Page 25

Groaning, Bridget covered her face. “Okay. I’ll get up.”

“Good.” Eli leaned over and turned on the lamp on the night stand. She stared down at Bridget expectantly. Yet Bridget still struggled to convince her body to move.

“Eli?”

“Yeah?” Eli ran a hand down Bridget’s arm.

“Make them go away.”

Eli chuckled lightly. “I will boot them out after an hour at least, but I can’t make them not come up here. I’m pretty sure they won’t listen to me if I tell them not to come.”

Sighing heavily, Bridget grimaced. “Fine. Is there coffee at least?”

“Right here.” Eli reached to the nightstand and grabbed a mug.

“Thank you, sweet Jesus.” It took some maneuvering with only one good arm, but Eli helped a little so she could lean against the headboard. Bridget sipped her coffee while Eli rustled around the duffel bag with all her clothes in it, clothes that were loose fitting and easy to get on. “Grab something that looks nice, will you? I don’t want to look like a slob.”

“What’s nice? Can’t exactly fit jeans over that thing on your leg yet.”

Bridget knew the request was stupid as soon as she’d said it. “Maybe a button up?”

Eli eyed her. “I’d let you use one of mine, but I don’t think you’ll fit.”

Pursing her lips as she sipped the coffee, Bridget shrugged. “I guess just clean is fine.”

Eli rummaged some more and came back with her academy t-shirt and dark blue sweatpants. It would have to do. The first week of needing Eli’s help to get dressed was outright embarrassing, but at this point, Bridget had given in to needing help. She could at least maneuver some of the clothes up her body, but she needed to lean on Eli while she finished dragging them into place, and then Eli always finished adjusting so she didn’t look like a slob.

“Are the guests upstairs?”

“They went out for the day, so we have the den without them.”

“Good. I don’t really need anyone else to witness the disaster that’s coming.”

Eli lightly snorted. “I should hope not. Do you want me to stay the entire time or come in only when you want them gone?”

“Please stay.” Bridget shifted as Eli pushed the strap of her sling over her head and got everything in place. “I don’t know if I can handle them by myself.”

“What are friends for, anyway?”

Bridget made her way upstairs with Eli’s help and collapsed onto the small love seat in front of the fireplace. Eli started the fire and brought over a second mug of coffee, which Bridget thanked her for. She put her leg up to ease the swelling her doctor had complained about from her doing too much. Eli brought over her medications, and Bridget realized she didn’t even know what she was taking. Instead of asking, she just popped them into her mouth and swallowed around her next sip of coffee. Eli wouldn’t do her any harm, ever.

They were an hour later than they said, but what else was new? Eli let Sharon and Edward into the house and showed them into the den. Bridget attempted to shift to sit up straighter, then chided herself. She didn’t need to do anything for them. Sharon sat on one of the chairs adjacent to the love seat, Edward on the other. Eli stood awkwardly for moment before sliding onto the edge of the sofa with Bridget. Sharon eyed her suspiciously, her lips parted as if she was going to tell Eli to scram.

“Eli’s staying, Mom.”

Sharon said nothing about it as she focused on her daughter. “How’s your recovery?”

“As well as can be expected. I’ve been resting.” Bridget clenched her hand tightly.

Nodding, Sharon slid a glance to Edward. “We think you should come home, stop putting such a strain on Eli.”

“She’s no strain at all. In fact, I’m quite enjoying the company.”

“You have strangers in this house all the time.”

Eli’s shoulders stiffened. Bridget knew they would. It was an argument Bridget had made to Eli when she’d found out Eli’s plans for a bed-and-breakfast, but Eli wouldn’t hear anything of it. Bridget doubted she’d listen to them now.

“I think I’ll continue to stay here. The doctors said I can start bearing weight soon, so I’ll be less of a strain on anyone.” Bridget eyed Sharon sharply. “Besides, I wouldn’t want to mess up your schedule.”