Page 77 of Mountain Struggle

“Surprisingly well,” Damien said, a small smile tugging on his lips that softened his entire expression. “He spent an hour with Isolde Durant yesterday. She’s not a child psychologist, but she knows the kind of trauma Jamie’s going through, and I think she’s exactly what Jamie needs.”

Damien’s face suddenly took on an agonized look.

“Jamie says he knew we were coming for him.”

It was Tess’s turn to reach out and grab his hand. “Hey … he was right. We did come for him. He knows we would have done anything to find him.”

She left out the bit where they almost all died.

“How are you holding up, Damien?”

“Jamie’s okay. You’re okay. I’m … grateful,” he breathed out.

Okay. So much for exploring our feelings.

“Drake is taking Jamie rock climbing tomorrow.”

“He’s doing what? Is he insane?” Before she could stop herself, Tess lifted her upper body from the bed, then cried out in pain.

Damien was by her side in an instant, helping her back onto the pillows. “Shhh … stay still, Tess, you don’t want to rip out the stitches. They’re just going bouldering. Jamie is excited about it, and I think it’s good for him to do things that help him get back control.”

She pondered this for a second—it sounded surprisingly reasonable.

“Okay … but you’ll be there as well, right, Damien?” It was then she noticed the thick bandage on his hand and the bandages on his head. He wasn’t going to be doing any bouldering anytime soon.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

He looked down at his hand and turned it around. “I am. Thanks to you and Drake. You both saved Jamie, and I’ll never be able to repay you.”

Tess only just stopped herself from shrugging—as a good Brit, it was one of her favorite ways of expressing herself, but it was going to be some time before she could do it again.

“I called your family,” Damien said.

“Argh. Tell me they’re not on their way over.”

Damien shook his head. “Do you want them here? I appeased them temporarily with the news the doctor gave me, that you’re going to make a full recovery, but they’ll be on the first plane over if they don’t get to speak to you this morning.”

“Hand me the phone,” she joked. As much as she loved her family, she didn’t want them to fly over. She’d end up taking care of them, and she was too tired. She needed time and—

“Uh, Tess,” Damien began. His expression was a mask of uncertainty—so unlike him. He looked down until she couldn’t see his eyes anymore. “We need to talk.”

She felt her stomach constrict. No good news had ever followed that sentence.

Is he going to send me away?

“I love you, Tess,” he said.

I love you too.

Before she could get her lips to work, he went on, his expression infinitely tender, but also sad. It took her a second to realize he was waiting for her to say something.

“If you’ve changed your mind, I understand. God knows I—”

Tess felt like she’d been transported onto a different universe.

“Why …” she swallowed, but her mouth was dry as a sponge that’s been out of water too long. He was by her side in a second, offering a small straw. She took a small sip of lukewarm water—nothing had ever tasted this good to her before.

She tried again, struggling to keep her tone light rather than accusatory. “Why would you think I changed my mind?”