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“You’ll take them.”
“Soup smells good. What is it?”
“Chicken tortilla.” Donato brought the tray over.
“One of my favorites.”
“I know that.” She aggressively dumped the pills back in the bottle.
“Some water would be nice.” I’d meet her halfway. Her pinched face relaxed a fraction as she passed me a glass. “Thank you.”
“The doctor will take another look at your wound after you eat.”
“That’s not—” I started, but Muriella growled, and I quickly amended. “Can’t think of a thing I’d like more.”
She dipped the spoon in the steaming soup and held it to my lips. I blew on it before I opened.
“We should all be so lucky to have such a dedicated nurse.” Donato glanced appreciatively at Muriella.
“Maybe I should be helpless a little more often.”
Her answering look was scathing. “You already tried that with the horseback ride. Didn’t work out so well.”
It was the first time since we got to Donato’s she seemed almost normal. I hoped like hell it was a sign of things to come.
The next moment, Vivian burst through the door, Daniel on her heels. She ran to Muriella, who set the bowl down and met her halfway. They embraced, tears streaking down Vivian’s cheeks. Daniel closed in the circle.
The three of them stood like that for a long time. Thank God she had them.
Vivian finally broke loose and rushed over to me. She lifted my shirt.
“Hey, I’m excited to see you too, but I usually like a little conversation before we get to this part.”
She paused to glare at me only to turn that toward the bandage covering my wound. “I can’t see it.” She peeled at the edge of the medical tape.
“I’m doing all right, since you asked. Think I might have been driving Muriella crazy since you’ve been gone, but she’s getting used to it.” I winked at her, but she held onto Daniel.
Vivian immediately halted. And smacked me in the head. “I’ve missed you.” She straightened and kissed my forehead. “Couldn’t you have saved the girl without getting shot?”
She pretended everything was normal, but I didn’t miss the strain behind her words.
“How else was I going to get all this attention? Sometimes you gotta do something drastic.”
She hugged my neck. “Thank you,” she whispered in my ear. “If you hadn’t been here…”
“It all worked out, so there’s no need to think about it.”
“I’m glad you’re okay.”
“You said you knew how to use a gun.” Daniel shook my hand.
“Thank the Lord the other guy didn’t.” Muriella recoiled at my words, her arms wrapped around her middle. “Darlin’, I didn’t mean—”
“This isn’t a joke,” she said.
“I know it’s not. I just don’t know any other way to cope.”
She nodded once.
