Page 33 of The Candle Palace (Jamison Valley 6)
“I’m sure,” I promised. “I’m fine. And I’m sorry for putting you guys through all this.”
“Don’t be sorry. This wasn’t your fault.”
In my mind, I knew she was right. But it didn’t make the guilt in my heart go away. The explosion, while not my doing, had been triggered by my hand. By my ignorance. It was a comfort that Jess and Beau were fine. And that the man sitting in the hospital bed suffering was me.
“Did the doctor give you any indication when you could come home?”
“Three weeks. Maybe four.”
I was confined to this bed, allowed only to walk to the bathroom, over the next week. After that, they’d let me wander the halls. But they didn’t want me doing any activities that could stretch or injure the graft sites for another month.
The good doctor Vernon had made an offhand joke that at least insurance was covering my stay.
That fucking bastard. He had to know I couldn’t afford a long-term stay in a hospital on a cop’s salary. Thank Christ for Jamison Valley’s county health insurance policy. I was losing wages as it was, and a huge medical bill would be impossible for me to pay.
But even if they cut off my funds today, I’d stay here for the next month.
I’d stay for Sara.
She was the one good thing to come from this explosion.
“We’ll be anxious to have you home,” Mom said. “Soon.”
“Yeah, Mom.” Maybe.
I wasn’t going to tell her right now but I’d already made the decision to stay in Spokane. I’d stay here as long as it took to convince Sara to give a long-distance relationship a go. In the past week it had become clear, I wasn’t letting her go. I was rarely the smartest man in the room, but I wasn’t a total idiot.
She was something special. If camping out in Spokane after leaving the hospital was necessary to see how things developed between us, so be it. And if things progressed the way I already knew they would, I’d either be looking for a job in Spokane or I’d be pulling every string I could to get Sara a job at the Jamison Valley Hospital.
“Keep me posted on your progress,”
Mom said.
“I will. I’ll call you later this week. Say hi to Dad.”
“And you say hello to Sara. She’s such a sweetheart.”
I grinned into the phone. I wouldn’t have to worry about Mom’s approval of Sara. Dad’s either. “She’s something.”
“I’m glad you have her.”
“Me too.”
“And I’m glad you have Dr. Vernon. He’s such a nice man.”
“He’s something too.” I swallowed a string of curses that would just irritate Mom.
Dr. Vernon was a fucking idiot. I hadn’t missed the smug grin on his face earlier today when he’d come in with Kym to check on the grafts he’d done yesterday. He’d casually thrown out Sara’s name, saying he hoped to be meeting her for Valentine’s Day sushi. I think he wanted me here for another four weeks just to rub in the fact that it was him keeping her from my side.
Motherfucker.
I knew all about this sushi date that was never going to happen. Sara had told me everything. Did he think I’d get jealous? His head was so far up his own ass, he couldn’t see that she despised him. He couldn’t see that she was already mine.
Whatever. I was using him for his medical skills. I needed him to fix me up so I could give all my energy to Sara.
“All right, Mom. I’ll let you go.”
“Take care. Love you. And Happy Valentine’s Day.”
