Page 8 of Bridge to Home

“Are there any other questions?” Doctor Ashton turned to Robert. “What about you? Do you have any questions? You’ll be Harlow’s primary caregiver.”

Robert shook his head and motioned him away. “I’ve heard enough.”

The nurse, who had been standing near the back, stopped the doctor on his way out. They began talking in low voices. Harlow could only imagine what they were thinking. Robert was not on board with caring for his wife.

Her husband waited for them to step out of the room. “We can deal with this. I’ll hire the best care possible, although you know I can’t handle sick people.”

“I’m not sick. I’m injured.”

“Injured. Sick.” He started pacing again. “I’ll get you some in-home help, the best in the field, and will be available if you need me.”

“Available?” It dawned on Harlow what he was saying. “You’re moving out of the house?”

“Moving out? No. I’ll be home with you. It’s the other, playing nursemaid. I’m not a good caregiver, or whatever you want to call it.”

“Because you can’t handle the thought of having an invalid for a wife, even if it’s only temporary.” Harlow stared at Robert in disbelief.

He stopped pacing and gently squeezed her hand. “I’m here for you, babe. Like I said, we’ll get through this. All you need to do is focus on healing and let me take care of the rest.” He reluctantly glanced at his watch. “I have to run. I’ll give you a call later.”

Harlow’s husband hurried out of the room, passing by the nurse, who was on her way in. It wasclear from the look on the woman’s face she’d overheard their conversation. “Are you going to be all right? Do you have other family you can call?”

Harlow’s throat clogged. Her whole life revolved around her career. The power. The prestige. The handlers. The spotlight. All so glamorous and enviable, yet she had no real friends…except for one. “My friend, Eryn from Michigan, is on her way.”

Chapter 3

Harlow’s exhausted mind struggled to cut through the fog of painkillers and grogginess. She lay perfectly still. Noises. She was confused about where she was. And then she remembered.

After a battery of tests, the nurse who overheard her conversation with Robert offered her a sedative to which she’d gratefully accepted.

Every muscle, from the top of her head to the tips of her toes, ached. Not an “I bumped my big toe” pain but deep-down-in-her-muscles pain.

Maybe if she went back to sleep, she would wake up and find it had all been a bad dream. The car crash. Robert insisting he wasn’t equipped to care for her. Having a lucrative movie deal go right down the drain. All because she’d been careless andreached for her cell phone, had taken her eyes off the road for a split second.

There was a voice…a familiar voice. She was being enveloped in a warm hug.

Harlow’s eyes flew open. It took a few seconds for her to focus. It was Eryn. Eryn Marquette, the one person who had stuck by her through thick and thin since childhood.

Eryn, who wasn’t starstruck, who called it like she saw it, who didn’t sugarcoat her opinion and was always willing to telltheHarlow Wynn the truth. And she was here, just like she’d promised.

“Eryn.” Harlow’s voice cracked. A hot tear trickled out of the corner of her eye and down the side of her face. Another hot tear fell…one right after another, at the sight of her friend.

“You’re finally awake. I was beginning to think you were ignoring me.” Eryn released her grip. Soft brown eyes met Harlow’s, through the same blackglasses her friend had worn for years. “Girl, you are one hot mess.”

Despite the seriousness of the situation, Harlow laughed out loud. She winced at the jolt of pain that shot through her.

“Oh my gosh. I’m sure you feel like crap. I’m sorry.” Eryn pressed on the center of her glasses, making her eyes appear even bigger behind the thick lenses.

“No worries. I’m getting used to it…like breathing.”

Eryn grimaced. “But it’s only temporary until you heal.”

“I believe so. The doctor seems to think I’ll need physical therapy.”

“What about Robert?”

“We have a lot going on. He’ll be busy. He’s going to help me find a live-in caregiver.”

Eryn blew air through thinned lips, and Harlow was certain her friend was itching to go off on him. She couldn’t blame her. Robert was all but abandoning her. She briefly wondered if Jillian would fill her husband’s free time. Voluptuous young Jillian who wasn’t an invalid.

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