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She had always been that way. Loyal. Steady. Her twin had been her other half, but somehow Hannah still had room in her heart for others, a tight circle of girls, now women, bound together as tightly as any family.
It didn’t surprise him at all that she had added Morgan to those ranks, or that she had immediately stepped up when the other woman needed help.
A short time later, he found a parking place in the hospital parking garage and cut the engine. His wound throbbed as he climbed out but he ignored it.
He walked around to the back of the truck and lifted the hatch of the camper shell.
“Looks like the cupcakes survived,” he said as Hannah followed along to help him unload their things.
“Oh good,” she said.
When he reached in to retrieve the container, along with the bag of gifts she had brought for Morgan, the action pulled his healing muscles. He did his best not to wince.
“I’ll carry this in for you,” he said, tightening his grip on the bag of gifts.
“Don’t be silly. You’re the one recovering from a stab wound. I’ve got this. I haul around big boxes of instruments all day long. I have muscles.”
Yeah. He was fully aware. She wasn’t delicate. She never had been. She was a capable, competent woman.
He remembered entirely too well exploring her curves, her soft expanse of skin.
“I’ve got this,” he insisted, catching his breath and forcing himself to look away. “You’ll have your hands full with the kids.”
“I didn’t expect you would want to come in,” she said, sounding surprised. “You don’t even know Morgan.”
“I drove all this way. I want to see how happy you’ve made her.”
“Will Kodi be okay in the truck by himself?”
He considered briefly, then opened the tailgate on the truck. “He’ll be better in the back. More room to stretch out.”
He took a minute to settle the dog in the carpeted bed of his truck, setting down a bowl of fresh water and helping the dog up, even though it only made Wes’s wound ache more.
“Guard the truck, buddy. I won’t be long.”
Kodiak gave him a doggy sigh and circled twice before lying down. In the covered parking garage, it was sheltered and warm enough for the short time he expected to be inside. Satisfied, Wes closed the tailgate and rejoined Hannah and the kids.
Inside the cancer facility, a tall Christmas tree greeted them. Ornaments in soothing blues and silvers glimmered among delicate snowflakes and tiny glass angels. The whole thing radiated hope and comfort, a quiet reminder that brightness still existed even in places where people were struggling through hard things.
Once, years ago, he had pictured himself walking halls like these, helping people fight battles like the ones being waged here.
That dream felt a lifetime away now. He wondered, just for a heartbeat, what kind of doctor he might have been if he had stayed that course. If he hadn’t allowed vengeance and a never-ending search for justice to take over.
Riley and Carter practically vibrated, their faces bright with anticipation.
“Mom is gonna be so surprised!” Riley said.
“I know! I can’t wait!” Carter bounced beside her, his eyes dancing.
Hannah approached the information desk. “Hi. We’re here to see a patient. Morgan Collins.”
“That’s our mom,” Riley added.
The older woman behind the desk beamed at the children. “Oh, I’ve been watching for you. The charge nurse in her unit told me to keep an eye out. Let me buzz her and let her know that you’re here.”
Wes shifted the bag of gifts in his arms, suddenly grateful he’d decided to come in. Hannah never would have managed all this and two jacked-up kids at the same time.
“Do you think she’ll be happy to see us?” Riley asked.
