“Really? I have all of that?”
He leaned over her and nodded. “Unfortunately, yes.”
“That means I can’t go home?”
“You’ll need to stay here a couple of days.”
Nicole was surprised to see that crease forming between his eyes. She hadn’t seen it in years. He must have been really worried, and she didn’t want him to ever feel like that. Nicole was able to look past the jokes and his bravado clear through to the soul of the man. “Davis, please don’t worry. I promise I’ll be fine. I have a family that needs me.”
“When it comes to you, and us, that’s an impossible thing to ask. I’ll always worry.”
Briefly, Nicole closed her eyes. “Hmm . . . I s’pose you’re right. I would do the same, but in this case, I’m telling you, I’ll be fine.”
With all the craziness surrounding him, Davis’s worst possible thoughts were bouncing around in his head when he first got the call. He’d immediately phoned Harlan Washington after telling Jane about the accident. Davis had worked with him on the Shebet case five years ago. Although Harlan had retired from the FBI, he still had contacts. More than likely, Davis was jumping the gun. He hadn’t known the details of the incident, but still, he’d rather be safe than sorry.
Davis asked the one question that had plagued him since he had received the phone call. “Do you remember what happened?”
Nicole was embarrassed. “It was nothing nefarious. I’m just a klutz. I was leaving my meeting and was riding down the stairs. I wasn’t paying close attention because I was on my phone. Now I know why people shouldn’t text while driving or riding on escalator stairs.” Nicole tried to laugh, but it hurt. “I was about to send Jane a text regarding DJ when I lost my balance. The next thing I knew, I woke up and was here.”
Davis sighed with relief. He hadn’t been breathing the entire time Nicole recited her story. “I’m just happy you opened your pretty eyes for me.”
“If I can survive a plane crash on a deserted island with you, I think I can survive falling down a flight of stairs. It’s going to take more than that to take me out of here. Still, I’m sorry I worried you.”
“All that matters is that you’re going to be okay.” Davis picked up Nicole’s hand, the one that wasn’t broken, and brushed his lips softly against her knuckles. “No need to be sorry. It was an accident.”
“Do the kids know I’m here? Are they alright?”
“The kids are fine. They are at home with Jane and Russell. Not sure if she had a chance to tell you, but DJ has bronchitis and an ear infection. He took some medicine before leaving the doctor’s office this morning and already seems to be feeling better. Rayna only knows that you have a bump on your head. Russell is probably reading every book in the house to keep her occupied.”
Nicole was in so much pain that smiling was out of the question at the vision of Russell reading to Rayna. However, she managed something that looked more like a grimace. “Tell her that’s my job to worry. When she gets older and has her own kids, then it can be hers.” Nicole attempted to move and winced.
Concerned, Davis pressed the nurse’s call button. “Are you in a lot of pain?”
“Some.” She would never tell him the full truth. Davis would have every specialist in the state at Mercy Medical to examine her.
Moments later, a nurse entered her private hospital suite. “Mrs. Chatham, I’m glad to see you’re awake. How can I help you?”
Davis spoke on his wife’s behalf. “She’s in a lot of pain. Is there something you can give her?”
The woman nodded. “Yes. Her physician prescribed a morphine drip. I’ll be right back to administer it.”
Nicole’s brow furrowed. That was the only thing she could move that didn’t hurt. “Morphine? I’ve never taken anything more than ibuprofen or Vivarin.” However, every time Nicole inhaled and exhaled, a sharp pain would shoot throughout her entire body. Since her discomfort level was only a couple levels from pure agony, Nicole reasoned that if the drugs could lessen her pain, she would make an exception.
Davis encouraged her. “It’s obvious from the look on your face you need it.”
The nurse waltzed back into the hospital room and put the medicine into Nicole’s IV bag while Davis continued to hold her hand.
It didn’t take long for it to start working. Nicole’s mouth had gone bone dry and felt heavy—her eyes too. They were beginning to droop. She fought to keep them open, but it was a losing battle. Before she fell into a deep sleep, she mumbled. “There were so many highs and lows today.”
Her voice wasn’t very audible. Davis could barely hear her, so he leaned in close. “Tell me about the highs.”
“You, being here with me. I’m sorry about our fight earlier.”
“Me too.” He thanked God he was given a chance to tell her and smiled that Nicole counted him being with her as a high. Davis wanted to wrap her in his arms but was afraid of hurting her. So, he brought her hand up to his lips instead and kissed the back of it.
She started to slur her words, and they
