Yes, he had darkness. But he had so much more in goodness. He couldn’t see that side of him though because all he could focus on was the scars he had left around him.
But if he were not a man of quality, of character, would people like Al or Dave have stayed?
Kat sighed. She closed her aching eyes and prayed. She didn’t know what she prayed for specifically. All she knew was that she wanted to pray.
Pray for strength. Pray for healing.
***
“He’s a tough one,” Dr. Greene said, with a twinkle in his eye and lines of relief on his face. “He’s pulled through the worst of it. Now he just needs some rest to recover from him ordeal.”
Kat stared up at the doctor from her seat by Dillon’s bed. She had noticed that his fever had broken and that the nurses had come to check in on him less frequently but she hadn’t dared to let herself hope for too much.
“Really?” she whispered. “The infection…it’s all clear?”
Dr. Greene nodded, giving her a rare smile. “He’s beat the worst of it. He’s on the road to recovery.”
Kat bit her lip as she looked down at her brother. “When will he open his eyes?” she asked, aching to hold him in her arms. Her heart felt as light as a feather.
“That might be awhile yet,” the doctor said. “He’s extremely weak from fighting the infection. But I wanted you to know that he’s good now. We got him.”
We got him. How sweet those words sounded to her ears!
Kat smiled, her lips trembling. “Thank you, Dr. Greene,” she whispered. “I don’t know what else to say but thank you so much.”
Dr. Greene shook his head. “Your brother did all the fighting. He’s tough,” he said. The doctor paused before giving her a warm look. “Your brother is safe now. Why don’t you go out and get some fresh air? I think you’ve only seen the inside of this room for the last two days.”
Kat looked down at her brother, hesitant to leave his side even after the good news.
“I promise you, he’ll just be resting for the next few hours,” Dr. Greene assured. “You’ve done everything just right. You’ve earned a little break.”
Kat nodded slowly. Some fresh air did sound like a good idea.
Taking the doctor’s suggestion, she stepped out of the hospital and walked down its front walkway. At the end of the walkway was a row of flowers. Kat slowly breathed in and out, letting the cool air soothe her frazzled brain. She was surprised to see the dusky evening sky above her. She had completely lost track of time.
Where was Jason now? Peytonville? Or perhaps he had already packed up and left for his next job? If that had been his—
“Kat?”
Kat whirled around and saw Jason standing on the opposite end of the walkway, a dark shadow of stubble around his jaw.
“Jason!” she cried out in surprise. He was still here!
She looked around him and saw his truck parked down the street. Why was he still here? Had he been here the last two days?
“What are you doing here?” she asked, breathlessly.
Jason rubbed the back of his neck. “I said I wasn’t going to leave until I heard Dillon nag you about that chopper ride.” He lifted his dark green eyes to her, making her heart skip a beat. “And I meant it.”
“Oh,” Kat replied, not knowing what else to say.
“How is he? How’s Dillon?” Jason asked.
Kat sighed, feeling that same wave of relief at knowing her brother was okay now. “He’s fine. He’s going to make it.”
Jason’s shoulders slumped in release. He let out a stream of air as he closed his eyes. “Good,” he said quietly.
Kat was touched by how much he had clearly been worried. She felt her own shoulders ache from being held to tightly for the last forty eight hours.
Jason opened his eyes and looked her over. “You look exhausted,” he said. “I’m guessing you haven’t really slept at all.”
“The nurses set up a cot for me,” Kat shrugged. “I got to nap a little here and there.”
Jason shook his head. “Not really sleeping then,” he said. He reached out an arm. “There’s an inn nearby. I rented a room there in case you wanted a real bed to sleep on.” He looked at her, a face totally prepared for her rejection.
“You rented a room for me?” she asked, surprised.
Jason nodded.
He really had been waiting for her. Too tired to argue, she followed him down the street to a small inn. Jason led her inside and up the stairs to a room. Opening the door, the bed was still made immaculately. Nothing in the room looked touched. So he had booked the room, but hadn’t slept in it.