Dr. Fitzgerald pursed his lips. “I can already tell you’re going to be handful.”
“You have no idea,” Finn muttered.
Fitzgerald smiled. “Why doesn’t everyone say their goodbyes?”
The goodbyes took longer than the hellos, but once everyone was gone, James settled into the chair next to Mandy’s bed. She was drowsy – but fighting it. “You should go home and get a good night’s sleep.”
“We haven’t spent a night away from each other in ten months,” James reminded her. “We’re not starting now.”
“You’ll never be comfortable in that chair,” she protested.
“I’ll survive.”
“Just … just climb up here next to me.”
James was torn. “Baby, you’re so hurt.”
“I’ll be more hurt if you sleep over there.”
James sucked his lower lip into his mouth and then resignedly slipped his shoes off. Mandy nudged over to the far side of the bed, trying to keep her face from betraying the pain she felt from the small movement.
James didn’t miss it, but he didn’t comment either. He settled next to her, rolling to his side and resting his hand on her flat abdomen as he shared her pillow. The lights in the room were already dimmed, and Mandy’s eyelids were losing the battle to stay open.
“I need you to promise me something,” she said.
“What?”
“Stay here with me all night,” Mandy said. “I need you near me.”
James sighed, nodding as he pressed his lips to her cheek. “You can’t shake me now, baby. Just rest.”
She was asleep before he was done speaking.
THE NEXT morning found James mired in a conflicted hell. Mandy was complaining. Loudly. She didn’t want to spend another night in the hospital – and Dr. Fitzgerald was showing signs of weakening.
“I feel much better.”
“You’re obviously in pain,” Fitzgerald argued.
“Isn’t pain a sign of recovery?”
James knew she’d won before Fitzgerald even answered.
“Yes, but … .”
“But nothing,” Mandy said. “My recovery will be quicker in my own bed.”
Dr. Fitzgerald ran his tongue over his teeth. “How about we compromise?”
James arched an eyebrow. Mandy was big on compromises – especially when she was trying to get her own way.
“What compromise?”
“If you agree to stay here and behave all day – and I mean all day – then I’ll agree to cut you loose at six if things still look good on all your tests,” the doctor said.
Mandy wrinkled her nose. “Fine.”
James smiled, rubbing a hand over his stubbly chin. “See, you can get your own way no matter what.”
“I don’t consider it getting my way,” Mandy argued. “It’s more like the doctor is seeing the light.”
“You’re such a pain.”
“I’m the light of your life,” Mandy shot back, grimacing as she shifted on the bed. “I’m also bored. What are you going to do to entertain me?”
“The entertainment reinforcements are coming,” James said. “Emma and Ally are on their way.”
“What are you going to do?”
James leaned to the side, worried about how much he should tell her. Finally, he decided lying wasn’t an option. “I’m going with Finn and Grady to the courthouse. We’re going to watch the video of the explosion.”
Mandy’s face tightened. “Oh. You don’t think the explosion was an accident. I didn’t even consider that.”
“You’ve had other things on your mind.”
“How long will you be gone?” There was a neediness to her tone.
“Not long,” he said, giving her a quick kiss. “I’m going to go to the courthouse, and then I’m going to go back to the apartment and get you something to wear. I’ll even bring you back whatever food you want.”
“The doctor is going to cut me loose,” Mandy reminded him. “I won’t need food.”
“I’ll be back by lunchtime,” James said. “You’re going to want food, and so am I.”
Mandy closed her eyes briefly, fighting the urge to argue. “How about Lebanese?”
“That is your favorite,” James said. “You want your regular?”
“Yes.”
“Do you want some trashy magazines, too?”
“Yes.”
“Do you want anything else?”
Mandy’s eyes narrowed. “Are you going to give me anything I want?”
James couldn’t fight the smirk. “Pretty much.”
“Just bring yourself back when you can.”