He looked pale, but there was a grin on his face as my siblings and I swarmed him. I let the younger kids hug him first, but before Arella could get her chance, I was throwing my arms around him as carefully as I could and burying my face in his long dark hair, a sob breaking free because I was so damn happy to see him awake.
He wrapped his arms around me gently, patting me on the back with his hands. “It’s okay, sweetheart,” he murmured softly beside my ear. “Daddy’s fine now. I promise.”
That only made me cry harder. I was almost sick with relief that he was doing so well after such a major surgery. There could have been any number of complications, but other than looking tired and in a little pain, he seemed in good spirits and healthier than the last time I saw him.
“Good gods,” a deep voice said from behind me as the door opened. “What’s all the ruckus in here?”
Lifting my head, I watched as Uncle Shane slowly walked into the room. A happy cry left me, and I ran across the spacious private room to throw my arms around him. He groaned, then laughed, and I felt him kiss the top of my head. “Easy, kiddo. I’m a little breakable in spots right now.”
“Sorry,” I mumbled, easing my grip on him. Lifting my head, I blinked back the tears. “Thank you,” I whispered. “Thank you so much. You… You saved him.” I buried my face in his chest again. “Thank you.”
He gave me a squeeze, and I felt him kiss the top of my head again. “Anytime, sweetheart. Anytime at all.”
“Hey, I’m the one who should be getting all the love,” Daddy complained, but he was smiling when I left Uncle Shane to walk back over to him. Arella stepped back from hugging him, and I sat on the arm of his chair, needing to be as close as I could get to him.
Braxton offered the tote of food to Mom. “Not sure if they can have this yet, but Nevaeh and Arella made soup.”
She gave him a small smile. “Thanks. This will be perfect.”
“Ah hell, I am starving,” Uncle Shane said, rubbing a hand over his lower abdomen. “Harper was only letting me have broth earlier. That’s why I snuck over here in hope Lana would feed me.”
“Shouldn’t you be in a wheelchair or something, Uncle Shane?” Arella asked him, worry wrinkling her brow.
“Nah. Doc said to move around as much as possible. Hurts to breathe, but walking isn’t an issue.” He moved closer to Daddy and me. “How are you feeling, brother? You sure as hell look better than you did yesterday, that’s no lie.”
Daddy nodded. “I feel better than I did. Like you said, it hurts to breathe. But honestly, I haven’t felt this good since the car accident.”
Hearing that made me breathe a little easier, and I was able to dry my tears as the room slowly filled with other family members. Eventually, Aunt Harper appeared and dragged Uncle Shane back to his own private room, telling him he needed to rest. His stay in the hospital would be considerably shorter than Daddy’s, but he still had a few days to go before he would be released.
When Aunt Emmie showed up with Mia and Barrick, I decided it was time to get some coffee.
Braxton stood when I announced my intention. “I’ll come with you.”
“No,” I told him, keeping my voice cool.
“Kitten,” he started, a warning in his tone. “You shouldn’t go alone.”
“I’ll go with you, Nevaeh,” Jordan offered, rescuing me, and I quickly latched on to it along with his arm. “Arella, you want something?”
Her brow furrowed when she looked from him to me and down to the way I was holding on to his arm like a lifeline, before shaking her head. I wanted to roll my eyes and yell at her that I would never do any of the things she was obviously thinking, but I clamped my mouth shut.
“Mia?” he asked his best friend.
“N-no thanks,” she murmured, but her big green eyes were on me, silently pleading for me to forgive her.
Jordan pulled his arm free and then placed his hand at the small of my back. “Text me if anyone needs anything. We’ll be back in a few.”
As we walked out the door, I heard Daddy demanding, “Someone better tell me what the hell is going on with her. Right now.”
My shoulders slumped because I could only imagine what everyone was saying about me as we left. Beside me, Jordan gave me a pat on the back and pressed the call button for the elevator. “You know, I was kind of jealous of how big your family is. I’m an only child, but I always wanted at least one brother or sister. Then I see how crazy and nosy your family is at times, and that jealousy evaporates like smoke.”
“You’re part of this crazy family regardless of being an only child,” I informed him. “Doesn’t matter if you’re only Mia’s best friend. You’re one of us.”
He grinned. “Yeah, I’m not going to complain too much about that. It has its perks, being considered family of Emmie Armstrong.”
That had me snorting out a laugh as we rode down to the cafeteria in the elevator. “I suppose it does.”
We were both quiet until after I’d gotten my cup of coffee and he’d made a cup of tea. I frowned as I watched him make it the exact way I knew my sister loved to drink hers.