“Get some rest. I’ll be back tomorrow, okay?”
“Okay. Love you,” she mumbled.
If he responded, she didn’t hear it.
~ * ~
One thing about hospitals was, they weren’t the best places to get rest. Every time she fell asleep, someone came in and took her vitals or switched out her IV bag or something. On the plus side, she did get a nice breakfast.
A nurse’s aide came in as Kate was just finishing up, one she hadn’t seen before. “Looks like you might be getting out of here today.” The woman opened the draperies, and the room flooded with light.
“Yeah?” she asked, excited by the prospect.
“Yep. It stopped snowing, and the road crews have been out, working all night. The doc’s running behind though, so it might take a while.”
Kate didn’t care as long as she got out. She dreaded the thought of spending another night there.
“You have an older sister, Karyn, right?” the nurse’s aide asked.
“Right. Do you know her?”
“We were in the same class in high school.”
Kate looked at her ID badge. Karina Hemmelmann. The name rang a bell. “I remember! You got each other’s diplomas by mistake.”
The other woman laughed. “They were always getting us confused. Karyn, Karina. Handelmann, Hemmelmann. I guess it didn’t help that we were both blonde and on the softball team. How is Karyn? I heard she moved to the West Coast.”
“She did. She’s happily married now, living in LA.”
“Good for her. I always said she was too good for this place.”
Karina helped Kate to the bathroom, so she could take care of some needs. She was still on the woozy side, thanks to the painkillers. Karina also helped her wash her hair, too, which was still sticky with blood. Kate wasn’t accustomed to needing help to do such simple tasks, so it took a bit of pride-swallowing on her part, but she was grateful and felt much better by the time she got back into bed. It was amazing what a toothbrush and a handheld showerhead could do for a girl’s attitude.
It also gave her some ideas. When Karina left to see to other patients and with Kate’s phone now fully charged—another completely unexpected, thoughtful gesture—she fired off a text to Chris.
Kate: Good morning. *smiley face* Looks like I might be getting out today.
Mad Dog: Glad to hear it! When?
Kate: Don’t know. Have to wait for the doc.
Mad Dog: I’m on my way, beautiful.
She grinned at the phone. He’d called her beautiful.
Then, she made a long, overdue phone call.
“What’s wrong?” Karyn greeted before the second ring.
“What makes you think anything’s wrong?” Kate asked, smiling.
“Because it’s not a holiday and it’s not my birthday, and I haven’t even had my coffee yet.”
Kate had forgotten about the three-hour time difference between Sumneyville and LA. “I’m a bad sister.”
“The worst,” Karyn agreed jovially. “Now, what’s going on?”
Kate gave her a rundown on their father’s procedure, her own accident, Chris, and the puppies, too.
Karyn whistled softly. “Wow, you really have been holding out on me.”
“When’s the last time you called me and gave me an update on your life?”
“Touché.” Her older sister sighed heavily. “Guess we could both do better, huh?”
“I miss you. You were the only one I could talk to, you know?”
“Yes, I know. I miss you, too. The rest of the family, not so much.”
She laughed. “Yeah, well, nothing’s changed.”
“Didn’t think so. Call me when you get home tonight. And send pictures of the studly SEAL and the puppies. I have to run to work. The 405 is going to be a complete bitch at this hour.”
“Will do. Say hi to Amanda for me.”
Kate disconnected, feeling brightened. She made it a goal to call her big sister more often even if it was just to say hi. Before Karyn had moved to LA, they’d always been close.
The doctor still hadn’t made his way around to Kate’s room by the time lunch arrived, and she was starting to get antsy. A flash of movement at the door had her looking up hopefully, but it wasn’t the doc doing rounds.
“Kate!” Her mother rushed in, stopping at the side of the bed, followed by her younger sister pushing their dad in a wheelchair.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Honestly, Kate, between you and your father, I’m going to have to start doubling up on my wrinkle cream and get my gray covered every five weeks instead of six.”
She smiled benignly. “Sorry, Mom.”
Beth Handelmann looked at the bandage on the side of her head and the cast on her arm and paled. Kate was even gladder that Karina had taken the time to clean her up this morning. Her mother wasn’t good with blood. Or injuries in general.
“Well, it doesn’t look too bad,” her mother finally managed. “The way that nurse was talking yesterday, I was expecting much worse.”
“No, not too bad,” Kate agreed, shifting her gaze to her father. He was dressed in his usual jeans and flannel. “You’re going home?”
He nodded. “Doc came by to discharge me first thing this morning. What about you?”
“Still waiting.”
“We’d wait with you, dear, but your father’s anxious to get home,” her mother announced. “Luther will come back for you later. Won’t you, Luther?”
It was then that she noticed Luther lurking by the door.
“Of course, Mrs. H. As long as it’s all right with Kate.”
“Well, of course it is,” her mother said, pinning her with a warning glare. “I’m sure Kate would be very appreciative. Wouldn’t you, Kate?”
“Actually ... I already have a ride.”
“Oh? Who?” her mother asked, making it sound like a challenge.
“Me.”
Warmth flooded through her at the sound of Chris’s deep baritone.
“And who are you?” her mother asked as Chris stepped past Luther and entered her room, drawing all eyes his way, including hers.
Just seeing him made her feel better.
“Chris Sheppard, ma’am.”
Her mother’s eyes narrowed, and Kate could practically see her connecting the dots. “Well, thank you for your concern, Mr. Sheppard, but that won’t be necessary. I think you’ve done quite enough already, don’t you?”
“Excuse me?” Other than a raised brow, he kept his expression even as he neared the bed.
“Kate wouldn’t have even been in this situation if it wasn’t for you.”
“Mom!” she exclaimed, mortified. “That’s totally uncalled for! And extremely rude.”
Beth sniffed. “But true nonetheless.”
“Enough,” her father said, intervening. “Beth, let’s go. Kate’s a big girl. She can make her own decisions.”
Kylie, who had been silent up to that point, shot an angry look Kate’s way as the current tension was all her fault. As she thought about that, she realized it was actually. These were the consequences of her actions.
Kate’s mother huffed and left the room.