As he took Finn’s vital signs, the nurse chatted. “101.8—that’s excellent. We’re overdue for a breathing treatment, and we need to get your O2 level up. I’ll send PT in right away.”
“This late at night?” Finn asked.
A glance at her watch told Laurie it was 8:15. She’d been napping since six—her only sleep in the past twenty-four hours. Her body longed to collapse in her bed at home. But should she leave Finn unattended? Branson needed to go home to Steph and the kids, so it only made sense for her to stay.
“We have at least one physical therapist on duty at night,” the nurse explained, as he took Finn’s blood pressure. “But we’ll get you back on a normal schedule tomorrow.”
The door burst open and Cole strolled in, his cowboy boots clomping on the floor. “Are y’all having a party in here?”
“What are you doing here, Cole?” Finn asked, clearly disgruntled at the invasion.
“I’m here for the night.” Cole held up a small duffel bag. “Branson’s taking Laurie home.”
“I don’t think you’ll fit on this loveseat,” she argued, irritated the two men had made the decision without her input. She hadn’t even had a chance to talk to Finn. No telling what Branson had said about her presence—she deserved a chance to explain why she was there.
“That couch folds out into a bed,” the nurse commented. “I can show you how it works.”
“Now you tell me,” said Laurie, rubbing the sore muscle on the side of her neck.
“You can go home, Cole. My fever’s gone.” With Finn’s last word, a coughing fit hit him, deep and scary-sounding.
“I’m already here, so I’m staying.” Cole dropped his bag and sat down beside Laurie, locking his fingers behind his head and stretching out his long legs.
By the time the nurse had collected his numbers and left the room, Branson was on his feet, white cane in hand, headed toward the door. “Have a good night, Finn. Are you ready, Laurie? I’ll give you a ride.”
Frustrated, Laurie stood and slung her purse over her shoulder. She had no excuse to stay with Finn, and the dark expression on his face said he didn’t want her there.
“Bye, Finn,” she said glibly. “I’m glad you’re still with us.”
Her gaze connected with his, the intensity of his glare shooting a charged bolt through her chest. Whatever emotion lay behind that murderous look had destroyed any progress they’d made in their relationship. He must see her as one more interfering woman in his life.
At least he’s alive—I don’t care what he thinks about me.
She tried hard to believe it.
CHAPTER 11
As she feared, Laurie didn’t hear from Finn for the rest of the week, though Bran kept her up to date on his condition. Determined to carry her share of the load, Laurie tried her best to work without bothering Branson or Cole. Fortunately, a phone call to Dara had resulted in a wealth of information. Stuck at home on bed-rest, she said she was going “stir crazy” and happily answered every question Laurie could think of. She made Laurie promise to contact her if she got stuck again, but Laurie didn’t want to take advantage of her when she was supposed to be on leave.
At noon on Friday, while working through lunch to complete a to-do list about ten miles long, she got a phone call from her mother. She answered the phone, though she didn’t feel up to the inevitable argument.
“Hi, Mom. I’m pretty busy, so I can’t talk long.”
“You’re not taking a lunch break?”
She stayed calm, knowing her mother didn’t realize how judgmental she sounded.
“I’ll grab something to eat. But it’s not like I couldn’t afford to skip one meal.”
“Laurie Tyra Shields! You know that’s not healthy.”
“Why did you call, Mom?” she asked, impatience creeping into her tone.
“I wanted to tell you my news.”
“What’s that?”
Please don’t let her tell me she’s marrying Tyrone.
“I’m engaged!”
Ughh! She struggled to control her ragged emotions. She had to put her mother’s feelings first.
“Mom, if this is really what you want, I’m happy for you.”
“And I want you to be my maid of honor.”
Dread swirled in her gut. “Don’t you think your sister should be your maid of honor? She deserves it after all she’s done for us.”
Laurie and her mother had lived with Aunt Micaela and Uncle Carlos for as long as Laurie could remember.
“I want my daughter.”
Laurie stifled a groan. “I’ll consider being in the wedding. But only if you have a small private ceremony… a secret one, with no publicity.”
Carmen’s response was a loud sniff.
