Page 74 of The Payback Adventure
“But these are really expensive.” Abby tried to whisper, but everyone could hear her. “If we break it, we won’t be able to afford to replace it.”
No one said a word. Wes held back a smile. He’d grown up wealthy like Henry. Dash hadn’t nor had Blaise, but both were billionaires now.
“It’s okay, Abby,” Henry said to her in a low voice. “Dash bought this as a gift for you and Sam, so don’t worry about replacing it.”
She didn’t appear convinced, so he would try again. “Dash has a good job, so you don’t have to worry about what it cost him, okay?”
The kids still didn’t move. Henry was struck by how these kids probably knew more about budgeting and saving money than he ever would. He looked at Dash for help, who brushed his hand through his hair.
“I have an idea.” Dash pointed at an empty couch on the far side of the waiting room. “I see an outlet over there. How about we sit and get these set up for you while Henry checks in on your sisters?”
The kids glanced at Henry again, and he nodded. Finally, the kids relaxed, and Henry could, too. As Abby and Sam followed Dash, Henry watched them go.
Frank came up to him. “Don’t worry about the kids. I’ll guard them with my life.”
With that, Frank headed over to Abby and Sam and offered to help Dash set up their controllers. Frank was one of the best bodyguards in the business, and Dash would make sure the kids were safe. Henry trusted both men but still kept glancing Abby and Sam’s way. He needed to know they were okay.
“So…” Cynthia bit her lip. “Elisabeth returned the money.”
“What money?” Henry asked, confused.
“The twenty-five thousand dollars I gave her.”
He did a double take. “What are you talking about?”
“The cost of the adventure.” Cynthia blew out a breath. “I offered Elisabeth money I got from Wes if she hired you. I also told her I’d cover your salary, which I still want to do, even though she doesn’t want to accept it.”
The money would make such a difference to the farm. “Why would she return it?”
Brett came up. “Elisabeth saw the donation plaque with your and your parents’ names on it. She knows everything, including your adventures. We could tell she wasn’t happywith what she heard, but she never said a word. She was polite to everyone who showed up, even those who were Cynthia’s references, and lied to her about yoursituation. Elisabeth seems to be a strong woman, but she’s very hurt.”
“She is strong.” The kids seemed too busy to notice what anyone else was doing. Both laughed at something Dash said. That was good. Henry sighed. He should’ve known this would happen, but he thought everything would be okay. The way things usually turned out for him. “I’m sure the truth devastated her, but it was a risk I had to take.”
This hospital was the best place for Caitlin, and the middle of a life-threatening medical emergency hadn’t been the time for him to come clean to Elisabeth. Not that he’d planned on doing that.
Henry rubbed his face.
Cynthia’s eyes gleamed. “I’m so sorry how things turned out. This was supposed to teach you a lesson.”
Henry half laughed. “Oh, it did.”
“I also wanted you to have fun.”
“That’s what I always say.” Hearing Cynthia repeat the words drove home how his friends must have felt, even if they were living happily ever after now. “But sometimes the fun can get carried away.”
Brett’s forehead creased. “That doesn’t sound like the Henry Davenport I know. What happened while you were in Berry Patch?”
Henry stared at Abby and Sam, who showed Frank their game controllers. “I found more family.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
In the neurosurgical ICU, Elisabeth sat next to Caitlin’s bed. Her sister had yet to regain consciousness after the surgery and looked so tiny and vulnerable under the blanket. She remembered what the neurosurgeon had told her.
Bleeding controlled. Minimal edema. No obvious death of brain matter.
The doctor had been pleased with the surgery’s outcome, and that kept Elisabeth from losing all hope, especially with Dr. Regis-Lockhart explaining everything in understandable terms. Elisabeth was grateful to have the other doctor with her, but seeing her baby sister like this was so hard.
Bandages covered Caitlin’s entire head. Tubes and wires were attached to her body, including a catheter going into her skull. All the beeps and noises from the machines with too many displays and graphs and buttons scared Elisabeth, butsomething else terrified her. The surgery, medical care, and doctors would be expensive. So, so expensive. Selling the farm might not even be able to cover the bills, and where would that leave them? Bankrupt?
