greeted her from behind the nurse’s station. “You making another delivery?”
“Pardon?”
“Try playing ignorant with someone who doesn’t know you.”
“Who says I’m playing?” She smiled and shook her head.
“Sure. You’re clueless.” Lexi nodded toward Logan’s room as she rounded the desk. “And the man who never gets visitors has someone other than you to cook for him.”
Looking around to make sure no one was within earshot, Delancey asked, “Does he know it comes from me?”
“Probably on some level, but I’m pretty sure he’s a master of avoidance. He doesn’t seem to allow himself to think too much.”
Avoidance was a normal coping method that too easily became a hindrance if not properly managed. Indulging in it herself wasn’t a distasteful thought, but it felt lazy. Delancey was not lazy.
“How’s he doing?”
“Trying to pass a couple of Doc’s tests so he can go home.”
“He’s recovering well?”
“His scars are most likely going to be permanent, but his muscles and tissues are doing well. Emotionally…” Lexi shrugged rather than go into specifics that blatantly betrayed HIPAA laws.
Other nurses and a doctor moved in and out of rooms, carrying charts and talking in low tones. Patients screamed and moaned. Visitors cried. Some rooms were completely silent. Logan’s was a silent one.
“Emotional wounds are always the hardest to overcome.”
“Inspector Schneider was here to see him earlier.” Lexi shrugged. “Logan’s sister Ashley was killed by a blow to the head, not the fire. Schneider asked Logan if he had any issues with her.”
That was an emotional weight no one needed to face. He’d been violently burned in the process of losing the person he loved most. To be a suspect in the fire, in his sister’s death, was a definite brutality.
Delancey pointed to the door. “Do you think he’d…?”
Lexi’s shrug was no more assuring than her offered “I can ask.”
“Please.”
With a brief nod, Lexi turned and went into Logan’s room. Every minute she was gone felt like five, as old insecurities became new ones. As a need for acceptance became a fire-breathing dragon and the only way to tame it would be for Logan to see her. His willingness to talk to her was a validation she craved, though it wasn’t one that sat well with her.
It was selfish, and she needed to be selfless when facing someone who’d lost so much.
She was tapping her fingers against her thigh when Logan’s door opened again and Lexi’s face, an unreadable mask she wore almost exclusively at work, gave away no secrets. Ever.
Delancey swallowed. “Will he see me?” she asked when she could wait no longer.
“He’s hesitant,” Lexi said. “Today’s the first day without his bandages. His first time to really see his injuries.”
“All the more reason he should have someone with him.”
“That was one of my arguments.” Lexi winked. “I also told him that as a physical therapist you might be able to help him get out of here.”
Delancey took Lexi’s hand and squeezed. “Thank you.”
“Don’t think this comes without a cost.” Lexi’s wide mouth and thin lips curved in a smile of smug delight. “You like this man. Very soon I expect answers.”
Lexi was one of her best friends, and though she kept some potentially large secrets to herself, Delancey had no trouble opening up. About some things.
“I wish I knew why he intrigues me so strongly.” Curiosity wouldn’t end after today’s visit. She did like him, though she couldn’t say why. He’d intrigued her from that first look in the fire and she’d spent no real time with him since. She’d only seen a few glimpses of who she thought he might be as a person. “Fact is, I felt drawn to him even in the fire when he was barely conscious. I don’t think there’s going to be a logical answer.”
“Well, if you’re going to be coming to see him, you’ll need an explanation for your mother, because
“Pardon?”
“Try playing ignorant with someone who doesn’t know you.”
“Who says I’m playing?” She smiled and shook her head.
“Sure. You’re clueless.” Lexi nodded toward Logan’s room as she rounded the desk. “And the man who never gets visitors has someone other than you to cook for him.”
Looking around to make sure no one was within earshot, Delancey asked, “Does he know it comes from me?”
“Probably on some level, but I’m pretty sure he’s a master of avoidance. He doesn’t seem to allow himself to think too much.”
Avoidance was a normal coping method that too easily became a hindrance if not properly managed. Indulging in it herself wasn’t a distasteful thought, but it felt lazy. Delancey was not lazy.
“How’s he doing?”
“Trying to pass a couple of Doc’s tests so he can go home.”
“He’s recovering well?”
“His scars are most likely going to be permanent, but his muscles and tissues are doing well. Emotionally…” Lexi shrugged rather than go into specifics that blatantly betrayed HIPAA laws.
Other nurses and a doctor moved in and out of rooms, carrying charts and talking in low tones. Patients screamed and moaned. Visitors cried. Some rooms were completely silent. Logan’s was a silent one.
“Emotional wounds are always the hardest to overcome.”
“Inspector Schneider was here to see him earlier.” Lexi shrugged. “Logan’s sister Ashley was killed by a blow to the head, not the fire. Schneider asked Logan if he had any issues with her.”
That was an emotional weight no one needed to face. He’d been violently burned in the process of losing the person he loved most. To be a suspect in the fire, in his sister’s death, was a definite brutality.
Delancey pointed to the door. “Do you think he’d…?”
Lexi’s shrug was no more assuring than her offered “I can ask.”
“Please.”
With a brief nod, Lexi turned and went into Logan’s room. Every minute she was gone felt like five, as old insecurities became new ones. As a need for acceptance became a fire-breathing dragon and the only way to tame it would be for Logan to see her. His willingness to talk to her was a validation she craved, though it wasn’t one that sat well with her.
It was selfish, and she needed to be selfless when facing someone who’d lost so much.
She was tapping her fingers against her thigh when Logan’s door opened again and Lexi’s face, an unreadable mask she wore almost exclusively at work, gave away no secrets. Ever.
Delancey swallowed. “Will he see me?” she asked when she could wait no longer.
“He’s hesitant,” Lexi said. “Today’s the first day without his bandages. His first time to really see his injuries.”
“All the more reason he should have someone with him.”
“That was one of my arguments.” Lexi winked. “I also told him that as a physical therapist you might be able to help him get out of here.”
Delancey took Lexi’s hand and squeezed. “Thank you.”
“Don’t think this comes without a cost.” Lexi’s wide mouth and thin lips curved in a smile of smug delight. “You like this man. Very soon I expect answers.”
Lexi was one of her best friends, and though she kept some potentially large secrets to herself, Delancey had no trouble opening up. About some things.
“I wish I knew why he intrigues me so strongly.” Curiosity wouldn’t end after today’s visit. She did like him, though she couldn’t say why. He’d intrigued her from that first look in the fire and she’d spent no real time with him since. She’d only seen a few glimpses of who she thought he might be as a person. “Fact is, I felt drawn to him even in the fire when he was barely conscious. I don’t think there’s going to be a logical answer.”
“Well, if you’re going to be coming to see him, you’ll need an explanation for your mother, because
Similar Books
