Page 30 of Midnight

“Yes,” Ash said, and handed him an extra tip, picked up the bags, and closed the door. “Buffet on the counter?”

“Works for me,” Dylan said, then got up and began helping Asher set out the containers.

“Are there plates and flatware in that cabinet?” Gunner asked.

Asher looked. “Only two.”

“I’ll bring some from my room,” he said, and went into his suite to get another plate and a chair.

Within a few minutes they had food on their plates and were eating in comfortable silence, commenting mostly on the food they were eating.

“Either of you like sushi?” Dylan asked.

Asher shrugged. “I can take it or leave it, but it wouldn’t be my first food choice.”

Gunner shook his head. “Don’t eat raw meat. Don’t even want it rare, and there’s not enough hot sauce in Texas to make raw fish rolled up in rice and seaweed edible.”

They both burst out laughing. “Hey, Dylan, I don’t think Gunner likes sushi,” Asher said.

Dylan was still chuckling. “Heard that loud and clear.”

Gunner grinned. “Never ask a question if you don’t want an answer.”

* * *

Nora was asleep when the clock in the hall began to strike. She pulled the covers up a little closer and listened, counting the gongs until it stopped.

Midnight.

She sighed and rolled over, nestling back beneath the covers. There used to be a time when that clock struck all hours of the day and night, and it was background noise that never registered. Now it was startling.

She’d been gone too long.

When she woke again, it was morning. She got out of bed to turn up the thermostat, ran to the kitchen to start coffee, then peeked through the curtains to check the weather. Cold but clear skies. She could work with that, but not just yet. Still shivering, she ran back to bed until the house warmed up, and the scent of coffee was a big enough draw to get up again, get dressed, and head for the kitchen.

A bowl of cold cereal and a cup of coffee later, all she could think about was Ash. The fact that he was within a thirty-minute drive made her feel like a little girl again. Like she was about to make a wish and then blow out birthday candles, and get him for her wish.

She got up from the table, rinsed her bowl and cup and put them in the sink, then made a call to the Rose to orderthree pieces of cherry pie to go. She wasn’t going into that waiting room empty-handed, and face three Kingston men all giving her the once-over. Pie was always a good diversion.

A few minutes later, she was in her car and on the way to the café.

The parking lot was full of breakfast customers when she pulled in, and the wind was cold enough to make her eyes water. She got out on the run. By now, she knew the waitresses by name, and when they saw her walking up to the register, Cheryl headed that way.

“Morning, Nora. Your to-go order is right here, with forks and napkins included. That will be $12.95.”

Nora swiped her card through the machine, signed the printout, and picked up the sack. “Thanks a bunch,” she said, and went back to the car.

It was twenty minutes after ten. Barring any traffic delays, she would be there before eleven.

Chapter 6

Doctor Hoyt, who had taken over Jacob’s care, was making rounds when the Kingston brothers arrived. Hoyt saw them walking into the waiting room and stopped to give them an update.

“Good morning,” he said. “I’m Doctor Hoyt. I’ll be taking care of your father from now on. Jacob’s vitals are good. His numbers are up, and they’ve had no issues out of the norm,” he said.

“Is it the sedation that’s keeping him from waking up?” Asher asked.

Hoyt nodded. “It has been, but I ordered a reduction in the dosage last night. It could take as much as another day or so before we see a change in his awareness. Again, don’t worry. Just talk softly to him when you visit. Familiar voices are good. We always find out after patients wake up, that they were more aware of what was going on around them than we knew.”