newlyweds were next down the steps. Adam Boyer, Beth’s older brother, paused to help his wife, Xandra, down the stairs. An ex-navy SEAL, Adam had returned to Pennsylvania with his troubled teenage son, Mark, in time for Beth and Jack’s wedding. He’d met Xandra Lexington when she was assigned to be Mark’s high school counselor.
Cole was last, after Crystal, and he spotted Meg right away, holding out his arms to her. “How’s she doing today, sweetheart?” he asked.
“No better, I’m afraid. It appears to be affectingher liver and her kidneys. They’ve decided to change her medication again. She’s so weak.”
“How’s Jack?”
Tears flooded her eyes as she rested her head against his shoulder. “Hanging on to hope. He has a hotel room across the street, but I think he sleeps in the chair by her bed.”
“Adam or I will sit with Beth at night instead. We’ll make him sleep.”
“That’s good. How is CJ?”
“She’s fine. I’m a basket case. Truth is, she ordered me to come. Said she was sick of my worried face. Aunt Meg, I’m going to be a mess when she goes back to work.”
“No, you will not! CJ didn’t make a peep when you put yourself between Glory and Crystal in that ring. Glory could easily have killed you, and all CJ did was hang back and do what you needed. You can be as nervous a wreck as you want, but you have to show your wife you respect her judgment.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Ma’am again!
“And speaking of nervous wrecks,” Cole added, “we’d better get Adam to the hospital so he can see his sister.”
Chapter Seven
E van heard the SUV Meg had driven into Greeley rumble by the house and pull into the parking area. He glanced at his watch. Nearly seven o’clock. He’d thought they’d all stay in Greeley until evening visiting hours were over. Evan sighed. So much for a few minutes of uninterrupted downtime now that he’d tucked both babies into their bassinets.
It was no wonder he was tired. He’d gotten almost no sleep the night before thinking about Meg. Then today had turned out to be one of those busy days with the twins. In between dealing with two demanding infants, he’d had to pack up all his things and move back to the cabin, along with making up the guest room.
To be honest, company wasn’t the only reason for his move back to the cabin, but it was a plausibleone to give them. It probably would have been simpler to give the cabin to one of the couples and Cole, and let the other newlywed couple use Jackson and Beth’s room. But now that he was sure the monitor extended as far as the cabin, he’d be sleeping there from now on, putting lots of safe distance between him and Meg.
When he got to the parked SUV, Evan was surprised to find fewer people unloading it than he’d expected. The first person his eyes sought out in the semidarkness was Cris.
She stood alone looking toward the barn, the moonlight bouncing off her ebony hair. Her profile was silhouetted against the bright night sky.
His new son-in-law, Jim, had the habit of calling her his warrior princess. But whatever she looked like, she was his little girl. Evan held out his arms to his beautiful daughter.
“Cris. Honey,” he said, and she turned to him, then walked into his embrace. After a long moment he stepped back and continued. “Welcome home. I wish it were under better circumstances. How was Beth today?” He held her by her shoulders, hoping against hope for better news than he’d been hearing for days.
“I think the official word is she’s holding her own. Jackson’s nearly destroyed, Dad.” Cris’s slightly alto voice shook.
“I know. He’s a mess. I tried to tell him ruininghis own health wouldn’t help Beth, he’s not listening.” He grimaced. “Some things never change, I guess.”
“He does look awful, but try not to worry. Adam and Cole stayed behind to spell him at the hospital. They said they’d hog-tie him if that’s what it took to get him to sleep.”
Cole was last, after Crystal, and he spotted Meg right away, holding out his arms to her. “How’s she doing today, sweetheart?” he asked.
“No better, I’m afraid. It appears to be affectingher liver and her kidneys. They’ve decided to change her medication again. She’s so weak.”
“How’s Jack?”
Tears flooded her eyes as she rested her head against his shoulder. “Hanging on to hope. He has a hotel room across the street, but I think he sleeps in the chair by her bed.”
“Adam or I will sit with Beth at night instead. We’ll make him sleep.”
“That’s good. How is CJ?”
“She’s fine. I’m a basket case. Truth is, she ordered me to come. Said she was sick of my worried face. Aunt Meg, I’m going to be a mess when she goes back to work.”
“No, you will not! CJ didn’t make a peep when you put yourself between Glory and Crystal in that ring. Glory could easily have killed you, and all CJ did was hang back and do what you needed. You can be as nervous a wreck as you want, but you have to show your wife you respect her judgment.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Ma’am again!
“And speaking of nervous wrecks,” Cole added, “we’d better get Adam to the hospital so he can see his sister.”
Chapter Seven
E van heard the SUV Meg had driven into Greeley rumble by the house and pull into the parking area. He glanced at his watch. Nearly seven o’clock. He’d thought they’d all stay in Greeley until evening visiting hours were over. Evan sighed. So much for a few minutes of uninterrupted downtime now that he’d tucked both babies into their bassinets.
It was no wonder he was tired. He’d gotten almost no sleep the night before thinking about Meg. Then today had turned out to be one of those busy days with the twins. In between dealing with two demanding infants, he’d had to pack up all his things and move back to the cabin, along with making up the guest room.
To be honest, company wasn’t the only reason for his move back to the cabin, but it was a plausibleone to give them. It probably would have been simpler to give the cabin to one of the couples and Cole, and let the other newlywed couple use Jackson and Beth’s room. But now that he was sure the monitor extended as far as the cabin, he’d be sleeping there from now on, putting lots of safe distance between him and Meg.
When he got to the parked SUV, Evan was surprised to find fewer people unloading it than he’d expected. The first person his eyes sought out in the semidarkness was Cris.
She stood alone looking toward the barn, the moonlight bouncing off her ebony hair. Her profile was silhouetted against the bright night sky.
His new son-in-law, Jim, had the habit of calling her his warrior princess. But whatever she looked like, she was his little girl. Evan held out his arms to his beautiful daughter.
“Cris. Honey,” he said, and she turned to him, then walked into his embrace. After a long moment he stepped back and continued. “Welcome home. I wish it were under better circumstances. How was Beth today?” He held her by her shoulders, hoping against hope for better news than he’d been hearing for days.
“I think the official word is she’s holding her own. Jackson’s nearly destroyed, Dad.” Cris’s slightly alto voice shook.
“I know. He’s a mess. I tried to tell him ruininghis own health wouldn’t help Beth, he’s not listening.” He grimaced. “Some things never change, I guess.”
“He does look awful, but try not to worry. Adam and Cole stayed behind to spell him at the hospital. They said they’d hog-tie him if that’s what it took to get him to sleep.”
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