A Kaleidoscope of Butterflies - Christina Lee Page 0,23

makes the most sense, since we have a first-floor master bedroom and bath.”

“First floor?” For some reason his eyes misted, and a memory washed over him by varying degrees. Fuck, Mr. and Mrs. Rose. Pain stabbed at his gut as he recalled the accident and their grief. “But that’s your parents’— ”

“Emerson says it’s time,” Audrey said in a solid voice, mind apparently made up. “And it’ll be fun having you live with us.”

He arched a brow. “So I can beat your butt in Mortal Kombat?”

She looked momentarily puzzled before she replied, “Lately we’ve been playing Fortnite.”

“We’ll definitely catch him up on stuff,” Emerson said in a warning tone as Rhys’s mind began to spin again. Fuck, he really didn’t remember anything recent.

Right then a guy in blue scrubs swept inside the room. He looked familiar, but there had been so many damned staff in and out at all hours of the day. “MRI time, buddy.”

Anger flared in his chest. He’d forgotten that the doctor had ordered another one, and right when he’d just gotten to see Emerson again. He pouted and grumbled as he was pushed toward the door.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Emerson said as they watched him being wheeled out.

He looked back at the Rose family one last time so he’d have a snapshot of them captured in his head. Just in case.

6

Emerson

“Did you want to get some lunch?” his coworker, Neil, asked.

Emerson stiffened briefly before glancing at the clock on the wall. He’d been so absorbed in updating patient data, he’d lost track of time.

“Not sure,” he admitted. “I’m behind, and I want to get home on time today.”

Neil cocked an eyebrow. Emerson kept mostly to himself, but he’d been working with Neil for the better part of a year now and they had become friends. Well, as much as you could when you were always racing home to your family. But whenever there was a work function, they always went together, and had gotten to know each other a bit better in the process.

Neil knew that Emerson had lost his parents and stepped up to raise his family in lieu of going to college for his nursing degree. And Emerson knew Neil had a nasty breakup with his last boyfriend and had essentially given up on relationships for a while. Neil was also in the middle of getting his degree as a pharmacy tech, and Emerson still had to squash down his envy.

“It’ll do you good,” Neil replied. “You’ve been distracted lately.”

“I have a lot going on,” Emerson countered in a frustrated tone. Sometimes he thought Neil was too pushy, but he also knew if he weren’t, Emerson would likely never leave the building or have any real conversations with friends.

“C’mon, you can tell me all about it over the best lobster rolls in town.”

He looked so earnest that Emerson relented. “Fine.”

He followed Neil to the bank of elevators, down two flights, then out the door. The weather was perfect for the beginning of fall, a balmy seventy degrees. After a two-block walk, they waited in line at the deli, ordered their food, and found a park bench to sit on close to the hospital campus. He thought of that other hospital across town where Rhys was probably in an occupational-therapy session and preparing for his discharge tomorrow.

He’d gotten strict orders to rest for the next several days, and not to operate heavy machinery or perform strenuous activity for at least six weeks. Emerson had expected Rhys to balk at those directions, so when he’d remained quiet during the doctor’s visit, Emerson could tell he still wasn’t feeling like himself. His ribs ached as well as his head, and there were times he’d stare off into space as if trying to organize his thoughts. It was so unusual for Rhys, that it had given him pause and made him redouble his promise to nurse him back to health.

“So, what’s up?” Neil asked around a bite of his sandwich.

Emerson wiped his mouth with a napkin. “I told you about my best friend who was in a rock climbing accident.”

“Rhys, right?”

“Yep. And he’s slowly recovering. Still in pain, but the prognosis is good, so he’ll get there.”

“That’s good news.” He took a long sip of his soda. “What about his memory?”

“No change.” He sighed. He’d forgotten he’d told Neil about it last week after he’d talked with Rhys’s mom. He’d been shell-shocked by the information, and it had felt good at the time to share it with someone.