“I don’t think they do.”
Our little run-in with Elijah provided a good distraction, but we were soon back to indulging in our nervous habits as we waited for news about Cameron. Finally, we took turns to nap, sprawling uncomfortably on the chairs with our jackets draped as blankets over us.
Eventually, the double doors at the back of the waiting room swung open, and we turned to see a surgeon heading toward us.
“You’re here for news about Cameron Moore, yes?”
We nodded.
“He’s stable. We’ve done what we can to save his legs, but I’m afraid it’s still touch and go. We’re going to observe him over the next couple of days, but at this moment in time, amputation can’t be ruled out.”
It was half expected, but I still gasped at hearing the words.
The terrible news hit me like a hurricane.
Hugh and I had to steady each other as we tried to process it. Cameron, the active, fun-loving cop, might lose his legs? It didn’t bear thinking about, and I hated the thought of him sitting in his recovery room alone.
“Can I see him now?” I asked.
The doctor shook his head. “He’s conscious, and remarkably lively, but it’s family only, and I understand his father is on his way here now.”
No. I had to see him.
“I’m his fiancée, doesn’t that count as family?”
At exactly the same time as Hugh said, “I’m his brother, practically.”
The doctor’s face brightened as he looked between us. “Ah. A fiancée and a brother. I didn’t realize, so you may come this way.”
I tried not to look guilty as I declared, “And Hugh’s my fiancé, too.”
“Err, excuse me?”
I looked up at Hugh for reassurance and could practically see him say to himself fuck it, and decide to go along with my story. “Yeah, we know it’s unusual, but we are all basically family, so we’d really like to see Cameron if at all possible, and I know he’d want to see us too.”
The doctor glanced over at the receptionist, who was clearly fascinated by the exchange.
I didn’t feel embarrassed at all; why would I be ashamed of love? The receptionist gave a shrug and a nod to the surgeon, who gave us one last glance before ushering us down the hall.
“You know, I watched a documentary about a relationship like yours a while ago,” he said good-naturedly as we walked. “I have to say, they seemed very happy. Nice to have an extra person to split the bills with, too.”
“That’s a benefit I hadn’t thought of,” I replied, and Hugh looked down at me with a smirk.
Chapter Fourteen
Cameron Moore
“Oh, why don’t you come on over, Muuuuriielll.”
She looked dazzling as she entered my little hospital room, and her look of joy—or was it confusion? No, surely joy—as I serenaded her only made her more beautiful. Morphine was a wonderful thing.
Hugh followed in behind her. He looked so pleased to see me I almost wanted to cry. I felt so lucky to have two awesome people caring about me.
“Um, thanks for the song.” Muriel sat gently on the end of the bed. “How are you feeling?”
“You deserve it. And I feel... okay, I think. I’m alive, which is good, and you’re here, which is even better.”
Muriel laughed. “I don’t think my presence is better than you being alive, Cameron.”
“I strongly disagree.”
I thought I saw a shadow of sadness cross her face, but that might have been the drugs making me paranoid.
“What have they told you about the surgery?” Hugh asked. He’d taken a seat right beside me, and he was looking at me with concern. I swallowed hard.
“They said it went as well as can be expected,” I explained. “But there’s a lot of physical therapy in my future, at least. And there’s a possibility that—” I choked. I couldn’t say it. Hugh reached out and touched my arm lightly.
“We know.”
“Nothing’s definite, though,” Muriel said. “And a certain someone told me today that miracles happen all the time, so...”
She looked over at Hugh, and I turned in surprise.
“Have you been taking hippy pills, Hugh? That doesn’t sound like you.”
He chuckled. “It’s been a very strange day, that’s for sure.”
Muriel accidentally brushed my leg with her arm, but I only knew because I was looking at her at the time. I couldn’t feel a thing. My heart sunk, and tears pricked at my eyes.
“What’ll I do if I lose my legs? I can’t be a cop anymore, and I don’t want to do anything else.”
“It’s not going to happen,” Hugh said. Normally, when he said something positive, I believed it, because he’d never knowingly looked on the bright side of life before.
But if he’d been talking about miracles, I was suddenly uncertain if he could be trusted. That was the kind of crap I normally said, not him. I wondered what sort of magic Muriel had been weaving on him all day.