Page 170 of You Found Me
Della’s heart skipped a beat and she sat up a little. “That’s me.”
The nurse frowned at her. “Oh. Okay. Well, there’s a delivery for you. Should I send it in?”
Della could see someone standing behind her with a vase of sunflowers, and her heart lifted. “Yes. Please.”
“What on earth?” Lizzie asked as vase after vase filled with sunflowers marched into the room.
Piper snatched the card off one of the bigger bundles and handed it to her.
Sunflowers for my Lucy. Yours always, Ward.
The flowers kept coming. There were so many that the six people carrying them had to spread them out on every available surface, including the windowsill and in the sink. By the time they were finished carting them in, the hospital room was full of sunshiny faces.
“Yours always,” Della whispered to herself.
It was as if Ward had reached through the wall and put his arms around her. He didn’t say things he didn’t mean and he meant exactly what he said.
Yours always.
She was his. Always.
She hadn’t hallucinated it. He loved her. Maybe he hadn’t used the actual words, but that’s what he meant by always.
She wanted to fly and she didn’t think it was just the good drugs. Happy tears spilled out.
Piper studied her face. “Something you want to tell us, Dell?”
“Are you okay?” Lizzie sounded worried.
“Maybe it’s the medication?” Mattie suggested.
Piper’s slow grin was sly and knowing. “You don’t want to stay with any of us, do you, Dell. Could that be because you’d rather stay with someone else?”
For the first time in her life, Della felt…a little self-conscious. She shrugged and avoided meeting her sister’s gaze. “You’re all very sweet to offer, but I want to stay in Wires Crossing. With Ward.”
Comprehension crossed Lizzie’s face, followed by a fond smile. “Well, I guess you’ll have to ask the homeowner, though I suppose he’ll be okay with it, if this parade of flowers means what I think it means.”
“You want to stay at Ward’s house?” Mattie said slowly as if pieces to a puzzle were coming together.
Della nodded. “It’s a really great house.”
Piper pushed her way onto the bed next to Della. “Did someone catch feelings for her warden?”
“He’s not so bad.” Della twirled a sunflower.
Mattie made a little squeak, then slapped a hand over her mouth.
Piper’s grin widened. “I thought you didn’t like him. That’s what you texted me, wasn’t it?” Piper tugged out her phone and flipped through several screens. “Here it is. ‘He’s obnoxious and mean and no fun at all.’”
“I never sent that.” Della sniffed.
“‘He’s the biggest killjoy on the planet,’” Piper continued.
“I didn’t send that either.”
Piper waggled the phone at her. “It goes on for quite a while. Want to hear more?”
“Lizzie!” Della whined. “Piper’s being mean to me.”