For a second, the pain in my body vanishes, and I realize that it might not be so bad to stay here. Then I hear a voice, the same voice from my dreams that lured me to Yuletide. But this time, the voice isn’t coaxing. It’s screaming.
Get up, Poppy. Keep fighting.
With a last burst of strength, I lunge for the shoreline, making it only halfway from the water when the blackness overtakes me.
Chapter 16
Dylan
I can’t breathe as I tear into the hospital parking lot, leaping from the Jeep and making for the entrance at breakneck speed.
It’s the call no one wants to get.
Mr. West, there’s been an accident.
It involved your daughter and mother.
They’re at the hospital.
I don’t have any details, but right now I just need to see them. Lay my hands on them. Pull them to me and never let them go.
The triage nurse glances up, her eyes widening in recognition. “Mr. West, right this way.”
She opens the door to the treatment area of the emergency department, and my panic increases as I glance at every bay, searching for my daughter. “Where is she? Where’s Marissa?”
“Daddy.”
I turn as my knees threaten to give out, before picking up my daughter and holding her against me. “Are you okay, Cupcake? What happened?”
“She fell in the river.”
I turn to see my mother leaning on a crutch, a boot on her ankle and a rueful expression on her face. Grabbing her to me in a hug, I huff out a few breaths, willing my heart rate down. “How did you get hurt?”
“I got stuck in the river, trying to get a stone.”
“A stone?” Of all the stupid, ridiculous reasons. “You risked your life for a stone?”
Now that I know they’re safe, my anger careens into play.
They could have died. Because of a damn stone.
“Marissa wanted it for her snow castle. I slipped on the ice and fell in. My ankle got stuck and Marissa fell in trying to help me.” My mother pats my arm, her eyes full of tears. “I’m so sorry, Dylan. I wasn’t thinking.”
“No, you weren’t.” I huff out another breath. I can stay mad or I can be grateful that they’re okay. They’ve been spared. “Why were you near the river, anyway? I built the fence to keep her away from the river.”
“Not that part of the river. We were with Poppy.”
My stomach flips. That’s right, they were headed to her cabin. The river there is far deeper. Wilder. I glance around, but I see no sign of my Poppy anywhere. “Where is Poppy?”
My mother looks away, biting her lip. “They took her for an x-ray. She lost consciousness after fighting to get us both out of the river.”
I stagger against the wall, my knees threatening to give out. “Is she okay?”
“They said it’s just a precaution. She’s conscious now.”
“Where is she?” The panic meter in my brain is on the rise again, and it won’t stop until I verify that my Sunshine Girl is safe.
The door to the far end of the Emergency Department opens and they wheel Poppy in. She has several blankets wrapped around her, an IV running into her arm and a bandage around her right hand. One look at her and I know she’s suffered the most serious injuries. Placing Marissa on the ground, I look to my mother. “Watch Marissa.”
But Marissa has other ideas, tearing off across the floor in Poppy’s direction. “Poppy!”
I start after her, but my mother grabs my arm. “None of this was Poppy’s fault. She told us to stay up on the hillside. I, being a stubborn ass, didn’t listen. She saved our lives, Dylan, and damn near lost her own doing it. I owe that woman everything.”
I will have a stern discussion with my mother later. Right now, I need to see if the woman I love is okay. I hustle across the floor, grabbing Marissa out of the way as she struggles to remain at Poppy’s side. “Cupcake, go sit with Grandma.”
“I want to stay with Poppy.”
“You can in a little while. But Poppy is hurt, and the doctors need to take care of her.”
My daughter’s lower lip trembles as fat tears roll down her cheeks. “She’s hurt because of me.”
“No, sweetie. It was an accident. Now go on. Sit with Grandma.” I watch her slink, dejected, back to my mother’s side, before turning my attention to Poppy.
I step to Poppy’s bedside, but my beautiful girl maintains a staring contest with the blanket. “Hey, Sunshine. You okay?”
With those words, she breaks, tears streaming down her face. “I’m so sorry.”
“Sorry? You saved my daughter's and mother’s life. Why are you sorry?”
“It’s my fault.”
“Sunshine, no, it isn’t. If you weren’t there—” I can’t finish the statement as I pull her against me.
“If I wasn’t there, they never would have fallen. It’s just like with my parents. With my foster parents.”
“I don’t know what you mean, Poppy.”
“My parents and foster parents all died in car accidents. What are the chances? I was sick, so my birth parents were taking me to the hospital. I wanted ice cream, so my foster parents were taking me out. They died. Everyone I love goes away.”
“Darling, you are a hero. You saved my daughter and mother today. I owe you everything. Please, stop with this nonsense.”
“I’m not a hero. I’m a curse.”
I tip her chin up, desperate to convince her otherwise. “You quit spouting those lies. You are not a curse. You’re the most beautiful heroine I’ve ever known. And I’m indebted to you. Anything you want, just name it.” I mean it, too. If she demands a mansion in Big Sky, I’ll figure out a way to make it happen.
“A pair of flannel pajamas.” Her voice is barely a whisper.
“Done. But let’s dream bigger.”
“Lots of flannel pajamas?”
I pepper her face with kisses, smoothing away the tears before they have a chance to fall. “I’m offering you anything you want in this world and you’re asking for pajamas? What about a huge rock on your finger? An over the top wedding? You want a gaggle of kids? I’m your man.”
“Stop, Dylan. You’re not indebted to me. I’m just glad I got them out.”
“I enjoy being indebted to you, Poppy.”
Her eyes return to their downward cast, and I feel the apprehension wafting off her. Even after all these years, I know when Poppy is closing herself off. Creating distance. I have to coax her out before she gets any more introverted. “Let’s get you home. You can sink into a warm bath and curl up by the fire.”
“I’ve made a decision.”
“About how I can start repaying my debt to you?” I know that’s not what she means, but I’m determined to stay optimistic.
“I’m leaving Yuletide Acres, going back to Eugene.”
That single sentence, those eight words, upend my equilibrium. “What are you talking about? You’re not leaving Yuletide. You just got here.”
Poppy’s wide hazel eyes find mine, holding my insistent gaze with her tear-ridden one. “You were right to leave me ten years ago. Now, it’s my turn to go. I’ve turned your life upside down.”