Page 57 of Rumors in Bayberry
“Oh, good.Do you mind if I message Kate and let her know?”
“No.Not at all.In fact, you should go home and tell her.”
“Who is here for Reed Stanton?”
Sadie immediately stood and turned to the six-foot-plus man in aqua scrubs.“I am.”
“You can come with me.”The man turned and headed for the locked double doors.
She turned to Wes.“Please, go home.I don’t know how long I’ll be.”
“But I have your car.”
“I’ll find a way back to town.I have to go.”And then she fast-walked to catch up to the attendant.
“Hey, Sadie.”When she turned around, Wes tossed the car keys to her.“I’ll get a ride.”
Luckily, she was a good catch.“Thanks.”
She kept going straight through the open double-doors.They swished shut behind her.And now it was time to see with her own eyes that Reed was going to be fine.
Chapter Nineteen
Please,lethimbeall right.
Sadie’s heart raced as they walked down a long hallway.She wrung her hands together.They made a right-hand turn at the first corridor.She kept looking for him.
As soon as she made sure he was healthy, she had questions for him.So many questions.But first, she needed to hug him.
They passed by the nurses’ station that was situated in the middle of the room.There were blue curtained beds along the walls.At last, the male nurse stopped and gestured to the bed.There lay Reed with a nasal cannula and an IV in his arm.His face was pale, and there were soot smudges on his face.
She rushed to his side.She wanted to throw her arms around him, but she didn’t want to hurt him.So, she stopped and stood there, awkwardly.“How are you?”
He coughed, and when he spoke his voice was raspy.“I’m good.”
“You don’t sound like it.”
“The nurse”—he coughed again—“said my girlfriend was waiting to see me.”After she shushed him, he lowered his voice.“I didn’t know I had a girlfriend.Did you happen to see her?”
Heat rushed up Sadie’s neck and set her cheeks ablaze.She lowered her gaze and then she spoke softly.“I…uh, had to tell them something.If they thought I was your girlfriend, I was hoping they’d let me back here to see you.”
He reached out and took her hand in his.He stared into her eyes for a moment.“You were that worried about me?”
Her heart pitter-pattered.She didn’t know if it was from his touch or from him staring deep into her eyes.Maybe it was from both.
Realizing he was expecting an answer, conflicting answers clogged her throat.She swallowed hard and decided this was the time for the truth.“Yes, I was worried.You had me scared to death.Don’t ever do something like that again.”
“I thought you were in the apartment.”
“I was at my parents’ having dinner.”
His gaze searched hers.“Because you’re leaving tomorrow?”
“Not any longer.”
His eyes widened.“You changed your mind.”
“I didn’t say that.”She had no idea what she was going to do.“I haven’t had time to think about anything but you.”
