Runway Romance (Love in the Air Trilogy) (20 page)

“Strange night.”

“It’s ending well,” Rich said.

Jenny looked up into his eyes. “Yes, it definitely is.”

They walked the rest of the way in silence. When they reached Maya’s room it was empty.

“It always takes them longer to get here.”

Rich pulled the blankets on the bed down and fluffed up the pillows. Jenny turned the t.v. on and set it the Disney channel.

“Does this hospital charge a lot?” Jenny asked.

“All hospitals charge a lot.”

“I mean, this is a single room, too. I thought they made more money by packing as many people into a room as possible.”

“All I know is that when I’m in the hospital, I always get stuck with a roommate with some wicked cough that keeps me up all night and someone who’s hard of hearing and has to have the t.v. up so loud you can hear it in Alaska.”

“Alaska?”

“Okay, slight exaggeration.”

Gale and Maya arrived followed by a nurse. “We don’t have to wake her. Most of the information I need is from you.”

The next fifteen minutes were spent with Rich relaying exactly what happened during Maya’s asthma attack, confirming her list of medications and allergies and signing paperwork. “I’ll bring in a roll-a-way.”

“Don’t bother. The recliner will do fine.”

“Are you sure? It’s no trouble.”

“Thanks, but no.”

“Okay.” The nurse left.

“You are tired, Mr. Novatney,” Jenny said as she wrapped her arms around him and held him close. When he leaned into her embrace, it felt like she was exactly where she was supposed to be. Home.

She could feel him taking deep breaths of air into his lungs. For all his bravado about doing this all the time, he had been scared. Frightened this might be the time his daughter couldn’t get her breathing under control.

“It’s okay. She’s okay. Everything’s okay.”

Rich nodded. “Am I holding you too tight?”

“No such thing.”

Rich laughed into the hair on her neck. He leaned back and took her face in his hands. “Thank you.”

“Maybe I’ll just stay until you fall asleep. I’d feel better knowing you weren’t alone.”

“This is the part where I’m supposed to say no, right?”

“It’s the place where you’re supposed to realize I don’t want to leave, but I’m too chicken to just say that.”

Rich leaned his forehead against Jenny’s and closed his eyes. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to rely totally on someone else. I’m usually the one people rely on.”

“I know. You’re very good at it. Let’s see if you can be just as good at letting someone else care for you for a while.” Jenny took his hand and led him to the recliner. She positioned her body to the far right and pulled him gently into her arms until they were spooning. With the foot portion of the recliner up and the back laying almost flat, they fit together quite nicely.

Jenny reached for the extra blanket the nurse had left at the foot of Maya’s bed. “I can’t reach it.”

“I’ll get it.”

“No, I don’t want you to move. We’re in here perfectly. I think I can get it with my toe if I kick off my shoes.”

“I can just get up and get it.”

“Stay put. Just give me a second.” Jenny slid her body down further as she stretched her left foot toward Maya’s bed.”

“Great effort, but I hate to tell you, you’re not even close. And, now you’re halfway off the end of the recliner.”

Jenny giggled. “I had such a great plan. It was romantic and sweet and sensitive. Now it’s all shot to hell.”

“I appreciate the effort. Can I get the blanket now?”

“Get the damn blanket.”

Rich was grinning as Jenny tried to reposition herself in the chair after he got up.

“Oh for Pete’s sake.” Jenny half slid out of the chair until she was standing. “I want a rewind.”

“Okay.”

“You stand by the end of the bed. Put the blankie down. I’ll pick it up when I get in the chair.”

“Pick up a couple pillows, too.”

“Good idea. Okay… now what did I say? Oh, yes. Let’s see if you can be as good at letting someone take care of you.” Jenny took his hand and led him to the chair, this time snagging the blanket and several pillows.

Rich suppressed a smile.

When they had snuggled in and adjusted the chair, pillows and blanket, Rich said. “Thank you.”

“You are more than welcome. Good night.”

“Good night.”

They closed their eyes. The gentle sound of Rich’s deep, rhythmic breathing could be heard within a few minutes.

Jenny liked the feel of his entire body touching hers. She wanted to wrap him in her arms and legs, surrounding him in a cocoon of loving care.

She fell asleep with Rich’s hand in hers and the scent of his masculine after shave filling her dreams.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Jenny woke to the sound of a much-too-cheerful nurse opening the blinds. “Better let some sun in here or you’ll sleep all day.”

