Page 55 of Beneath The Truth
“He wandered down into a bad neighborhood and gotjumped.”
“He got jumped?They could’ve killed him!”I hadn’t been a New Orleans resident in a long time, but even I knew the city had a dark side that couldn’t behidden.
Heath crossed the room and dragged me into a hug.“But they didn’t.He’s okay.We’ll make sure this never happensagain.”
My mind raced through the possibilities.“We can get him twenty-four-hour care if he doesn’t want to leave his house.I can afford the best, and you know damn well I’ll make sure hegetsit.”
My brother kissed the top of my head.“I know.We’ll figure it out.You know he’s stubborn as hell, and he’s still a little out of it.This isn’t going to be easy for anyofus.”
I squeezed him harder.“I meant what I said.I’ll stay as long as I need to.He needs bothofus.”
“Yeah, he does.”Heath loosened his grip and I looked up.“I’m glad you’restaying.”
“Do you want to try to move him into the place I’m renting?Maybe it would beeasier?”
“I don’t think a lot of change is a good idea right now.Let’s see what they say about his hip first.Then we’lldecide.”
“Okay.We’ll do whatever wehaveto.”
The door opened and Rhett steppedinside.
Heath released me.“There’s our hero.He found him.Who knows how long we would’ve been out there withouthishelp.”
I didn’t care that my brother was watching.I crossed the room and threw my arms aroundRhett.
“Thank you,” I whispered to himagain.
“I didn’t do anything you wouldn’t have done for me,” he said as he gently wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pressed my face into hischest.
“Whatever you say,” Heath said, “but I’m damn glad you were here.Weoweyou.”
“He’s right.Wedo.”
Rhett held me tighter.“None of that owing shit.This is whatwedo.”
Fifteen minutes later, Dad and his hospital bed were returned to their previous position.Conscious of all the eyes on us, I stepped out ofRhett’sarms.
“I wondered how long it would take him to make a move on my girl.Took him long enough, but I’m glad to see he finally figureditout.”
My face heated, and I was sure it had turned red at my dad’swords.
My instinct was to inch away from Rhett, but he looped an arm around my waist and pulled me in frontofhim.
“Glad we’ve got yourblessing,sir.”
“Take good care ofmygirl.”
“Of course, sir.Understood.”
“Good.”
I took the clarity in my father’s words as a good sign, even though a few moments of awkward silence followed.We waited another hour before the results of the CT scan were delivered.Dad had a hip fracture, but nothing that would require surgery.They weren’t able to determine the cause of his altered mentalstate.
“He’s lucky it’s not worse,” the doctor explained.“We’ll keep him overnight to run a series of tests, make sure he’s stable, and get a neuro consult.Depending on what we find, it might be a good idea to look into rehab facilities for the hipfracture.”
Dad protested, but Heath and I overruled him.When I volunteered to stay with Dad and sleep on the pull-out chair, Heathoverruledme.
“I’m pulling rank on this one.Go home.I need to stay with him to make myself feel better about letting him wander off.This wasonme.”
