Page 59 of Donut Disaster
“You’re okay.” Noah brushes the hair from my forehead, his eyes giving off an otherworldly glow in this bright light.
Everett dips into my line of vision. “You gave us a scare, Lemon.”
“That you did.” Carlotta pushes her way to the forefront of my line of vision. “Cookie had to leave—but he saved you, Lottie. He came right to me. Cookie saved you.”
My mother nudges her out of the way. “She doesn’t need a cookie. She needs rest.”
Lainey and Meg appear behind my mother, and I sit up a notch to greet them. Bear and Keelie pop up on my left. Keelie’s eyes are swollen, her face puffy as if she’s been crying.
“What’s happening?” A sense of danger grips me, and despite all of the love in the room, I feel a niggling of fear.
Mom leans in. “You fell into the lake. Some crazed woman pushed you in.”
“Shedraggedyou in,” Meg corrects. “It was that nutcase nurse. Everett pulled you out of the water.”
Lainey nods. “And Noah gave you mouth to mouth while Everett chased her down.”
Everett shakes his head. “You didn’t need mouth to mouth. He was simply making a play. We caught her before she could submerge you.”
“Oh my goodness.” I sit up fully, and Carlotta helps raise the bed behind me. “What happened? Did she hit me?”
Noah shakes his head. His eyes sparkle like jade shards. “She injected you with a high dose of medication. It’s working its way through your system. The doctor gave you something to counteract its effects. Your bloodwork looks good.”
“Oh, thank God.” I blink up at all of the concerned faces. “She did it. Sandra killed Dr. Dawson. She was stealing drugs.” My eyes squeeze shut as I try to remember the conversation.
“It’s okay,” Everett whispers. “Your memory will come back fully. What you’re feeling is a side effect of the drugs she gave you. The doctor assured us you’ll be fine.”
One by one everyone offers me a warm embrace goodnight.
Lainey leans in. “I can always cancel the housewarming party tomorrow night, Lottie.”
“Don’t you dare. I wouldn’t miss it. After that scare, I don’t want to miss a moment of life.”
“Fine. But if you feel different, just let me know.” Lainey and Forrest take off with forlorn smiles.
Mom takes off with Meg and Hook.
Keelie hugs me and takes a deep breath from my hair. “I love you, Lottie Kenzie Lemon. Thank you for not dying on me. That would have ruined my life.”
“Mine too.” We share a warm laugh as they take off.
Carlotta comes over and holds me tight. “I texted Harry and let him know you’re fine. I told him to stay at the lake. He had a speech to give, and the medics said you were fine.”
“Good call.” A weak smile wobbles on my lips. “So, Cookie is really gone?”
Her lips twist as she gives an apprehensive nod. “Afraid so. He said to thank you. He had a lot of fun this go-round. Little Lea cried like a baby when he left.”
“She is a baby.”
“Yes, well, then she went ballistic and hurled down all the refreshments off six picnic tables. Your cookies went flying.”
I frown at the thought. “I’d like to think it was in tribute to the Cookie she gave her heart to. Greer and Winslow really do have their hands full.”
She leans in. “And so do your mother and I. Don’t you dare get yourself in that kind of trouble again. You had every last one of us in an uproar.”
Tears come as I give a quiet nod. I’m more than willing to comply with her request. It’s touching to see Carlotta care so much about me, just the way a mother would. It’s touching indeed.
She takes off and Everett sits to my left, Noah to my right, and it feels safe with them ensconcing me like this.