Page 123 of Nothing to You
A uniformed nurse hurried over as they approached the central nurses’ station.
“Ms.Radley, your mother is doing very well.Her vitals are strong.She’s showing excellent recovery.We do plan to keep her in for observation over the next few days.Mr.Rourke has given his permission and promised to cover all expenses.
“We’re also bringing in a private psychiatric nurse to be with her twenty-four hours while a dedicated team assesses all of her needs.We’ll ensure everything is taken care of.”
Hiding her smile, she turned her eyes up to his.“Show off.”He just winked.“Can I see her?”
“Your mother?”the nurse asked.“Yes.”
“Is she awake?”
The nurse walked backward, gesturing for them to follow.“Yes, well, she’s in and out.Don’t be distressed to see—”
“The restraints, I know,” she said.“I’ve been through this before.”
Her mother would calm down again.They would find a level.Until the next time anyway.
“She’s just in here,” the nurse said and opened a door for them.
The curtain was pulled around the bed.But she was in there.Her mom.
Just like every other time, she inhaled and held the breath.This time there was no panic.She wasn’t even afraid.The calm had everything to do with the man holding her hand.Without looking at him, she raised his knuckles to her lips and brushed them back and forth a few times before kissing them.They’d been at no risk of losing each other.They were each other’s default.Forgetting that, even for a second, was idiotic.
“Thank you,” she said to the nurse.“Can you give us a minute?”
The nurse nodded and scurried off.
When she tried to go inside, Rourke held back.“I’ll give you privacy.”
“Yeah, you will,” she said, without letting go, “while you’re at my side.You don’t get to wriggle out of it.”He didn’t resist again, and they went in together, stopping at the bottom corner of the curtain.“Mom?”
Pushing the curtain back, the sight on the other side didn’t surprise her.Slightly reclined, the sheets over her mother’s lap hid her hands.
“Roux.”
And she was awake.Thank God.One of these times, her mom wouldn’t wake up.Whether it was by her own hand or age, her mother would be gone one day.They weren’t close.A patchwork of people made up their family.Related by blood, but with little in common.
Going over to sit on the bed, she finger combed her mom’s hair from her face.“How are you feeling, Ma?”
“Your boyfriend is very generous.”
“Yes, he is,” she said and glanced back.“I don’t need to introduce you, do I?”
“No, Mel and I are old friends now.”
“Now that’s a meeting I’m sorry I missed.”
“Xavien said you are working in New York.”
“I was, yes.”
“New York,” her mom said, her chin going to the side as she beamed.“That’s the big city, honey.You’ve made it.”
“Thank you, yes.And what about you?”she asked, pushing aside the covers to unfasten the restraint on her bandaged arm.“Why, Momma?Why do you hurt yourself like this?”
Her mother frowned.“We’re a number in that place.No one cares.They would’ve let me die if that assessor person hadn’t been there.”
“Assessor?”
