It wiped away the painful memories and all thoughts of what ifs. I’d led Cooper to boot camp. I’d led him to war and he’d paid a hefty price, a price that still haunted him and would the rest of his life. His family almost lost him. Me? I’d had no family like him, nothing to come home to. Until now.
I had Cooper, sure, but now we were a family. Not just with Ivy, but with Lily, too. The past led us all to this moment. There would always be risks in this life—the more I loved, the more I risked losing. But looking at Lily, and turning to see the smiling faces of Ivy and Cooper—I knew it would be worth it.
This, right here in this room, was the family I’d never had but always wanted.
After a short visit, Lily started to yawn and the nurse told us she’d be tired from the medicine. Hannah had already told us they’d keep her overnight for observation because of the concussion, but everyone expected her to make a full recovery.
I called a local hotel and made a reservation while Ivy explained to Lily that we’d be staying the night. “One of us will always be here with you throughout the night,” she explained, sitting on the edge of her bed. “You have nothing to worry about.” She stroked her daughter’s hair and gave her the best smile she could manage considering her eyes were puffy from crying and the stress of the day had taken its toll.
The stress had taken a toll on all of us. Holy hell, I never wanted to go through that again.
It was only around dinnertime, but we all looked and felt exhausted. Hannah came in then to check on her patient. After checking a few vitals, she turned to the three of us. “She’s doing great.” Sizing us up, she gave us a sympathetic smile. “You three, on the other hand….”
Turning back to our daughter, she said, “Lily, what do you say if I take the first shift so your parents can go get cleaned up and maybe even rest a bit?”
“Can we watch TV?” Lily asked, her eyes lighting up at the prospect of a TV in her own room.
Hannah grinned at us over her shoulder. “We absolutely can.”
With that decided, she shooed the three of us out the door. “Go get some food and rest,” she ordered. “Lily and I will be just fine.”
Ivy hesitated in the doorway. “Are you sure? I should stay, in case she gets upset.”
Hannah’s look was firm but gentle as she placed her hands on Ivy’s shoulders and steered her toward the hallway. “She’s going to be just fine. Take a minute to breathe. To unwind before you blow your top. I’ll be with her the whole time.”
Ivy still looked doubtful. “Cole and Declan are picking me up and they won’t get into town for another couple of hours, at least. Go.”
When Cooper and I hesitated once more, she rolled her eyes. “For heaven’s sake, you three, I’m her doctor and we’re in the hospital. No horsing around allowed.”
That got a smile from Ivy, but I doubted Lily would be allowed near a horse ever again.
“She’s in good hands, I promise.”
“Can I wear my cowgirl boots with my hospital outfit?” Lily asked.
I couldn’t help but laugh at that. Yeah, she was fine. With that reassurance and Hannah pulling the little boots out of a bag with the rest of Lily’s clothes, the three of us headed out.
After we checked in to the hotel, Cooper and Ivy filled me in on what had happened. All Cole had told me on the phone was that Lily fell off a horse, so they filled me in on all the details. I wrapped a supportive arm around Ivy as she choked up at the memory of seeing Lily fall off, hit her head and lay there unconscious on the ground.
I was freaking out at just the thought of it. Being there must have been horrible.
When they got to the part where Cooper flew them from Bridgewater to the hospital, I stared at my best friend in openmouthed shock. I’d been too heartsick and worried to think about how they’d gotten to the hospital so quickly. I’d just been grateful that they’d gotten there and hadn’t worried about how. Now, though, I stared at Cooper in stunned admiration.
He’d said he’d never fly again. We’d run a chopper company, but he’d ride a desk. I’d take all the flights, or we’d hire someone to help. I had no intention of pushing him on it. I hadn’t crashed in the middle of the desert. I hadn’t been under enemy fire. I hadn’t lost all the men looking to me to get them out of danger.
He’d come through, barely, despite the demons he battled. He’d somehow gotten behind the stick and saved our girl. When our woman and our daughter were in trouble, he’d stepped up, like I always knew he could. “You did what?”
He ducked his head with a bashful grin. His cheeks flushed a ruddy red. “I flew. Fuck, I was so scared.” I wasn’t sure if he was referring to piloting a chopper again or because Lily had been hurt.
I looked over to Ivy and saw her giving Cooper a proud smile. “He did it for us. For Lily.” She reached over and took his hand in hers. Squeezed until her knuckles turned white. “We needed him and he was there for us.”
I reached over to put a hand on his shoulder. “I’m proud of you, man.”
His expression was beyond embarrassed at the recognition, but he was clearly pleased. “You know, I don’t think I could have gotten back in the cockpit for any other reason. And while I wish the accident had never happened, fuck I never want to see Lily hurt ever again, I’m glad it forced me to face my fears.” He turned to me, his expression resolute. “I think you and I should split piloting duties at our company. And the damn paperwork.”
I grinned like an idiot. For the first time in a long while, I saw my old friend again, or at least a hint of him. It wasn’t a full recovery, but it was a start. “I think that sounds like a great plan.”
He looked down at his feet and then back up at Ivy. “Wherever we are. Seattle, Bridgewater, we can run our business.”