Maya put her hand over her eyes. “Even Mom counts to three before she turns the lights on.”

“I’m not your mother.”

“That’s for sure.”

“How are you feeling?” Jenny asked.

“Good. Can I go home today?” They both looked at the nurse expectantly.

“Should be able to. Dr. Levine will be in a few minutes. If he gives approval, you’ll be on your way home shortly.”

“Mind if I use your bathroom?”

“No, go ahead. I think you’re the first person to ever ask.”

Jenny disentangled herself gently from Rich’s arms and legs. Every part of her body ached, but she wouldn’t have traded the experience for anything.

Once in the bathroom, she grimaced at her reflection. “He’s liable to run away screaming if he sees me like this.” The eye liner and mascara that enhanced her features last night now looked as if a baby had drawn on her face with a marker. “Better for him to see me with no make-up than looking like this.”

She scrubbed her face and did the best she could to make herself presentable. “It’ll have to do.”

When she opened the door, the doctor was entering Maya’s room. “You’re looking good, young lady.”

“Do I get to go home?”

“Yes. I’ve already started the paperwork. You should be out of here in a couple of hours.”

“Woot! Woot!” Maya put her hands in the air and wiggled her body around, doing the best bed dance Jenny had ever seen.

“I hate to wake Mr. Novatney.”

“Oh, I’ll give him the news. He’ll be thrilled,” Jenny said.

“He’ll have to sign the dismissal paperwork.”

“He’ll be awake by then, I’m sure.”

“As for you, Miss Maya, keep breathing.”

“Like I have a choice.”

Jenny smiled.

“You have a point there. Here’s hoping you never have to come back to the hospital again, but if you do, we’re always here to help.”

“Thanks, doc.”

“So, it looks like your dad can’t bring you McDonald’s right now, but I can. What’s your favorite?”

“That’s okay, you don’t have to get it for me. Dad’ll pick something up on the way home.”

“I didn’t mean to intrude.”

“You didn’t. I just don’t want anything to get in the way of my going home.”

“I could probably find a vending machine. Anything in there that sounds good?”

Maya rubbed her hands together. “Anything?”

“Sure.”

“I want a Dr. Pepper, Nutter Butters and Doritos.”

“I shall return with your contraband.”

As Jenny headed out the door, Maya said, “Thanks for staying with Dad last night. He worries a lot. It was nice that he had someone to look out for him.”

“It was my pleasure.”

“Are you two a thing now, like Mom and Roger?”

“We may be heading in that direction. Would it bother you?”

“No. You seem cool. I just see how happy Mom is and I’d like Dad to be that happy, too.”

“Rich is lucky to have a daughter like you.”

“We’re lucky to have each other.”

Jenny nodded. “I’ll be right back.”

“That was a nice thing to say,” Rich said as he stretched and sat up.

“Hey, you’re up. Doc said I get to go home this morning. Jenny went to get me breakfast at the vending machine.”

“How’re you feeling?”

“Good. You know how this goes. I feel like I’m gonna die and then presto, I’m all better.”

“I like the presto, all better part.”

“Me, too.”

“What do you think of Jenny?”

“She seems nice. You really like her, huh?”

“Why do you say that?”

“Your eyes get all glowy and you smile a lot and hold her hand. That’s how Mom is with Roger.”

“Roger’s a good man.”

“So are you. Sometimes I wonder why you and Mom don’t love each other like that.”

“You can’t choose who you fall in love with.”

“Wouldn’t it be easier if you could? Like Jimmy Waters. He’s such a creep. He copies my answers off tests, even though I practically turn into a contortionist to keep him from seeing what I’m writing, and he calls me maggot instead of Maya.”

“But?”

“But I like him. I have no idea why.” She threw her hands up in the air. “There’s just something about the way he looks at me that makes me want to hang out with him. Is that what love is like?”

“Pretty much. It’s hard to define.”

“What did you like about Jenny when you first saw her?”

“She was hopping mad when we first met. I loved her spirit and energy. I wasn’t sure what she was going to say or do.”

“And you liked that?”

“Yeah. It was exciting. Most people are so predictable. Not Jenny.”

“Maybe I should use that unpredictable thing with Jimmy. Shake things up a bit, ya know?”

“How?”

“I don’t know. Maybe I should kiss him when he’s not expecting it.”

“Maya…”