Page 29 of A Heart to Find
“I’ll be right on the other side of the door.” He smiled at Keira and then directed a pointed look at the staff member who was most adamant about kicking him out. “I want to be informed every step of the way.”
“We will keep you updated. Now if you would excuse us so we can help her get into dry clothes…”
Jared bowed out as the EMT rushed in, carrying a bag of medical supplies. She was in good hands. She was safe. She was alert, making jokes, and her color was returning. He didn’t have to worry.
So why were his hands suddenly trembling? Why did he struggle for each breath?
Jared was notorious for being calm under pressure. As a traveler, he was used to having to deal with the unpredictable. He wrote about it often on his travel blog. He looked forward to offbeat experiences and got secretly giddy when things went wrong because it would give him good material to work with in his travel books. And though he had been through almost every stressful situation he could imagine, he had never felt like this.
Aside from his daughter, he had never been this invested in anyone.
He had never cared so deeply about a romantic interest. His love for Elizabeth had been one of deep friendship. Not this kind of infatuation.
He had to make this thing work with Keira. He had been given a second chance—one he didn’t deserve—and he couldn’t mess it up. Not again.
Jared cracked his knuckles and paced the floor outside of Keira’s door, wondering if he would give them one more minute or two before busting into the room for an update.
As he reached for the handle—the correct answer to his musings had been “ten seconds”—he watched Hannah Willows approach. The bangles on her wrists chimed loudly as she raced down the hall in bare feet.
“Oh my, oh my. I heard our little buttercup got into some trouble. I came as fast as I could! How is she doing?”
Jared accepted her proffered hand in his. “I haven’t heard yet. It’s killing me waiting out here when I should be in there with her.”
Hannah studied him, making him wonder if he had left smears of his dinner on his face.
Then her face burst into a smile.
“Our system certainly hasn’t failed. If you’re not that rose petal’s bumblebee, I am not Hannah Willows. And I know I am, because I just had to prove it to the federal government to renew my passport. Come with me. You’re right. You belong by her side while she’s going through something so frightening. There will be conditions, of course. But let’s go check on our girl.”
Jared eagerly followed her into the room, relieved to get a thumbs up from the EMT who was packing up her bag.
“Looks like she didn’t do any major damage. She has declined a trip to the ER on the mainland to get thoroughly checked out, but we’ve wrapped up her ankle, cleaned the head wound, and helped her get into some warm, dry clothes. She should be fine to resume normal activity in a few days. For now, she’s to ice the ankle, take ibuprofen, and keep it elevated. I’ll print out instructions and have them sent to the room. So far, no signs of a concussion, but review the materials I send and watch closely for any changes.”
“Thank you so much, Karina. You’ve been a huge help. I’m feeling better already.” Keira pulled her blanket up closer to her chin as she said goodbye to the EMT and the helpful staff.
Hannah rushed to the side of Keira’s chair. Jared stayed back a little so Hannah could do the mother hen thing.
“Oh, sunflower. How terrified you must have been. I will have maintenance rope off that area immediately. We had an issue with someone breaking through the ice to go ice fishing—which is against the rules, by the way—and it must have just started icing back over. That’s why we ask you to stick to the trails, but by all means we should have secured the area. Let me get you some comfort food. What sounds good to you right now?”
When she was done chitchatting about the frightening mishap and negotiating ways to help Keira feel better, Hannah turned to Jared and gestured for him to join her at Keira’s side.
“This goes against our rules, but I’ve given Jared special permission to continue with the courtship while you’re laid up healing. Of course, you both have to agree that our staff can come and go unannounced so as to maintain a sense of decorum, but I wouldn’t want to keep you two lovebirds apart while you’re recovering. So with that said, I will have a tray of tea and cookies sent up and will bid you both a good night. I trust you to use your judgment when it comes to a curfew.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Jared agreed. “I appreciate the rule bending.”
Hannah kissed the top of Keira’s head and ushered herself out the door.
“You don’t have to stay.” Keira’s whispered words fluttered out just as the door clicked shut behind Hannah.
“I want to.” He pulled the desk chair over and sat at the edge, placing a hand over her forehead as if to check her temperature. He had never been much of a nurturer, but the last few years had taught him more about caring for others. And Keira amplified his desire to nurture. “Scared the heck out of me back there.”
She turned her head to look at him more directly, her eyes tired and her cheeks turning red. “Thank you for saving me. I was dumb to run off like that. I should have been paying attention.”
“Shh, don’t put yourself down. It could have happened to anybody.”
“But it didn’t. It happened to me. Because I was reckless. I shouldn’t have been running away from you. There was no reason to.”
He caught a wet lock of hair and twisted it around his finger. “We need to get you more comfortable. Can’t warm up with wet hair between you and the pillow.”
