smile from him. “I’m starving. Think I’ll grab something to eat,” he said, stretching his arms over his head.
“Take my car?” Luke suggested. “I’ll drive Emma’s car. I’ll text you to come get me after I get her and Riley home.”
Jeremiah took the keys from Luke and bent down to pet Riley before leaving.
Luke looked to Emma. “Ready to go?”
“Yeah, that sounds good.”
In his heart of hearts, Luke knew his love for her was as strong as ever, and now the universe had brought them together again, even if just for a drive home.
The car ride back to Emma’s house was quiet. Riley had dozed off in the backseat on Emma’s lap, while Luke stole glances of her in the rearview. When they pulled up to her cottage, those dark-brown eyes of hers caught him.
A rush of emotions overwhelmed Luke as their eyes locked, hoping beyond hope she’d understand what he really wanted to say. He wanted to tell her how he’d thought about her every day since they met at Phil’s. How he missed seeing her name pop up on his phone. How he couldn’t imagine a life without her.
Although his lips were still, his heart sang.
Could he really accept that job in New York, while the woman he loved sat mere feet away from him, here in Hadley Cove?
Luke took a deep breath and grasped her hand. “Emma, I want to tell you that—”
43
