It settled her. It soothed her. She curled into him. His heart beat steadily beneath her ear. His outdoorsy scent filled her senses.“What time are the kids coming?”
“Whenever you’re feelin’ up to it. No rush.”
Carolyn lifted her head from his chest. “I thought they were all fired up to see me since you kept them out of ICU for the past week.”
“They are very anxious to see you. But they were also warned you might have a setback the first couple of days, so they’re on standby.”
“Setback? I haven’t had a setback.”
The look in his eyes contradicted her statement. “Answer me this. How long have you been out of the coma?”
“Not even twenty-four hours.”
He shook his head. “It’s been forty-eight hours.”
Time confusion in the first couple days is an aftereffect for coma patients, the doctors had assured her.
“You were agitated by the pain, so they had to sedate you and keep you in ICU.”
“It’s a blur.”
“It’ll get better.”
“You’re sure?”
“No, but whatever happens, Caro, we’ll deal with it together.”
“I hate that I put you through this.”
“Just another bump in the road. We’ve had a few of ’em the past fifty years.”
Later that day Carolyn felt a million times better after they let her shower. It was such a shock to see her hair buzzed almost to her scalp. Carson already said he was used to it and he liked it. Then he’d gone into great detail about all the places on his body he couldn’t wait to feel her rubbing that short hair.
If the thought of that man’s wicked mouth and skilled hands all over her didn’t speed up her recovery process and her desire to go home, nothing would.
Carson had summoned their kids. She’d debated putting on makeup so as to not scare them, but nothing would hide the pallor of the last week so she opted to let her age show.
She was wired as she waited. Carson sat beside her on a tall chair, his hands in near constant motion. Seemed he had a case of nerves too.
The door opened and her children filed in, lined up by birth order like she used to demand whenever they were in trouble. No surprise they still knew how to do it.
Carson’s hand tightened on hers. His mouth brushed her ear. “Any time this is too much, let me know and I’ll kick ’em out.”
“I always make you the bad guy, don’t I?”
“No reason for us to change that now.”
Her gaze started with Cord, who gripped a bouquet of flowers from her garden. Then she focused on Colby. His hair held more gray streaks than Cord’s. Her gaze moved to Colt. Still the image of his handsome father, down to his dimpled grin. Cam, her burly boy, wept openly. He’d clamped his hand on Carter’s shoulder, as if his little brother was holding him up. Then she noticed somber-eyed Carter also clasped Keely’s hand. Tears streamed down her daughter’s cheeks.
None of them said a word.
She cleared her throat. “What a fine looking bunch.” And because she was feeling ornery, and because these hellions had played numerous pranks on her over the years, she kept a confused look on her face, and said, “Who are all of you again?”
The room, already silent, went deadly still. The kids exchanged bewildered looks with each other. Then they looked at Carson. And finally at her.
Just as Cord opened his mouth to speak, Carolyn smiled and said, “Just kidding.”
“Jesus, Ma, that was mean,” Cam complained.
“Really mean,” Carter added.
She flapped her hand at them. “Oh pooh, you all deserved that and you damn well know it.”
Colt grinned. “And you’re swearing at us? Now I know you had a head injury.”
Silence.
Then Colt said, “Ah, too soon?”
“Ya think, ass**le?” Colby shoved him.
Cord elbowed Colby. “Knock it off, you two.”
Carson sighed. “Some things never change.”
“Thank God for that.” Carolyn held her arms open. “Well, kids, come here and give me hugs. Then tell me everything I missed in the past week.”
They gathered around, pushing each other out of the way to be the first in line.
Then they all started talking at once.
She turned her head and looked at Carson.
He gifted her with that dimpled grin and mouthed I love you.
That’s when her topsy-turvy world righted itself.
This chaos was her life and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Epilogue
Ten years later…
“See that silver-haired fox over there?” Carson said to Cal. “She’s comin’ home with me tonight.”
“You sure? That guy in the three-piece suit in the corner is eyeballin’ her. Looks like he’s gonna make a move soon.” Cal chuckled. “Of course, he’d have to get up and outta that wheelchair first.”
“Don’t care if he’s in a wheelchair. He puts a hand on her and I’ll beat his wrinkled ass.”
Cal snorted. “Good thing you’re carryin’ around a cane, old man. Your brawlin’ days have been over for a long damn time.”
“Piss off. That woman has been mine for sixty years. I ain’t ever gonna be too old to fight for her.”
Carolyn threw her head back and laughed at something Kyler said. She was holding someone’s baby but there were so many kids around that he couldn’t keep track of which ones belonged to whom.
“She is still something, all right,” Carson said to Cal, never taking his eyes off his wife.
“Yep. Think she’s got a sister?”
“I’ve heard that little whip of a thing is mouthy. Think you can handle her?”
“Been doin’ my level best to handle that spitfire for the past fifty-three years,” Cal said dryly. “Give me another ten years or so and I might have it figured out.”
Carson grinned. “Been a helluva ride, bein’ married to the West sisters.”
“Got that right.” Cal lifted his bottle for a toast. “Best thing I ever did was drag your ass to the dancehall that night.”
He raised his bottle and touched it to his brother’s. “Amen. And if I never said thank you…”
“You did. So how long is this party supposed to last?”
“Hell if I know. That’s the good thing about bein’ old; no one expects us to stay for the whole thing. They think we’re goin’ home early and goin’ to bed.” Which was partially true. He’d be taking his wife home to bed, but they sure wouldn’t be sleeping.