Page 108 of Searching for Bristol
Rocky shook his head. “No, don’t do that. Fallport’s not exactly the big city. Besides, you recognized him. You were minding your own business and evil came knocking. This wasn’t your fault. None of it was.”
She nodded.
“But I’m struggling,” Rocky admitted.
Bristol’s heart broke. His words weren’t a surprise. She could see it in the lines of his face and the way he held onto her almost desperately.
“It’s going to take some time for both of us to get over it,” she said.
Rocky nodded. “Please know that when I get overbearing and overprotective, it’s because I spent two weeks in hell. Nothing near whatyouwere going through. But not knowing where you were or if you were suffering…I never want to experience anything like that again. Ever.”
“I understand.” And she did. While her time chained to that bed certainly wasn’t fun, she had a feeling Rocky had suffered more than she had, even with her injured leg.
“You ready to get out of here?” a nurse said cheerfully as she entered the room.
Rocky stood, moving to the end of the bed and giving the nurse space to check Bristol out once more before she was officially discharged. His fingers rested on her left foot, keeping the connection between them.
Bristol’s stitches had been removed that morning and another cast had been put back on her leg. At this point, it was all familiar to both Rocky and Bristol, and they knew what to expect for the next month or so when it came to her recuperation.
An hour later, she was sitting in Rocky’s Tahoe as they headed south on the interstate.
“What’s that smile for?” Rocky asked at one point.
Bristol looked over at him. “I’m just happy. I know that sounds crazy, but after two close calls, I’m so grateful to still be here. The sun is shining—oh my God, I’ll never bitch about it being too sunny again after being in that tomb of a room—and the fresh air feels awesome. I’m with the man I love and going back to the town where everyone went out of their way to do whatever they could to find me. What’s not to smile about?”
Rocky reached over and took her hand in his. Bristol had never felt so content. Some people might not understand how she could still be so upbeat and positive after everything that had happened. But she was alive. Rocky loved her. She had amazing friends that she’d never take for granted. So yeah, even after two weeks of hell, she was happy.
Rocky pulled onto I-480 and it felt like coming home to Bristol. She hadn’t lived in Fallport for long, but she couldn’t imagine living anywhere else now. They talked a bit about what was happening back in town. Rocky mentioned that Drew and Art’s granddaughter had met in the hospital, and it hadn’t gone well.
“Why? What happened?” Bristol asked.
“They just rubbed each other the wrong way. I guess Caryn is a firefighter in New York City and is used to being in charge with just about everything in her life. She’s tough as hell, and maybe a little rough around the edges. She was upset because Art was having a bad day, and I guess she took it out on Drew, who was visiting him.”
“Oh, poor Art. But he’s doing better, right? You told me he was supposed to come home soon.”
“He is. I checked on him before we left today. He sends you his love and said that you better be the first person who comes to visit him when he gets back to Fallport.”
“Of course I will!” Bristol exclaimed. “Anyway, so Drew and Caryn butted heads?”
“Yeah. She’ll be in town for a while, staying with Art until he can be up and doing things on his own again.”
“That’s awesome. He’d hate being in a rehab center or nursing home.”
“That’s what Caryn said.”
“So what was the problem between her and Drew? He’s one of the nicest people ever. I can’t imagine him not getting along with someone,” Bristol said.
“He was a cop. She’s a firefighter,” Rocky said.
“So? I thought those two professions got along?”
“They do, but there’s also a natural competitive thing, I think. And apparently Caryn doesn’t think highly of officers because her ex was a cop in New York. So when she heard that’s what Drew used to do, I’m guessing she immediately got defensive.”
Bristol couldn’t stop the small smile that formed on her face.
“What are you smiling aboutnow?” Rocky asked.
“Just how much you know about the woman. Good ol’ Fallport gossip network, hard at work. Caryn used to spend summers in Fallport, right?”
