“Jesus, Rona. Let me get you something for the pain.”
“Yes, please.”
After she takes the tablets, she clutches my hand. “Will you just hold me?”
“Oh sweetheart, always.”
Sitting next to Rona on the bed, I take her in my arms and cuddle her close. She feels so good. “I love you so much.”
“I love you, too.” She pulls away slightly with a look of regret on her face. “I think we better go back downstairs. Daniel wants to talk to me.”
“Are you ready?”
She nods. I pick her up again.
“I can walk, slowly, but I can still manage.”
“Humor me, I want you close.” I kiss her.
“Can we sit on one of the chairs? I want to stay with you.”
“That’s fine, I was planning on that.”
Downstairs, I see Anna, Justin and Daniel in the kitchen talking to a guy I haven’t seen before. Ignoring them for now, and the questions I can see on Anna’s face, I head to the living room and sit down in the chair closest to the fire with Rona in my lap.
“I’m so tired.” She looks at me sleepily. After kissing me, she puts her head down, and within seconds, is asleep cuddled against my chest.
A few minutes later, Anna comes over to sit opposite me. “Are you okay, Dad? You seem really shaken.”
Looking at Anna, I can see her concern for me. “Now that Rona’s in my arms, I’m fine. I’ve never been in love before, Anna. Until now.”
“I can see that, Dad. I should be mad with you because of her age. In fact, if you had told me about you both, without the drama of today, I probably would be. After today, and seeing your reaction and hers when she saw you, I can’t be angry with you. After all this time, you deserve someone to love you as a man and not a father. Rona does, I can clearly see that.”
“Oh, honey, you have no idea how much that means to me. What about Beth?”
“She knows. I called her and told her what happened here and what I suspect between you and Rona. Justin rang Jake to tell him about Tom, so I think Jake’s probably getting the third degree about you both as he’s taken Elise to Beth’s house until everything is cleaned up here.”
“That’s probably for the best. Did he say how Elise is?”
“She’s upset that Rona has gotten hurt, but okay about Tom, at least that’s what Jake said.”
“Thanks, Anna.” I run my fingers through Rona’s hair.
What a day this has turned out to be. It started out amazing and has ended in near disaster.
“Cade, how is she doing?” Daniel takes a seat nearby.
“She’s hurting, but I guess it could have been a lot worse if you hadn’t gotten here so quickly.” I kiss Rona on the forehead.
“I was on my way to let you know Nick had been released, when the call came through.”
“Thanks for looking after Rona until I could get to her. She means everything to me.”
“I know. I’m sorry, but I need to get a statement from her, Cade, you know that. The guy over there is with the DEA and he needs to talk to her as well. I’m sorry, but can you wake her up? The paramedics can check her out first, but you know we have to talk to her tonight.”
“Okay, but she needs some privacy.”
Rona