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Chapter Eighteen
So Tyrone hadn’t wasted time settling in as the man of the house, taking care of Brenda, gently regaining her approval, and insinuating himself into her heart.
As if they’d summoned the man, Tyron paced the hallway. His gaze had connected with Matt’s when Brenda had thrown her arms around his neck, and he’d momentarily given in to the temptation to hold her. With a suppressed curse, Matt had eased her away from him.
Damn, it was hard letting her go, but he’d never been a family wrecker.
“I see Tyron’s out there waiting to visit Mia. His turn to come in.” He ushered her out of the room.
“How long is she going to be in the ICU, doc?” Tyron asked.
“Maybe three or four days. At least until her breathing returns to normal, and her chest doesn’t hurt when she talks. The oxygen should help. Then, we’ll keep her in a regular room for a week and have her start walking. If all’s good, we’ll transfer her to rehab for physical therapy.”
“Can I stay here tonight?” Brenda begged with her eyes.
“No. It’s not allowed. I’m sorry.”
He could have said yes and dragged her to an on-call room where she could snuggle against him and sleep in his arms, both comforting each other. Wistful thinking with Tyron hovering.
“You can come back tomorrow morning, but not before nine.”
“Are you on call tonight?”
He shook his head. “I’d be useless after almost thirty-six hours awake. I’m too tired and need a good night’s sleep. But I’ve left detailed instruction to the nightshift attending and nurses.”
He let Tyron visit with his daughter for a few minutes and then walked them to the elevators. “See you tomorrow.”
He waited for the next elevator and rushed to his car, wishing he could numb his pain with the analgesic he’d injected into Mia’s blood.
Four days later, pleased with Mia’s progress, he ordered her returned to a regular room. Two of the kids injured in the accident, Emily and Tom, had been discharged the day before. Nick was still being treated for his back surgery. Determined to protect Mia from unnecessary stress, Matt had stuck aNo Visitorssign on her door and had recommended that Tyron and Brenda keep her door closed at all times.
To avoid awkward encounters with Brenda and her ex, Matt established a routine for himself visiting his patient early in the morning before her parents’ arrival and late in the evening after their departure.
After Mia had taken a few steps on her first day on the floor, Matt ordered escalating activity for her. Within a week, she was able to walk to the bathroom without being out of breath or wincing in pain.
From his exchanges with Mia, he’d learned that Brenda sat next to her all day watching her, while her dad worked on his laptop.
Why wasn’t the man paying more attention to his women? The two women Matt loved more than his life?
“Dad has a lot of work. He writes speeches for senators,” Mia explained when he examined her on a morning tour.
“Your mom hasn’t gone back to work?”
“Not yet. She keeps calling her office and postponing her return.”
Brenda needed a distraction. Sitting next to her daughter’s bed, blaming herself, didn’t help her, or Mia.
“Do you need her next to you?”
“No, not all day long. She often wipes her eyes, thinking I don’t notice. To be honest, Dr. Matt, seeing her so depressed is depressing me. I can’t stand this bed, this room. I want to go home, please.”
“Maybe tomorrow. Your breathing is almost normal. The nurse will remove your IV lines today. If all goes well over the next twenty-four hours, I’ll discharge you tomorrow.”
“Seriously? Thank you. Then Mom can go back to work, and Dad can go back to Chicago.”
Startled by Mia’s comments, Matt studied her. “Aren’t you happy having both of them next to you?”
“Not sure anymore. They fuss around me, but hardly talk when they think I’m asleep.” Her lips drooped. “They’re not happy together. I’m sure Mom misses you.”
