Hands gripping the edge of the booth, Mike strained forward and listened.
“Young woman was driving. They had to cut her out of the car.”
The words slammed into him like physical blows from a sledgehammer. He weakened, slumping in his seat, his heart thudding heavily, his guts twisting.
“Is she okay?”
“Don’t know, but they took her to the hospital in an ambulance.”
She had to be okay. No other outcome was acceptable.
“Good thing the hospital is close, I guess.”
A clue! He could do a search to see which hospital was closest to that road.
Did he call to ask about her? What else could he do? He needed to see her, to hold her, to know for a fact that she was all right, that she was still his perfect Glory.
And if she wasn’t?
He swallowed convulsively, sweat breaking out on his brow, but he knew the truth.
If he couldn’t have her, no one would.
Back in her own home, set up on one of the sofas, Glory felt like the biggest fraud in the world. Yes, she hurt. The kind of hurt that worsened if she breathed, if she blinked, if she even moved a finger. Her hair was sticky, she could smell antiseptic on her skin, and the idea of trying to change clothes—or use the bathroom—made her shudder.
But that wasn’t the reason for her moodiness and hopeless worry.
“Are you okay? Can I get you anything?”
Sweet, loving Addie. Just looking at her filled Glory’s eyes with fat salty tears. “Don’t be nice to me,” she frantically ordered. “I’m too ridiculous right now.”
The ice on her shoulder kept her shivering. A rolled-up towel under her arm kept it separated from her body, which helped to take pressure off the injured rotator cuff. The stitches did burn, and she idly wondered if she’d have new scars. At the moment, she couldn’t work up a lot of energy to care.
Addie smiled in that special way, then touched her hand to Glory’s uninjured cheek. “If you want to cry, I’ll get a damp washcloth and keep your tears mopped up so they don’t bother your cuts and scrapes.”
Glory gave a doleful laugh that caused renewed pain to cinch around her chest.
“Sorry,” Addie said, all businesslike now. “Let’s just look at this adorable pup, okay? I think she’s worried about you.”
One look at the dog’s big soulful brown eyes and her heart melted. No matter what came of this whole ordeal, she hadthis sweet little dog now, and that was something special. “Hey, Peanut Butter. I’m okay.”
The dog’s ears twitched and her skinny tail started swinging.
“Peanut Butter, huh?” Addie grinned. “I like it.”
“I ate lunch with friends at this fancy restaurant, and I kept thinking I would have rather had peanut butter on toast.”
“I love it, too, plus it’s a great name for this one, with her light brown ears and that mask over her eyes.”
“The rest of her could be bread.” She grinned, too. The dog was so pretty with her off-white coat and the splashes of honey-brown. In a whisper, Glory said, “I’m going to love her so much.”
“I know you will—when you can move. Right now, I don’t want her jumping on you.”
No, she didn’t want that, either. Even lifting her right hand, oh, so slowly, to tickle the dog under her chin, caused her sharp pain. But it was worth it.
Wanting no misunderstandings, she said to Addie, “You’re amazing with animals.” With people, too. “But I’m keeping her. She can’t go back home with you because then she’ll love it there and not want to come back.”
After a long look, Addie nodded. Voice soft with understanding, she said, “Thank you, honey. That’s an amazing compliment.” As Kam reentered the room, she added, “I’m so glad you like it there.”
