Page 16 of The Bad Boy’s Homecoming (The Southern Hart Brothers #2)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Levi

A Hard Fall

L evi lost track of time reading aloud but took a peek every few pages to make sure Missy was still sleeping. Now his grandmother looked like she was fading too.

“Hey, Shakespeare, are you really reading that book for them or for yourself?” Dalton whispered from the doorway.

Levi slowly closed the book and stood to speak with Dalton in the hallway.

“Why don’t you take Gran home. Everyone can get some rest, and you can bring her back in the morning if she’s still worried about Missy.”

“I know it’s weird, but I feel bad leaving her alone. A woman I barely know.”

Dalton shook his head. “What’s weird is that it’s not weird. But you need to be realistic about not getting attached. You aren’t responsible for her injury or for whatever happened before to make her so skittish. She’s safe here.”

“Ya.” He looked back into the room at Missy curled to one side sleeping.

“So get Gran home, and you can be back around eight if you and Gran want to argue with Declan about where the best place is for Missy to recover.”

“I’m sure Gran already has an argument ready,” Levi said.

“What will we be arguing about?” her voice asked from the doorway to Missy’s room.

“I was just saying I think Declan will want Missy home with him to help her recover,” Dalton said.

“Well that’s dumb. She has a quiet room to herself at my house, all her art supplies and two adults to help her. Those boys will not know how to control their rambunctious spirit and Missy’s hand will be at risk of more injury at Declan’s,” Gran said.

“Yes, ma’am. Besides you and Brooke live near Gran’s and can stop in to check on Missy’s wound daily,” Levi added.

Dalton just smiled with his hands crossed over his chest. “Looks like you two have it all figured out, I guess we’ll see if the counselor has anything to say about it.”

Gran patted Dalton on the arm. “Good work today—thank you. We’ll see you tomorrow.”

Dalton leaned down and gave their gran a kiss on the cheek.

And Levi had a moment to really study their paternal grandmother.

She had always been a beautiful woman, who took pride in her appearance, but there were a few more defined signs of aging each year.

He didn’t like the idea of her being alone in the Hart house and now he understood more why Wesley and Dalton had asked Missy to stay with her.

He regretted ever questioning Missy’s reasons to agree to stay with Gran.

Knowing someone had been rough or even abusive to her in the past lit a fire inside him.

He stepped closer to the doorway to look at Missy’s form under a few blankets as she slept and pulled the door mostly closed. She’d be safe tonight with his brother, a former Navy SEAL, but he was going to find out what and who had hurt Missy in the past.

*

The next morning, Levi was up early and had coffee ready for them when Gran appeared in the kitchen.

“Now I think we better get back to the hospital before Declan arrives so there is no confusion on where Missy will be staying,” Gran announced.

“I couldn’t agree more, Gran, but we’ll need to take your car since I can only fit one other person in mine.”

“That’s right, you can drive my Caddie.”

Once they arrived, the hospital was a flurry of activity and Declan arrived only a minute after them, with his twin boys.

“Hey, Mr. Hart, can you sign my backpack?” one of the boys said as he stopped to stare up at Levi.

“Owen, Mr. Hart isn’t here to sign autographs,” Declan said.

“I bet your dad would rather it not be on your backpack, but I’ll get you something better okay?” Levi said.

“Cool,” Owen said and nudged his twin.

“Are you both into baseball?” The other boy with glasses stood more reserved next to Owen and rolled his eyes.

“Nah, Gray is more into art and reading. Boring stuff,” Owen said.

“Ah so you’re more like Missy?” Levi offered.

“Ya, I’m really worried about her hand. How will she do her art?” Gray said, clearly concerned.

Dalton appeared and Declan stepped forward. “How’d she do last night?”

“Really well. She didn’t wake up again until about an hour ago and we’ve already cleaned her wound and given her some more pain reliever. The next seventy-two hours will be really important. She needs lots of rest, hydration, and to keep the wound clean and protected.”

Declan looked at his boys. “We’ve already discussed how we’ll need to be quieter and let Missy have space. I’m thinking I’ll put her in my room and that will help contain some of the activity away from Missy at our home,” Declan said.

