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“I don’t think that at all, Bridget. I’m here because you need someone to be with you, and that is, honestly enough, my job description. So I’m here as long as you need me.”

“Just until Eli gets here.”

“Good. I’m glad you have someone who can come and sit with you.”

Neither of them commented on her parents, and their lack of continued presence in her hospital room, whether it was because Bridget didn’t want them there or because they didn’t want to be there remained unspoken. Bridget knew it was a mix of both. They didn’t like her as much as she didn’t like them.

Doctors came in, one after the other, specialists and more specialists. Bridget’s head spun from the injuries and explanation of expected recovery time. She struggled to keep track of it all, especially with the pain medicine running through her brain, but she at least understood it would likely be months before she was back to work, though perhaps she could do some desk duty prior to that. Good thing they’d installed the elevator at the courthouse, because she’d likely need it.

One of her ribs had punctured her spleen, which had been what the bleeding was about, but it was controlled now. Thankfully. They lifted the blankets, checked her injuries, made faces at the wounds before stepping back and giving a prognosis. As they left, Bridget wasn’t sure if she had answers or just more questions. But because she was doing so well by whatever standards they had set, they were going to look into scheduling surgery to pin up her ankle—not something Bridget was looking forward to.

She’d never had surgery before. Well—not that she remembered, she supposed, since they did do surgery on her internal bleeding. They told her she would be up and moving around soon enough because they didn’t want her catching pneumonia from not moving. Cursing the thought, Bridget pouted as the last one left the room.

“Did you catch half of that?” June asked.

Bridget shook her head. “Other than I’m beat up, broken, and this sucks, not really.”

June chuckled lightly. “I’ll make sure they share with Elijah when she gets here if you want, so she can help remember it for you.”

“That’d be good, but let me ask her first. I don’t want to just dump this on her.”

“She seemed quite concerned on the phone.”

“She would be. She’s got a heart of gold.” A pang of sadness entered Bridget’s chest. She loved that Eli had found happiness with Sarah, but it still hurt that she hadn’t been good enough or right enough for Eli herself. She wanted to be that person for someone, but her own problems would always get in the way of a deeper relationship.

“Good. I’m glad she’s coming then.” June shifted her stance.

“Speaking of,” Bridget lifted her hand and pointed to the door. “Eli.”

“What the hell did you do this time, Bridge?” Eli’s tone was deep, filled with concern that was echoed in the look she cast in Bridget’s direction, but her rounded face, two braids, and bright brown eyes were such a welcome sight.

“Didn’t you hear? I got run over by a combine apparently.”

Eli snorted. “I did hear that, actually. Gossip, you know. I just didn’t think it was real.”

“Well, it is.”

As Eli stepped into the room, Bridget could have cried. She wanted Eli to wrap her in a hug and hold on tight, comforting her like she had so many times when they were together, except she knew she couldn’t ask for that. She couldn’t cross that boundary that Eli had set. Her eyes watered and her nose stopped up, and Eli’s look softened again with pity.

June leaned in. “Bridget, like I said before, it’s okay to cry. This is not something you’ve ever experienced before, and you’re bound to be feeling some shock.”

“I’m fine,” Bridget muttered.

“Like hell you are,” Eli answered, reaching down and gripping Bridget’s IV clad hand tightly and squeezing. “But we’ve got you, Bridge. Did your parents come already?”

Bridget snorted, thankful that Eli added in the dose of reality to draw her back to her strength and anger. “Yeah. And I kicked them out and asked June here to call you.”

“Good choice.”

“They are a piece of work,” Bridget mumbled on a sigh. “I suppose I’ll have to deal with them again.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m in the hospital.” Bridget gave Eli a hard stare.

“Right.” While Eli agreed, she didn’t look convinced. Instead, she turned to June. “Are you a chaplain here?”

“I am. One of the nurses called me to come talk with Bridget.”