Page 44 of Finding Home (Willow Valley #1)

FORTY-FOUR

CHLOE

I have spent far too much time over the last six months in this hospital with loved ones.

Between my dad and his heart attack this summer, visiting Mrs. Simpson, and now Everett, it’s all too much.

The thought that I could spend even more time in this hospital worried about people I love is not something I’m sure I can handle.

I text Brinley, and she says she’ll stay with Lila, she’s got it all under control and not to worry about it. The next thing I know, I’m on the phone with my brother, the one person who can probably explain things to me and maybe calm my nerves about Everett’s condition.

“Hey, Chlo,” Grayson answers, and I crumple into a chair, unable to stand anymore, my tears falling as I barely get the word hey out.

“What’s wrong, Chlo?” Worry fills his voice, and I wipe at my tears and gather myself enough to tamper his worry.

“I’m okay.” I sit back in the chair, staring up at the ceiling as I force my next words out. “It’s Everett.”

“He was in the fire up in the hills, wasn’t he?” Small town gossip is helpful here, because I don’t have to verbalize the whole situation. It’s hard enough as it is having to see it in flashes every time I close my eyes .

“Yeah. The doctors took him in, they wouldn’t let me go with him.”

“Did they tell you anything?” he asks, and I hear shuffling and something jingle in the background.

I sniffle. “No, they didn’t say anything.”

“Was he breathing on his own?”

“Yeah.” I wipe at my nose, finally calming down a bit, but I know that it’s only a matter of time before I completely break down again.

“Okay. I’m on my way. I’ll be there in like twenty minutes.”

Luckily, my parents’ place is on the south side of town, and knowing Grayson, he’ll probably break every speed limit and be here faster than that.

“Thanks, Gray.”

“Of course. I’ll let you know when I’m there.”

I hang up and clutch my phone tightly in my hand as I soothe myself by rocking in my chair. I can’t focus on anything right now. I can’t read, play a game, or scroll social media, because every time I try, my mind goes straight to Everett and worst case scenario thoughts.

I don’t know that I have the strength to go through this again.

How am I supposed to hear that Everett’s in danger again and sit in the waiting room waiting for an update, or worse, have a doctor come out and tell me he’s died?

We’ve spent months together right now, how am I supposed to spend years with him, grow more and more attached, fall more and more in love with him, only to lose him?

Going into this, I knew firefighting was a dangerous career, but we’re in a small town, we don’t see big fires often, not outside of the wildfires that come through during the summer.

We haven’t even talked about if working wildfires was something he plans to do come next season, and that’s even more dangerous.

By the time Grayson and Hannah walk into the waiting room, I’m nearly hyperventilating.

I knew I loved Everett, but I hadn’t realized just how deeply he had rooted himself in me.

Not knowing how he’s doing feels like I’m missing a small piece of myself.

What would years of giving him more of me feel like ?

Hannah walks towards the nurses station, and Grayson stops in front of me, crouching, and I fall into him just as his arms open, and my big brother holds me.

I can’t remember the last time I needed my big brother the way I do right now, but if anyone is going to give me the comfort I need, it’s him.

Grayson rests his chin on top of my head, rubbing his hand up and down my back as I soak the shoulder of his shirt in my tears. Like the man he is, he doesn’t say anything. After a few minutes, Hannah takes a seat beside us.

“They gave me very limited information because I’m not family, but they confirmed he’s still breathing on his own, no vent. A doctor is currently in with him, checking him out.”

I nod against Grayson’s chest, only registering enough that he’s breathing on his own.

Hannah’s hand finds my hair, and she rakes her fingers through it.

I’ve never been so glad that Grayson found her.

If she’s comforting me like this, I can’t imagine the ways she’s been there for Grayson when he’s needed it.

After a few minutes, I hear a woman call my name. I lift my head just enough to see her, and she offers me a soft smile.

“Your husband is asking for you,” she says, and it takes all of my energy to keep my features schooled enough that she doesn’t catch my shock at the word husband.

Hannah gives me a saccharine smile, and I climb off Grayson’s lap and follow the woman, my arms wrapped around my middle.

She leads me down the hallway and through a set of double doors that leads to a hallway lined with rooms. We make it halfway down before she ducks into a room on the right.

I stop in my tracks as I see Everett sitting on the bed in a hospital gown attached to different machines, wearing an oxygen mask.

“North,” is all he has to say before I’m running for him, climbing onto the tiny sliver of bed beside him. He pushes the mask up and kisses my forehead, whispering, “I’m all right,” over and over again.

The nurse checks something before leaving again, and we have the room to ourselves. I wipe at my tears and look up at him.

“Wife?” I ask, trying to fill my voice with humour.

“It was the only way to make them bring you back here. I needed to see you.”

I lie in his arms for a few minutes, listening to him breathe, trying to let it sink in that he’s doing okay. He’s awake and breathing on his own.

“Brin has Lila. They’re good. When I left, Brinley was talking about upping the ante on our fort and making tunnels. I’m sure the house will be a disaster when we get home, but Lila will be exhausted and I know Brin’s probably ordering pizza for them to eat while they watch movies.”

He kisses the top of my head. “Thank you for making sure she’s okay and being here with me.”

I roll my lips together. “Always,” I say, but I’m not sure about the truth behind it. I have some serious thinking to do about if I’m really fit to be in a long-term relationship with someone in such a dangerous job.

Everett runs his fingers through my hair, massaging my scalp occasionally, and before I know it, the exhaustion of the day has taken over and I’m fast asleep in his hospital bed.