Page 139 of Forever Gone

“I’m fine.” She waited for the ache to settle. “I’ll make it up to him when I get out.”

“You may have to. He’s already planning what you’re eating for the first week.”

“That sounds like a threat.”

“He mentioned stew.”

“It is a threat.”

Another knock sounded.

Kelly stood in the doorway with a slim folder under one arm. She wore a navy trouser suit and had tied her hair back at the base of her neck. No makeup concealed the tiredness around her mouth.

“Hey,” Selena said.

“Hey.” Kelly lifted the folder. “I heard you’re up for a debrief.”

“Hit me with it.”

Connor rose. “I’ll leave you two to it.”

He reached the side of the bed, hesitated, then bent and kissed Selena near the hairline.

The contact lasted no more than a second.

Selena remained still as he straightened. Affection between them had once required no thought. Now even something gentle arrived carrying years behind it. She did not know whether to welcome the kiss, question it, or pretend it had meant nothing.

Connor seemed uncertain, too.

“I’ll come back later,” he said.

“Okay.”

He gave Kelly a brief nod and left.

The door closed behind him.

Kelly watched it for a moment before taking the chair. “How are you doing?”

“Apparently, I’m going home tomorrow.”

“That wasn’t what I asked.”

Selena shifted against the pillows. “My head hurts less. The wrist hurts more. I might have to get surgery on my knee.”

“You scared me.”

The directness quieted Selena.

Kelly rested the folder on her lap. “When I reached the cellar, you were covered in blood. I couldn’t tell how much was yours.”

“I remember hearing you.”

“You kept trying to answer, but nothing came out.”

“Probably the first time you’ve seen me unable to argue.”

Kelly did not smile. “I thought I’d killed Carol and lost you before the ambulance arrived.”