a good decision. If she wanted respect and love and trust from him, then she had to give the same back. “I’ll do better, and if I slip, promise to call me out on it. Don’t let me be a bossy bitch.”
“You’re never a bitch, but I promise to call you out on the bossy.” Adam nodded. “You must be exhausted. When can you get out of here?”
The nurse walked back in. “I have your discharge papers. The local should last a few hours. Expect the wound to hurt more tomorrow.” She set a plastic bag of paperwork in front of Bree. “Prescriptions for antibiotics and pain meds are in the bag, along with wound care instructions. You need to keep it still for a few days. Is there any chance you’re going to sit on the couch and watch TV for the next week?”
“No,” Matt said from the doorway. “She won’t.”
“Didn’t think so.” The nurse pulled a sling out of its plastic wrapper. “Please wear this. You do not want to rip out those stitches.”
Fifteen minutes later, Bree was ready to go. She slid to her feet slowly, testing her balance. Adam took off his zippered hoodie and wrapped it around her shoulders.
“She needs two prescriptions filled.” Adam slid them out of the plastic bag.
“I’ll take care of those.” Matt took the papers. “There’s a twenty-four-hour pharmacy in Scarlet Falls.”
“I can wait until morning,” Bree said.
Matt shook his head. “But there’s no reason for you to do that. I’ll drop off the meds later. Take care of her, Adam.”
“I will.” Adam took her elbow and held it all the way to his truck. He put her in the passenger seat. Bree fell asleep on the way home and jolted when Adam touched her arm. “We’re home,” he said.
Adam helped her into the house and up the stairs. Dana took over getting Bree out of her uniform and into pajama bottoms and a clean tank top. Then Bree stretched out, and Dana elevated her bandaged arm on a pillow.
“Do you want me to lock the animals out of the bedroom?” Dana asked.
“No. Who knows what that cat will do if he doesn’t get his way?”
Dana laughed. “OK. You asked for it.” She opened the bedroom door. Ladybug jumped onto the bed and curled up next to Bree’s legs. Vader took his usual place on the second pillow.
Despite her exhaustion, Bree fell into a fitful sleep. She dreamed of something unseen chasing her. No matter how fast she ran, it stayed right on her heels. She woke breathless in her dim room. Pain throbbed through her arm. Her mouth was dry, and her head felt as heavy as a bowling ball.
Dana had fallen asleep in a chair next to the bed. She sat upright and blinked bleary eyes. “I’ll get you some water and a pain pill.” She left the room without waiting for Bree’s response.
“Aunt Bree?” Kayla stood in the doorway. “I heard you cry. Did you have a bad dream?”
“I did.” Bree struggled to sit up. She touched her face. Her cheeks were wet.
Kayla walked closer. “You’re hurt.”
Bree’s heart thumped. “Just a little, like when you fell roller-skating a few weeks ago.”
“I can make you feel better.” Kayla turned and ran out of the room. She came back a minute later with the Harry Potter book they’d been reading. The mattress tipped and rolled as she scrambled into the bed, each movement sending fresh bursts of pain through Bree’s arm.
Dana came back in. “Oh, baby. You probably don’t want to disturb—”
“She’s fine,” Bree said. She took the pill and washed it down with water. Then she settled back onto her pillows.
Kayla knelt to turn on the bedside light. The cat reluctantly shared his pillow as the little girl leaned back and began to read. Bree closed her eyes. She heard Dana easing back into her chair. Bree focused on the child’s voice, as if it could keep her demons at bay until daylight.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Morning was still dark as Cady led her dogs down the street. She untangled the four leashes in her hand. Her Great Dane mix, Harley, walked obediently at her side. Ahead, a neighbor walked her Australian shepherd. As the pair approached on the opposite side of the street, Cady’s two pitties wagged their tails, eager to play. Taz, the Chihuahua, lunged and barked at the end of his leash. Sighing, Cady scooped him into her arms. He continued to growl.
“Sorry.” She waved to her neighbor.
The neighbor