Page 7 of Cannon
His breathing continued to deepen after his eyes closed. The doctor had indicated Cannon resting as much as possible was what he needed. If he continued improving, they’d move him out of surgical ICU.
Clara wasn’t sure what about Cannon had pulled her in, but he was the closest she’d ever get to a son. And she was going to help get him well, then kick his butt into gear to win the woman of his dreams, who was also the mother of his child.
Her phone beeped with a text. She giggled at the women who she considered her best friends in such a short time.
Regina:How’s Cannon?
Stella:Is he taking the pain meds? He won’t heal as well without them. There’s being strong and there’s being stupid. Kick his butt if he’s being stupid.
Meg:Rascal and I are heading there tomorrow. Let me know clothes, snacks, or what boredom busters you need.
Regina:Hey, is it like Grey’s Anatomy? Have you seen any doctors or nurses sneak off to the on-call room? I’ve always wondered that.
Stella:I worked in a large hospital before I started traveling. I loved that show, but I neverwould have had the amount of time they had to sneak off. There were times I didn’t get to pee for hours on a shift.
She had better text them before they got completely off track.
Clara:He’s not nauseous and isn’t moaning as much. Seems to be sleeping peacefully. He was concerned about work.
Regina:Of course he was. Let’s get him well, then the plan begins.
Stella:Cue evil laughter. I didn’t know how bored I was until I moved to Bluff Creek. If Cannon gets a plan, can I put Rose and Tasha on the list for next?
Regina:Sure. Should we pencil in your wedding while we’re at it? I’ve noticed a certain someone with a lightness in their step.
Meg:Oh, do tell. What have I missed?
Stella:If I am doing anything it is casual and no, we’re not penciling in a wedding or talking about it. NoCode Rachelneeded. By the way, how are those farm animals? Does Baron know about them yet?
Clara chuckled. Her best friends were hilarious. Although the bunnies had gone home with Blake that day, Regina had to figure out where to put the other animals on the farm. Blake had said she’d be happy to babysit the rabbit until Regina was ready. She’d drawn out a design but hadn’t told Baron they were adding more animals. Clara found it hilarious because Baron had been griping at lunch before Cannon and Jesse’s blow up that they had plenty of animals and the MC didn’t need anymore.
She pulled out her yarn and crochet hook. Seeing Bear deliver blankets to the girls had her wanting to get back into crafting. She didn’t know why she’d quit, but when she realized she’d be at the hospital for a long time, she knew it was the perfect time to start up again. Plus, crocheting gave her a lot of time to think in the quiet room. How exactly could they get Cannon and Jesse to work out their differences?
Chapter Five
Jesse flipped the lights on in the garage and glanced at her list. Yesterday she’d slept half the day after returning from the hospital and then had supper at Sarah’s. The guys had kept the kids occupied and it had been just Jesse and her sisters. They’d needed the time together to work through everything.
Remi, Sarah, and Winnie had apologized for making the decision for her and treating her like a child. They promised to do better. But Remi reminded her that she’d taken over pseudo mom duties when their mom passed and it was hard to let loose of the reins. Remi’s aggrieved tone had them all giggling.
They’d asked her all the questions about the baby but hadn’t asked one question regarding Cannon. She’d appreciated their silence because the subject was so confusing. She’d considered taking today off because, besides the high school girls session, she didn’t have anything on the schedule. But she didn’t want to let those girls down. When she’d offered to teach vehicle maintenance, the principal had misunderstood and thoughtJesse was offering it for the guys. Jesse had shut that down because the garage in Coldwater offered classes but only guys seemed to take them. Jesse wanted a space where the young women felt comfortable asking questions. She’d had two girls the first week, but then the next week four more joined. She offered it as a summer course and had planned on continuing in the fall semester. Now she was worried if she’d be able to do that with a new baby.
“Pumpkin?”
Her dad’s voice calling her childhood nickname had her remembering all those times when he asked her to pass different tools to her while they were working in the garage. She turned because she’d known she’d need to talk with him eventually.
He stood there a little bit grayer than when she was in high school, but he was still a handsome man. The romance novels she and her sisters all read would call him a silver fox, though she’d say his hair was more of a salt and pepper. He still had some dark brown mixed in there. He had a bouquet of flowers in his hand—the kind he took to her mom’s grave.
“Hey, Dad,” she said and walked toward him. His face wasn’t giving anything away. He’d jumped to her defense against Cannon, but was he disappointed in her?
“Thought you might have a little time before your class to go visit your mom with me. It’s been a while.”
Jesse glanced at the clock. “I’d like that. I need to be back here no later than ten-forty-five to set up.”
“Well, then let’s go. You want to hit the restroom while I bring the side-by-side around?” Her dad turned and was out the door before she said yes.
She snickered. She had to pee more now she was pregnant but that’s not why he suggested she go to the restroom. Invariably on family trips, they’d all get loaded up and then Jesse would have to go to the bathroom one more time before they left. Shewasn’t sure if it was her bladder or her brain that made her need to pee one last time before they left the house. She finished in the bathroom, washed her hands and dried them. She hit the button to lower the garage doors and then went out the side door, locking it behind her. Her dad was sitting in the side-by-side waiting on her.
She scooted onto the seat and grabbed onto the handle. Most of the time, she didn’t use the seatbelts unless she had kids with her. Listening to her niece Phoebe lecture her on keeping safe had necessitated driving with one on to avoid the lecture. Her dad motioned to the cup holder as he drove. She reached down for the half sandwich. He’d made her a BLT on toast just the way she liked it.