“Declan, of course you and your boys will take wonderful care of Missy, but you know she already has a lovely room at Hart House, her own bathroom, and her art studio is there. Where she’ll feel the most relaxed and inspired even if it’s just to sit and watch the ocean,” Gran said.

“Not to mention I do not have a thing to do but wait on her hand and foot.”

“Mrs. Hart, you’re so generous and thoughtful but I really think Missy needs her family now,” Declan said.

“I agree, which is why I think you and the boys should come out for dinner every evening, shower her with just enough attention to help her get a good night’s sleep.”

Declan sighed. “But what if she needs help with the stairs or at night?”

“Well I hate to point this out but I am a woman, so I can help her with any personal needs. And my grandson, the doctor, lives with his fiancé, a nurse, about one minute from my home. And Levi will also be there to help if there is any emergency,” Gran said.

“I think I better leave this decision up to Missy. If there is one thing I know it’s not to unilaterally make any decisions for the women in my family,” Declan said.

“Well said. Your mother really did raise you right.” Gran gave Levi a side-eye. “Why don’t we go see what Missy wants.”

Dalton sighed again. “I’ll take Declan and the boys back and you two wait here.”

Levi thought Gran would argue but she just took a seat in the waiting room and had a big smile on her face.

“You’re not worried Missy will feel like she has to stay with her cousin?”

“No, those boys will find some mischief in the next five minutes to make it clear to everyone exactly where Missy belongs.”

Levi leaned back against the small chair and crossed his legs to wait.

Ten minutes later Dalton was walking next to Missy who was being pushed out in a wheelchair by the nurse, and Declan was marching his boys toward the exit.

“Everything okay?” Levi said, standing up and reaching for the bag of Missy’s things that Dalton carried.

“Yep, the twins couldn’t resist playing with the buttons on the hospital bed, and Declan agreed it would be best for Missy’s recovery if she stayed with Gran. He’s going to drop the boys at school, but he’ll be over later to check in on Missy,” Dalton said.

“I knew everyone would see things my way.” Gran stood and wrapped her arm around Missy’s shoulder on her good side. “Now how are you feeling, honey?”

“Not terrible actually. My hand throbs a little but it’s not nearly as bad as it was yesterday.”

“Oh good, you gave us a scare, but accidents happen. Did I ever tell you about the time my husband broke his leg when the boys dug holes out on the beach? They were looking for treasure and forgot to refill them.”

“Oh no,” Missy said, listening intently to Gran.

Levi studied how her skin looked pale, and he wondered if she really was in more pain than she was letting on.

“Do we need to pick up a prescription for her? Should we expect an increase in the pain or anything?” Levi asked.

“Yes, her prescriptions should be ready, and she has to take the meds every six hours or she’s going to be in a lot of pain.

She’s tough, but the cleaning can be the worst part.

I gave her a dose at six so she’ll be due for more with her lunch.

Don’t worry about cleaning it. I’ll come by and show you all how today, but I think between Brooke and I, we can keep it properly cleaned and dressed all week,” Dalton explained.

“Okay, why don’t we get you ladies loaded in the car and I’ll pick up the meds before we head home,” Levi said.

“I think I’ll have to pick up my own medication. You don’t have to wait on me,” Missy said.

“Honey you gotta let him do something—he’s been worried sick,” Gran said.

Missy’s big brown eyes landed on him, but she didn’t say anything.

“Okay, remember to rest. Doctor’s orders,” Dalton said.

Missy nodded and then let Gran push her wheelchair toward the exit.

“I’ll see you before dinner time,” Dalton added, just as a nurse walked up to him with some paperwork.

Getting Missy’s prescriptions was easy. The pharmacy didn’t even question him or how he paid for it, but what did surprise him was she had no insurance on file.

Some pain reliever and ointment wasn’t too bad, but what would the hospital stay cost her with no insurance?

Now he understood why her cousin made a point to tell Dalton to send him the bill.

Maybe after leaving college she hadn’t bothered to get a private insurance plan yet.

“I’ll pay you back for the prescription,” Missy said once he was back in the car.

“Sure. That red painting you did for me should settle it,” Levi teased.

