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“Oh thank God.” She flung her arms around me and kissed my cheek. “Miss Adeline, she’s awake.”
Where were we?And of course, the old woman was fine. She was a tough old bird.
Instead of a snarky remark, silence was the only response.
“Is she—the dogs?” I couldn’t make my mouth say the words in my head. And why was my voice muffled?
“She’s right here. I had the doctors put you in the same room.” Beau squeezed my hand. “The dogs are at Daniel and Vivian’s.”
Some of the pressure inside me released. “They’re all okay?” My throat hurt. It was painful to speak.
She dropped her gaze. “Teague is with a few of them at the vet.”
Teague.
A longing tugged at me. I’d barely seen him over the past week and as much as I appreciated Beau’s presence, I wanted him.
“He thought you’d rather have him make sure they were okay before he came here.”
He was right.
“So everyone is fine?”
She fiddled with the long gold chain dangling from her neck. “They will be,” she said quietly.
I attempted to sit up. It was as if all my limbs weighed a thousand pounds. “How long have I been here?” There were wires hooked to me as if they were permanent fixtures.
Could I breathe on my own?
It occurred to me I had an oxygen mask over my face. I felt strange but not like I should be in a hospital.
Hospital.
Two visits in a matter of days when I’d never set foot in one before.
So dizzy. My head lolled again.
Beau jolted. “I’ll get the nurse. Then call Teague.”
She released my hand and rushed away.
I had a clear path to see Miss Adeline. Her machine beeped in a steady rhythm as mine did. I watched her still form under the thin sheet.
Her chest rose and fell. I took a full breath, not realizing I’d been holding it while I waited for movement.
She wasn’t young.
It was easy to forget that sometimes when she had more energy and spunk than I did. I never considered her to be vulnerable, but she was.
“Wake up, woman.”
“I am, since nobody around here lets anyone get any rest.”
Tears leaked from the corners of my eyes at that sharp tongue.
“Have you seen the doctor yet? He’s pretty handsome,” I said.
“Pssh. I’m still mad that the one time I’m rescued by a hot fireman, I missed it.” A coughing fit ensued.
