[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

eyes, too.
* * * *
Utterly exhausted, Eli leaned against the wall out in the hallway,
uncaring that someone might see him in such an emotional state. He put his
head in his hand for a moment before pushing off and going once again to
the little chapel down the hall. Prayers of praise came from his lips, tears
slipping from his eyes as he remembered her winking at him, such a simple
little thing, yet so powerful. That feeling of peace and comfort overtook
him, and he knew they would get through whatever came next. His angel
216 Heather Rainier
would be all right, but she was in some very real pain, so he prayed for her
to feel better.
By the time he returned, the doctor was gone, and her parents remained
only long enough to thank him for the tender loving care he gave their
daughter. Humbled, he thanked them both and returned the hug that Mrs.
Lopez gave him and shook Rachel s dad s hand. After they left, a nurse
brought in another large fresh flower arrangement then checked her vitals.
The nurse injected a pain reliever into the port of her IV line.
 She s going to get sleepy soon, but she should feel better within a
minute or so, Eli. You need anything? she asked as she walked to the door.
 No, thanks, Eva, I appreciate it. He smiled at the nurse that had gone
to great lengths to make his stay in the hospital over the last two nights as
comfortable as possible. He looked over at Rachel in time to catch the
irritated scowl she cast at the door. He put his hands on his hips and raised
an eyebrow at her. She tried to scowl at him and even raised a weak fist at
the door before smiling sheepishly at him.
 Jealous much? He came to sit down in the chair and held her right
hand.  You have nothing to worry about, angel. My eyes see only you. She
made my stay more comfortable here by finding me a folding cot, blanket,
and pillow, that s all. How do you feel now?
She scribbled on her pad then showed him. Better, but sleepy now.
 Good, the more rest you get the better. Are you thirsty?
No, Mom helped me earlier. It hurt, but it was wonderful, too. My throat
was very dry. Getting woozy. She dropped the pencil and looked at him with
a dreamy serene smile on her face.
 Good drugs? He chuckled, watching her eyelids slide closed as she
nodded happily then conked out. He tucked the blanket around her, kissed
her forehead, and settled back in the chair.
To see her in so much pain earlier had torn him up. Almost as much as
seeing her when they unloaded her, unconscious and helpless, from the
ambulance, drenched in her own blood. They had waited anxiously for the
last day and a half until she regained consciousness. He had tortured himself
in those hours spent waiting, especially when he had tried to sleep, with a
contrasting image of the two of them making love, the wild ecstasy that had
turned to sweet tenderness on a dime. What if last time had been the last
time?
Her Gentle Giant, Part 1: No Regrets 217
The doctor opened the door and motioned to him to come out so their
conversation would not disturb her. Out in the hall, the doctor leaned against
the door frame and said,  Listen, I don t know what your circumstances are,
but now that Rachel is past the critical point, you ll need to think about what
to do until she s fully recovered. I want to keep her here for a few more days
to watch for complications. Once those dangers pass, she won t need such
intensive care. She ll need someone to prepare and serve her meals and
make sure she is eating properly, help her get around, and she needs to be
someplace she can rest. I can recommend an intermediate recovery facility,
but that s not the only option you have available.
Eli cocked a knowing eyebrow at the doctor.  How does she feel about a
facility? Eli could not picture her staying in a hospital setting that long.
The doctor chuckled.  She doesn t think she needs it. But she hasn t
tried to move around yet, either. She s going to need the extra time, but it
doesn t have to be in a hospital setting. Peter and Renata have offered to let
her come home and stay with them for a while. She was opposed to that, not
wanting to  move back home was how she put it. You could encourage her
to either option, but they want you to know that they offered, for her sake,
and not because they want to have her dependent on them. This must be a
big deal to her.
 Doc, you have no idea.
The doctor nodded and smiled wistfully.  I m married to one of those
types, too. It s a good thing with the hours I keep. Speaking of which, that s
the main reason that I m recommending intermediate care. I know you keep
some strange hours, too. She needs someone at home around the clock to
watch over her. We don t want her to get up to use the restroom by herself
rather than bother anyone and wind up falling and breaking her other arm.
Eli cringed, not liking the sound of that. The ache in his chest grew at
the thought of how much he d miss her.
 How long?
 Four weeks. I d like to see her then, evaluate her progress and
determine whether she needs any physical therapy or not. He gave Eli a
knowing grin.  Absence makes the heart fonder, right?
 You re an intuitive man, Doc. Anyone ever tell you that?
 All the time. You see what I m getting at, though? She needs more
than a few days to recover, and she needs to do that with others around her.
218 Heather Rainier [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]