Private Property: a Contemporary Romance Novella by T. Michelle Page A

entered the room at some point and the nurses came in to periodically check on her.  She remembered Jared coming in and speaking with Kristen, but couldn’t recall exactly what was said.  She woke sometime in the early hours , seeing Kristen dozing in a chair next to her.
    A subtle knock at the door heralded Jared’s entrance.  He was decked out in green scrubs, his hair hidden under a green cap.  He reached out and gently shook Kristen awake.
    “Okay.  The OR’s been prepped and our patient’s ready to go.”  Kristen came to abruptly and shoved a hand through her ratted hair.  She grasped onto Tabitha’s fi ngers.  “I have to go scrub, but someone will be in shortly to escort you down the hall.”
    Jared turned to Kristen.  “This should be a simple pr ocedure – an hour’s work most likely .  We’ll be placing some screws in to the bone to anchor those chips.”  He turned back to Tabitha .  “You’ll be staying here a few days , but I’ll be here with you.”
    “Why do I have to stay?”  Her voice sounded small.
    He bestowed her with a comforting smile.  “Because it’s the only way I can be certain you’ll stay off that leg and keep from hurting your arm again .”  He patted her thigh.  “Okay, see you in a minute.”
    She hugged Kristen tightly before the male nurse helped her get situated on the gurney.  Kristen was crying by the time she looked back up at her.  “I’ll be here when you get out.  I love you.”
    “I love you too, Kris.”  And she did.  Kristen was the sister she never had.  Well, Tabitha did actually have si sters, but none that cared too much about her.  After all, she was the black sheep of the family.
    Tabitha watched as the bright overhead hallway lights passed her one by one.  Soon she was wheeled into a stark white room with large metal lights above and metal trays on either side .  The room was bustling with activity while people situated themselves.  A man introduced himself as her anesthesiologist, while another nurse said she’d be assisting Drs. Larsen and Moore with the surgery.
    Then Jared’s bespectacled, masked face appeared before her eyes.  “Okay, Tabby.  Just close your eyes and allow the anesthesia do its job.  Don’t try to fight it.  You’ll be waking up in your room in no ti - .”  Tabitha’s eyelids had already begun to droop before he’d finished his sentence.
       
    The bright lights hurt her eyes and muffled sounds were barraging her ears.  Someone was squeezing her hand and she couldn’t seem to remove her tongue from the roof of her mouth.
    “Hi, honey.  How are you?”
    She tried to focus on the person speaking to her, tried to formulate words, but failed miserably.  “ Firstah .”  She attempted a swallow, but still couldn’t seem to dislodge her tongue.
    “What, Tabby?”  The hand on hers began to rub lightly along her skin.
    She cracked an eye and forced some focus to her vision.  Kristen.  Always tried, always true.  She shook her right hand free of her friend’s grasp and pointed to the Styrofoam pitcher on the small table next to them.
    “You’re thirsty?”  Thank God Kristen wasn’t dimwitted.  Kristen turned and looked over to the opposite chair.  Jared sat sprawled across its gi rth, his large frame overflowing its capacity.
    “Hi.”  He greeted, moving to pour her some water.  “I don’t really want you to eat yet, but water will do you some good.  You’re probably parched.”  He slid a straw into the cup and angled it toward her mouth.  It was the most euphoric sensation she’d ever felt – the ice-cold water sliding down her throat, releasing her tongue and soothing her dehydrated mouth .
    “Everything went fine, Tabitha .”  He began, picking up her wrist and staring at his watch.  “There was a little more work to be done than I thought – some of the muscle was required additional stitching.  But other than that, you should be fully