Divine Charity(Divine Creek Ranch 18)(72)

Ethan leaned down to kiss her, concern in his eyes. “How’s the pain?”

“I’m doing my best. I really don’t want the pain meds so I’m trying to move carefully.”

“That brace looks uncomfortable,” he said, stroking her shoulder, which was held back and straight in the brace they’d fitted her with to allow her collarbone to heal properly.

“Actually, it’s not so bad,” she said as she stroked her tummy and the precious baby that slept within. Thank God he was safe. “It takes some of the strain off of my back but getting in and out of bed is challenging. Emma said it’ll get easier. What do you have there,” she asked, pointing at the easily recognizable box in his hands. Just then the door opened.

“Mr. Grant,” Tracey, the nurse on duty that morning, said as she hurried into the room, all no-nonsense-like. “You know you can’t bring that in here. Grace isn’t allowed anything besides the diet Dr. Rivers prescribed for her while we’re monitoring her.”

“Oh, these?” Ethan asked with his trademark devilish smile as he gave Tracey his full attention. “I brought these for you and the other ladies, to thank you for taking such good care of Grace.”

Ethan opened the box so she could see the lushly decorated cupcakes inside, and in the blink of an eye Tracey transformed from drill sergeant to starstruck fangirl. “You brought these for us?”

The scent of buttercream filled the air and nurses suddenly came out of the woodwork. They “oohed” and “ahhed” over the pretty cupcakes, rhapsodizing as each one took a look in the box.

“Mr. Grant, these are wonderful!”

“Where did you get them?”

“You’re so sweet!”

“Grace is so lucky!”

Her heart overflowing with merriment and love, Grace tried to hold still and not giggle because it made her shoulder hurt. The pain was worth it as she watched Ethan charm them with cupcakes, gradually slipping the box into Tracey’s hands as she shooed the others back out of the room and said, “Enjoy your visit. Call me if you need me, Grace.”

As the door closed, he turned and smoothly slipped another smaller box from inside his jacket and held it out to her balanced on his palm. “For you, Gracie. And don’t worry, I’ve already cleared the cupcake with Emma. I’ve also brought you art from a fairy princess,” he added, carefully slipping a piece of paper from his coat pocket. “Rose Marie sends hugs and kisses.”

She opened the colorful crayon drawing and smiled when she saw the picture Rose Marie had drawn for her. Ethan pointed at the figures on the page and said, “That’s her in the yellow tutu and that’s you in the pink tutu with the crown, since you’re the queen.”

“Ah, I see.”

From his other pocket he produced a single red rose. “A rose for my queen.”

Her cheeks warmed as she held the lush rose to her nose and looked up at him. “You are the sweetest man.”

“Well, one of them anyway,” he murmured as he kissed her forehead. “How are you this morning, really?”

She held the small silver and white damask print box with the Divine Drip logo on it and caressed her tummy. “Grateful. I can handle the aches and pains because I know he’s okay.” Heat filled her cheeks and the darned tears flooded her vision and her nose started to run again.

Ethan made a consoling sound as he reached for the box of Puffs and sat on the edge of the bed. He handed her a tissue as he placed his hand on her abdomen and stroked her gently. The baby shifted at his touch and squirmed around for a few seconds before quieting. He didn’t say anything. His eyes let her know he felt the same gratitude. There was nothing that needed to be said.

She leaned forward to kiss him and winced as a shaft of pain shot through her right shoulder.

“Let me help,” Ethan said as he adjusted the head of the bed and helped her get situated more comfortably. He opened the little box for her and her mouth watered as the scent of buttercream frosting wafted up to her nose.

“It’s so pretty,” she murmured as she kissed him when he leaned into her and then she held the red rose to her nose to sniff again. “You’re wonderful.”

He squeezed her thigh and said, “The accident reminded me how much I need you in my life and…how grateful I am, too,” he murmured roughly, his voice sounding a little hoarse.

She took his hand in hers and said, “I wanted to tell you something.”

“Sure. Anything.”

“You know I kept a calendar when we were trying to conceive this one, right?”

“Yeah, so you’d know when you were ovulating.”