“As soon as I have the kitchen cleaned up, I’ll have your bath for you. We have a separate room for bathing,” Maggie said proudly.
“I can get my own bath ready.” Tori pushed her chair back and gathered her dishes. “But first I’ll help with the dishes.”
“No need,” the young woman said. “Have your bath and get into bed. You look like you’re ready to drop.”
Tori turned to Michael. “You can go on home. Please tell the children Jesse will be all right, but they should pray. Give Ellie an extra hug from me. She seemed pretty upset earlier.”
Michael draped his arm around Tori’s shoulder. “We’ll be fine. You get some sleep yourself. You won’t do Jesse any good if you’re laid up, too.”
Tori eased her sore body into the hot water. Thoughts of her family drifted through her mind. Not telling Michael everything Dr. Hendricks said somehow didn’t make it real.
After the tension of the day and the full belly, she had to fight sleep in the bathtub. She wearily washed off the dust and grime from the day, then dried herself with the warm towel before pulling the nightgown over her head. She smeared the salve the doctor had given her on her cut-up fingers, then tugged on the soft cotton gloves Maggie had provided.
Tori dragged her body down the hall to the bedroom where Jesse lay and the second cot sat. Her gaze went immediately to her husband, still pale and unmoving, but his chest rose and fell as he took in air. A cold lump of tension settled in her stomach, and she swiped at tear filled eyes. Would he wake up? Did he have internal injuries that would snuff out his life even as she slept near him?
She touched his cheek in a soft caress before settling on the cot. Even though she expected one long night of tossing and turning, she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
Jesse opened his eyes to complete darkness. Had he gone blind? His head hurt like the devil when he moved it, but he tried to pick out familiar objects to see if his eyes worked. By concentrating, it appeared he lay on a bed in a room he didn’t recognize. Flat on his back, his arm was supported by something hard. Thinking made his head hurt more, so he closed his eyes and went back to sleep.
Tori’s eyes flew open. Sunlight streamed through the window over Jesse’s head. She padded to the bed, wishing for a twitch, jerk, or movement of any kind. Nothing. Discouraged, she sighed and sat on the side of his bed. His chest moved as he breathed, but he apparently hadn’t woken since they pulled him out of the rubble last night.
“J
esse, please wake up,” she said, tears filling her eyes again. She grabbed his fingers, rubbing his strong hands to give herself the strength to continue.
“I love you, you have to wake up. You promised me we could have more babies. I’m not letting you go back on your promise. Did you hear me? I want to have babies, lots of babies, your babies. Please wake up.”
She fumbled with the collar of his nightshirt and smoothed out the covers, even though they remained still. She glanced out the window. The beautiful sunshine, blue sky, and puffy white clouds soothed her. They would go on a picnic. Yes, a picnic like they did right after they were married.
The sun dipped behind a cloud, and her life stretched before her, absent Jesse. His smile, his teasing, his kindness. God, she loved him. Losing the baby hurt, but losing Jesse would crush her.
She took his warm hand between her two. Gently, she laid her head on his chest, careful to avoid his arm, comforted by the steady beat of his heart.
“How many?”
Tori jerked up. She could swear Jesse had spoken to her. But again he looked pale and still.
“What?” She bent closer to his face. Silence.
She must be losing her mind, wanting to hear his voice so much, she’d imagined it.
“How many?” His voice rasped over her.
He still hadn’t moved or opened his eyes. Was she hearing voices in her head?
“Jesse, are you awake?” She leaned even closer.
“It depends. How many?”
“What are you talking about?” She giggled, happiness rising from her toes and invading her entire body.
“How many babies, darlin’?” He opened his eyes, squinting against the sunlight.
Tori sat back, covering her mouth with both hands and tears springing to her eyes.
“You’re awake! You’re not dead.”
“I don’t think so. If I’m dead, I should be in hell because my body sure hurts like it.”