Page 96 of Conception
“Knox Wellington.”
“Of course. We usually don’t allow visitors after nine p.m., but there’s a note here to let you come whenever you arrive. You must be the lucky man,” she says, giving me a wink.
I have no idea what it means, but I’ll take it. If Amelia’s put me on a list so I can visit her, that has to be a good sign, right?
Except Amelia’s put me on a list so I can visit herin the hospital, which has to be an ominous sign.
She pushes her chair back and rounds the counter. “Follow me.”
I reach out and lightly touch her arm, stopping her. “Can you tell me if she’s okay? Or if…” I trail off, not wanting to voice those horrifying words.
The nurse gives me what I’m sure is supposed to be a reassuring smile.
Words would work a hell of a lot better, lady.
“She’s absolutely fine. Just resting after the excitement.”
Doubt must cloud my face, because she pats my arm.
“The first time is always as scary as it is exhilarating. Trust me—aside from sleepless nights in the foreseeable future, she’ll bounce back in no time.”
I have no idea what she’s talking about, and honestly, I don’t care to decode it. I just want to see Amelia.
When the nurse stops outside a door, she lifts a finger to her lips. “Amelia has one of the few single rooms on the floor—thanks to her grandmother, of course. Still, try to keep it quiet as she needs all the rest she can get. I can bring you an extra pillow and blanket if you’d like.”
Eager to get inside the room, I shake my head. “I’m good, thanks.”
She nods, and I’m sure she’s not surprised. I’m practically bouncing on my toes.
“If you need anything,” she says, “just come to the desk. Have a good night. And congratulations.”
My brow furrows at her words. What the hell? I shrug it off and slowly open the door so I can slip inside the room. Then I close it shut. My ass hits the wood as I breathe a sigh of relief that I’m finally here. Finally with her.
But this isn’t the reunion I expected.
She’s lying there, not moving, nothing but the sound of the television’s muffled volume. The lights are low, and even though I don’t want to disturb her, I have to touch her. I have to feel her. I have to know she’s okay. Because all of this? It’s still a mystery to me and I have no idea what I’m facing.
Whatwe’refacing.
I tiptoe across the room, cursing when I take hold of the chair and it scrapes noisily against the linoleum floor. Just as I’m settling into the chair next to her bedside, Amelia murmurs something in her sleep. She looks so tiny, nearly swallowed up in the hospital bed, with crisp, white blankets tucked all around her. I reach underneath the material, and once I find her hand, I hold it in both of mine, lowering my head to the bed, willing her to be okay. Hell, I don’t even know what’s wrong.
“Knox?” The surprise in her sleepy voice is nearly drowned out by a yawn. Her usually vibrant eyes are dull, exhaustion evident in them. I think she’s happy to see me until she opens her mouth again. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Okay, so I wasn’t expecting her to welcome me with arms wide open, but I didn’t think she’d be upset to see me.
“Amelia—”
She takes her hand from mine and pushes herself up, resting back against fluffed-up pillows. “You shouldn’t be here,” she says, darting her gaze to the door, then back to me.
“If I shouldn’t be here, then why would you put my name on the list? Why tell the hospital I could visit you anytime, day or night?” I retort, not even trying to mask my annoyance.
“Because. It was wishful thinking. I didn’t actually expect you to show up.”
Ouch.
“Yeah,” I say, “considering you never told me you were in the hospital in the first place, I can see why you wouldn’t expect me here. Good thing I came to town when I did.”
She sighs, running dainty fingers through messy hair. “Knox…” She trails off, her voice trembling.
