Page 24 of The Candle Palace (Jamison Valley 6)
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Sara?” I glanced up from the computer screen to see Teresa and Kirk, their coats draped over their arms and Teresa’s eyes damp from crying.
“Are you leaving?” I stood from my chair and made my way around the counter.
“We’re out of here.” Kirk nodded. “We’re hoping to drive halfway home tonight and stay in Missoula.”
“Travel safe.”
That was my standard farewell because I wasn’t sure what else to say. See you soon. It was a pleasure meeting you. Neither of those seemed to fit. As long as Milo’s recovery was on track, they wouldn’t need to come back here. And though it had been a pleasure meeting them, I didn’t want to sound like I was glad Milo had been burned in that explosion.
So I simply smiled, watching as Milo’s parents went to the bank of elevators and waited until one arrived. As they stepped inside, they waved one last time before the silver doors closed shut.
I sat down, mindlessly staring at the computer’s screen. Two good-byes in one day. No wonder my heart was heavy.
Would I ever see Kirk or Teresa again? Probably not. And even though she’d promised to keep in touch, I doubted I’d hear from Luna again either.
She was nervous about going back into the real world, about showing people her scars. But she had a strength I envied. Luna carried herself with a youthful confidence that my sixteen-year-old self would have found intimidating and alluring. Even after her accident.
Luna would flourish, of that I was sure. The party we’d had for her last night had been bittersweet. I was excited for her to start on this new journey and embrace the woman she’d become. I was sad I wouldn’t get to see her grow.
The elevator dinged, the doors slid open, and Connie stepped out, ready for her shift.
After exchanging notes on patients and making a lap of rounds with the evening crew, Kym and I turned over the unit and went to the locker room to collect our belongings and go home.
“Have a good night, Sara,” Kym said before leaving. “See you Thursday.”
“You too. Have a good few days off.”
Normally, we’d both have a break before our next stretch of shifts. But months ago, I’d agreed to cover for another day-shift nurse so he could take his family on a ski trip. I’d immediately dreaded it after I’d said yes. But now that Milo was here, extra hours in the hospital didn’t sound so bad.
I didn’t want to be home in my condo alone, especially tonight.
There was no hesitation in my stride as I left the locker room and walked toward Milo’s room. I ignored the text from Mom asking if I’d mind picking up a pack of Denny’s favorite beer and dropping it off. She was giving herself a manicure and her nails needed time to set. Why Denny couldn’t buy his own beer was a mystery.
He’d have to fend for himself tonight.
I peeked my head inside Milo’s door. “Hey.”
The room was dark, as expected. But his eyes were open for once. “Hey.”
I came into the room, closing the door nearly all the way. Somehow that one-inch crack between the door and jamb made me feel like I wasn’t crossing every single boundary there was by being here when I was off duty.
As I came closer, I noticed a haze in Milo’s eyes. His lids were droopy, which meant he’d likely pushed another round of morphine. “How’s the pain?”
“Right now? A two. Ten minutes ago? An eight.”
“Can I get you anything?”
He shook his head. “Nah. Are you going to keep me company?”
“I can let you rest.”
“Don’t do that. I’ll rest when I’m dead.”
“Okay.” I walked to the chair, taking my normal seat. Then I sat, relaxing into the seat and closing my eyes.
“Talk to me.”
