Page 56 of Rekindle My Heart

“Honey, do you need more pain meds?” Doris pushed off the couch.

“No, Mom. I need to go home. I have a headache from the damn airbag. That’s it.”

Doubtful. The man couldn’t sit up in the ambulance. If he only had a headache, they would have given him a couple Tylenol and sent him on his way.

“Did they say how long he had to be here for observation?” she asked Doris.

“I’m right here. You can ask me.” Ryan huffed.

“But would you give me an honest answer?”

He crossed his arms over his chest and grumbled.

“She always did know you too well.” Doris chuckled. “They said he had a concussion and wanted to keep him for a few hours…”

“It’s been eight.”

“Or overnight. They want to run a few more tests.” His mom fluffed his pillows before she sat back down.

“They ran the tests. I’m waiting for the doctor to come back so I can go home.”

“By the way you’re contesting, I’m sure they’ll be happy to send you on your way if you’re healthy enough.”

Doris patted Erica’s leg. “Come to dinner on Sunday. We miss you.”

Ryan watched her with an eagle eye. Did he want her at his family’s home for dinner? Did she want to?

She used to eat with them all the time. Even after he started dating Sarah.

“I will have to check my schedule.” Her heart raced as she took the easy out.

She should go. God knows this was awkward. She shouldn’t have come, but now she was trapped in Ryan’s stare.

The door opened. Dave Daniels strolled in with a chocolate bar in his hand. “Look what I found. A Snickers and his doctor.”

He stopped when he caught sight of Erica. “You found something too.”

He crossed the tiny room in two steps and pulled her into one of his big bear hugs. “Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes. It’s about time you came back around. If I knew it would take Ry here being hit by a truck, I’d have done it myself years ago.”

“Really, Dad.”

He shooed his son. “I don’t know what you did to this sweet girl to make her run away, but I’m glad to see her.”

Erica didn’t need to see her face to know her cheeks were fire-hydrant red. “It’s good to see you as well.”

“Well, if this reunion is over, let’s see if I can go home now. Doctor?”

Everyone turned their attention to the tall, middle-aged man in a lab coat. His teeth flashed bright against his dark face as he pulled the chart from under his arm. “You passed your tests with flying colors.”

Ryan swung a leg over the edge of the bed, ready to bolt. Erica hadn’t missed his deep intake of breath when his foot hit the floor. She’d bet he had a sprain, if not a bone bruise.

“Hold up. All but one. You still have a concussion. Between that and the pain meds, I don’t want you driving or unsupervised for the next twenty-four hours. At this time, if you don’t have any other symptoms, you can resume your normal day-to-day routine in a few days. But take it easy on that leg for the next two weeks.”

“So, I can go home… as long as someone is there tonight.”

“Yes, and you follow the instructions I give you. Who will be your caregiver?”

“Great. Mom?”