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“Donovan.” Joan pulled away from Levi’s embrace and crossed the waiting room. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
She is? he thought. Either the family hadn’t seen the show or they didn’t care. Joan hugged him and Cree and Irish came over to greet him, as well. The ladies didn’t blame him but the men might. Scots offered a head nod before going back to irritating the nurse with his finger solo. Levi stayed in his spot but considering the bloodshot eyes, Donovan didn’t blame him.
“How is she?”
Joan’s lips pressed together but still quivered. “She is going to be okay. A bit scarred up, but she’s going to be fine.”
Absentmindedly, Donovan touched his face. The fifteen-year-old scar ached as bad as his heart. He didn’t want her to spend endless nights thinking about the ways to have a scar like his surgically removed. Scar or no scar, Donovan loved her. He understood better than most that beauty was internal.
“Is she awake?”
“We’re waiting for the doctors to tell us she is and wants to see anyone.”
Cree cleared her throat. “She was conscious when Daddy found her.”
“You were there?” Donovan turned his attention to the man dressed in a pair of camouflage overalls.
Half nodding, Levi turned to Donovan. “Yes. I was hunting with some buddies when we heard the crash.”
Donovan hated that for him. He wanted to say something comforting but before the words came out, a pixie-haired doctor in teal surgery attire stepped out of a side room. Since everyone rushed to her, Donovan assumed she was the doctor.
“What’s going on, Erin?” Scots said, spotting the doctor first. The nurse behind the desk rolled her eyes in relief.
“Dr. Hairston—” Joan slipped from Donovan’s side and breezed across the room “—how’s British? When can we see her?”
Though he had no right, Donovan stood on the outside of the family, who now surrounded the doctor and plied her with questions. Relief washed over him at the good news. From what he gathered, British’s left leg was the point of concern and the concussion had her in and out of consciousness. She has nasty bump on the side of her head and was going to be sore for the next few days and needed to stay in the hospital under observation.
“Can we see her?” Levi asked after the report.
“Family may visit.”
A stab of betrayal spurted through him. Donovan rubbed the back of his head. He moved away to give the family some room. Didn’t the doctor know British wasn’t going to want to be smothered by her siblings, which they more than likely would? Hell, he would, too. Donovan fought against the lump in his throat. He tried to reconcile what the doctor had said and told himself the important point was that British was going to be okay.
The family went in to visit British. Maggie and the woman named Erin started talking and he gathered from their chatter they were related. Of co
urse they were. Everyone in Southwood seemed to be related one way or another.
“Donovan,” Levi said at the rear of the group, “you coming?”
The idea of being rejected once again by British didn’t sound appealing, especially in front of the Woodburys. “I don’t know if she wants to see me.”
“Because of your show on television tonight?”
Even with the time alone, Donovan never bothered watching the episode. “I’m not sure what went wrong,” Donovan said.
“Did you see it?”
“I was at the STEM-Off,” he explained.
Levi motioned for everyone else to go inside while he and Donovan hung back. “It wasn’t bad,” said Levi, “rather boring, if you ask me.”
“Sir, about Tracy...”
“That woman at the end of the show?” Levi shook his head. “I’m the furthest thing from a video producer but it was easy to tell there was nothing between you and her. Hell, half the show on you was the string of women you’d been with.”
Donovan hung his head in shame. “I am not that man anymore.”
“I know you’re not.” Levi chuckled. The loving pat on the back Levi gave Donovan made him feel a little bit better about things. Just a smidge. “Donovan, you would have been detected by my kids. I know you care about British and I have no doubt whatsoever she is crazy over you.”