“We’ll see,” Missy said from the back seat.

Once they got her home, Missy wanted to sit in the art studio for a bit.

Said she was tired of sitting in a bed. There was already one comfortable chair in the corner and Levi carried in a second one with a foot stool so Gran or he could sit with her.

Next he made her a big glass of water, with a straw, and then grabbed the book he’d been reading the day before.

“Are you really going to read this entire book to us?” Missy asked.

“Why not? It’s like we’re all on vacation this week from our real lives. We can eat, read, and relax. A staycation.”

“Oh I love this idea, Levi,” Gran said. “I’ll just make some tea and be right back. Missy honey, do you want anything else?”

“No thank you, Mrs. Hart.”

Once his grandmother was gone Levi sat on the foot stool in front of Missy. It wasn’t as close as he’d like to be, but it would have to do for now.

“You’re going to have to stop being so easy on us, and I can tell you’re in some pain. It’s only a matter of time before Gran and your cousin figure it out.”

“I’m not in pain; it’s just not super comfortable having my hand all wrapped up. And I don’t like feeling like a burden.”

“You’re nowhere near a burden. You need to not be so selfish and let Gran take care of you this week because you’ve been watching out for her all this time and now she’ll feel like it’s more mutual.”

Missy opened her mouth to argue but stopped and then winced as she tried to resituate her hand.

“Now tell me how I can help you feel more comfortable?”

She sighed. “Well maybe a soft pillow to rest my hand on. I’m just worried about setting it down at all. And I could go for a snack—apparently burning my hand off makes me hungry.”

Levi smiled. “Anything else? Do you need help using the ladies’ room? I’m good with pants.”

“Very funny, but I think I can manage.”

“Well you just let me know.”

“Could you actually find my phone so I can check on the business site?”

“Yes, but we can’t let you work too much,” Levi said.

“If I run out of stock and don’t resupply, then the store will lose traction.”

“It’s just for a few days,” Levi said, but he leaned forward and gently put one hand on Missy’s leg, careful to see how she’d react. He was relieved when she didn’t flinch and met his eyes.

“I’m really sorry this happened, and I’ll make it up to you, but in the meantime can you just be honest with us and let us help you? It would make Gran and me feel a lot better about it.”

“It’s not your fault but okay. I’m just in the habit of doing everything for myself, so it’ll take some getting used to.”

“I get that.”

Then Gran walked back in and he stood to go get a few things for Missy. They spent the rest of the morning in the art studio while Missy made some updates to her online store and then Declan arrived at lunch with some treats from May’s coffee shop.

“May said she would be happy to come sit with you and keep you company any evening. You just shoot her a text,” Declan said. “And if you don’t, she’ll just invite herself to come by one evening.”

Declan handed Missy a very green concoction and he watched as she took a big sip and closed her eyes to savor it.

“Green must be your favorite color,” Levi said. And her eyes popped back open.

But Declan’s narrowed stare reminded him her cousin was probably not super comfortable with them staying in the same house.

“I just mean key lime pie and now this weird pureed grassy beverage,” Levi said.

“As a matter of fact, green is my favorite color but I never thought about it that way,” Missy said. “Now I wish I could paint something green.”

“What about sketching while you recover?” Declan said and pulled a fresh sketch pad and a box of pencils out of the bag he’d brought. “You used to always have a sketch pad wherever you went,” he added.

“Thank you. This is a great idea, Dec.” She immediately flipped open the notebook and pulled out a green pencil.

Levi was bummed he hadn’t thought to bring her something to do art with but enjoyed watching the way her delicate hand moved over the paper with the sharpened pencil.

“Levi, since I’m here, why don’t I take a look at that contract you mentioned yesterday.”

“That’d be great. I’ll grab it.” After he retrieved his tablet for Declan to review the contract, he decided he better leave them alone for a bit.

“I’m just going to see if Gran needs any help while you two visit. Holler if you need anything,” he said, leaving the art studio for the first time that morning.

He hadn’t thought about the contract since Missy hurt her hand and hadn’t even bothered to respond to his agent. For some reason getting back to the team was starting to seem like the least of his worries and he wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing.