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“Grab a sweater, it’s cold outside. We can leave a light on for Fudge. I’ll take him back to my place for the night and we can go in my truck.”

“Thank you,” she says, touching her hand softly to my forearm. “Are you sure you don’t mind driving me there?”

“Button it,Shorty. Of course I don’t mind.”

She nods and makes haste down the hall to grab a sweater and her scarf while I scoop up Fudge and we head over to my place. I realize she hasn’t been inside my house yet, but there’s no time for introductions or to show her around. I’m glad it’s not too messy, considering I haven’t had much time to clean this week.

I’m a simple kinda guy without too much fluff. “She’s gonna be okay,” I assure her as I grab a jacket and my truck keys and turn on some lights for Fudge. He snuggles into his fluffy bed in the den as I turn the lights on for him.

“I hope so, Cole. I wish she’d have just asked for help.”

“The main thing is, she’s okay. Don’t be hard on yourself. I can help her with whatever it was she was trying to do with the ladder.”

Her face falls, and I can see how upset she is. “Thank you. I’m sure when I’m done yelling at her, she’ll really appreciate it.”

We climb in and I start the truck.

I reach and squeeze her knee before I back out of my driveway. I can feel the reserved part of her has returned and the walls seem to have gone back up, just a little. “Sit tight,baby girl,let’s get you to your mom.”

CHAPTER 13

AINSLEY

Cole pulls upto the hospital in record time, Emma greets us in the waiting area and gives us a quick rundown as she takes us to Mom’s room. The doctors are still running tests, but so far, it appears that Mom has some nasty bruises and a sprain. They’re not ruling out a possible stroke, which makes my heart sink even further.

My hands fly up to my face as Cole wraps a reassuring arm around me. Emma notices and her lips twitch ever so slightly.

“She’s going to be okay,” Emma says with a warm smile. “Just no more ladders for your mom.”

“A stroke?” I’m still stuck on that part.

Emma puts her hands on my shoulders. “The tests are a precaution. There’s no history of heart issues in your family, but the doctor wants to rule it out, okay?”

We walk into Mom’s room where she’s half sitting in the hospital bed. “Mom!” I rush over, not liking the sight of the bandages wrapped around her head.

“Honey!” Mom rasps. “I’m so happy to see you!”

“Oh, Mom! What the heck happened?” I knowwhat happened, but it’s a natural reaction to blurt it out, anyway.

“Me being a klutz. I’m sorry to make everyone come out so late because of silly old me.”

I sit on the edge of her bed. “Don’t ever say that. I’m just glad you’re okay. Emma said you hit your head pretty hard. Did you feel funny before you fell off the ladder?”

“You don’t have to worry about me?—”

“Mom!”

“I knew you were going to yell at me.”

I try my best to keep my voice calm. “I’m not yelling. I’m just worried about you.”

“I didn’t have a stroke, I know that much.”

“These things can happen out of the blue. How do you know for sure?”

She pats my hand. “I know. Just like I knew I was in labor and everyone kept telling me it was too soon.”

“Mom, not this story again.” I facepalm myself.