Page 46 of A Burning Rage

I nod. “You knew?”

“I suspected as much,” Sam says. “She hasn’t been eating much lately, even before Shane was injured. The timing’s not great, is it?”

The bathroom door opens, and Beth walks out with the toiletry bag that holds her breast pump. Her hair is freshly brushed and put up in a ponytail, making her look incredibly young. Her face and hairline are damp from washing her face.

“Sam!” She sets the bag down on a chair and races to him. “Oh, God. I’ve missed you.” And then she starts sobbing. “Don’t mind me. It’s the hormones.”

Sam holds her in his arms, rubbing her back, and glances up at me, a helpless expression on his handsome, freckled face.

“Please take her to the cafeteria and get some food in her,” I say. “I’ll stay here.”

“Will do,” he says as he pulls back, looks her in the eye, and frowns.

I imagine he’s not happy about the sadness and stress he sees there. I grab a tissue from a box on the window ledge and hand it to him. He uses it to dry her cheeks.

“Come on, Princess,” Sam says. “Let’s go feed you and the new munchkin.” He starts for the door but when she doesn’t follow, he comes back to grab her hand and pull her along with him. “No argument.”

Beth has a history of anxiety, and I have no doubt Shane’s condition is stirring up those feelings.

“I guess Cooper told you,” she says as they walk out of the room.

“Yeah, but I think I already knew.”

* * *

I heave a sigh of relief knowing that Beth is going to eat a good, hot meal. Sam will make sure of it. Now that they’re gone, I sit in Beth’s chair and observe my best friend lying so still and pale in a hospital bed.

I lay my hand on Shane’s forearm. “Listen here, pal. You need to buck up and beat this. You need to get well so you can go home to your family. They need you. Beth needs you. This is not the time for lollygagging. Your folks and most of your siblings are out in the waiting room trying not to lose their shit. Hannah and Killian flew in from Colorado early this morning, on a red-eye, along with Gabrielle and her cowboy boyfriend.”

As I squeeze his forearm, I sense something that suspiciously feels like tears prickling the back of my eyes. “Shane—” I don’t say more, because I can tell my voice is about to break. I can’t afford to fall apart here.

When Sam and Beth return to the room about forty minutes later, Beth’s eyes are red and freshly bloodshot. She’s been crying her heart out to Sam. Even Sam looks a bit shaken.

Sam lingers by Beth’s side a few minutes longer before he says to her, “I hate to leave you, but I need to get back home to help out with the kids. They’re getting… emotional. I think having me there helps.”

Beth hugs him. “I understand. And I appreciate you being there for them.”

I nod toward the door. “I’ll walk you out.”

A few minutes after Sam leaves, there’s a knock on the door. I open it to find Beth’s mother, Ingrid, standing there.

Ingrid walks into the room, and Beth jumps up to hug her. The two women stand silently, their arms around each other in a fiercely tight embrace.

When Ingrid finally pulls back to look at Beth, she frowns. “Honey, I think you need to go home for a bit. You’re exhausted. And, Luke is asking for you. They both are, but especially Luke. He knows something is wrong. He hasn’t seen you or Shane in over twenty-four hours now.”

Beth sighs. Undoubtedly, she knows her mother is right. She should go home, at least for a quick visit. She needs to reassure her children.

“Go,” I say, stepping forward to lay a gentle hand on Beth’s back. “I’ll call you if there’s any change.”

Chapter 17 – Beth

I don’t want to leave Shane, but I know my mom is right. I need to see Luke and reassure him everything is okay—or at least as okay as it can be right now. And I need to hold my baby girl.

I walk over to the bed and lean down to kiss Shane’s forehead. “I’m going home for a quick visit to see the kids and shower. I won’t be gone long. Cooper will be here with you.”

I pull back to study his sleeping face, my gaze tracing his familiar features—his forehead, his brow, his shuttered eyes, his nose. His lips. How many times have those lips caressed mine? How many times have those lips skimmed my body, from head to toe, giving me mind-blowing pleasure? Right now, I’d give anything to see those lips curve up in a smile.

I brush my fingertip across his cheek, tracing the line where his trim beard meets his cheekbone. “I’ll be back soon.” I lean down to whisper in his ear. “I love you, Shane.” I want to say more, but my throat aches.