Page 116 of Forged in Deception

The question had been simmering in her mind all of last night and this morning, ever since he’d called her from his hotel room in Amarillo and told her he’d finally been given the go-ahead by the hospital for a visit. She’d hoped he’d explain on his own, but her patience had finally worn out.

“I have a few reasons,” he said, tugging her forward as he walked closer to Cora’s bed, careful to avoid the various wires and IV lines that cluttered the space. “One, I wanted to come and pray for her. The police can’t find any living relatives, and though she probably has friends, they struggled to find them all the way down in Los Angeles. Paul told me he wanted to visit, but he had to get back home to Montana before they’d let him. I’m sure Lily–I mean Dana–would have come, but…”

He let the words trail away.

Of course, Dana Corbett was in jail, and probably would be for a very long time.

Karlin gathered as much courage as she could muster and reached out to grasp Cora’s hand.

It was cold, but she didn’t let go.

“I feel bad for her,” she said at last. “She was brought into so much darkness. I just hope that she’ll wake up with her mind intact, and if she does, that she’ll choose another path.”

Asher mumbled his agreement, pressing his hand gently against the small of her back. His touch always managed to send a shiver through her, even here.

“So, what’re your other reasons?” she asked.

“The truth,” he said simply. “About myself, I guess. I’m trying to come to terms with the fact that my trauma from the war has affected me a lot more than I thought. I don’t know what that means for my future yet, but I do know that I’m not going to roll over and let it control me. I didn’t want to come here and face these memories today, either, but I knew it would be good for me.”

“Well, you’re not having a panic attack now,” she said, offering him a small smile. “Small victories.”

“Exactly.”

A comfortable silence fell between them again as they looked over at Cora, listening to the beeping and pumping sounds of the various machines she was hooked up to.

What they had experienced was traumatic, and she was glad that Asher wasn’t going to try and laugh it off.

Not that she would let him.

This memory was one they shared, forever binding them. That scared her, but at least it was one dark thing she would never have to face alone.

Assuming Asher wanted to stay in her life, at least.

“You never told me reason number three,” Karlin said at last.

“I’m not getting anything past you, am I?”

“Never.”

For a moment, he didn’t say anything else, and she wondered if he was going to keep his reasons to himself.

She gave Cora’s hand a final squeeze before walking over and adjusting a vase of fresh pink flowers that sat on her nightstand. She wondered who could have possibly sent them, but before she could give it any more thought, Asher cleared his throat.

“This might sound kind of silly,” he said, his tone guarded.

“Fortunately, that’s never stopped you from speaking before.”

He closed the distance between them in just a few steps, pressing his lips against hers before she could get away.

“We’re in a hospital! We’re in anICU!” she said as she pulled back. She had to at least try to keep him in line, even if the dumb grin on her face betrayed her.

“Sorry for the PDA, Cora,” Asher said, giving the woman’s shoulder a gentle pat. “But you did drug me, so I think you owe me one. Don’t tell Dr. Cliett, okay?”

Karlin rolled her eyes.

“Anyway, no changing the subject. What were you going to say?”

“Before you changed the subject by making fun of me?” he teased.

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