A Cowboy Comes Home by April Arrington

Author:April Arrington
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-10-27T17:32:49+00:00

Chapter 2

While ER doctors worked on his sister, Jed paced Aspen Valley Hospital’s waiting room. The place looked more like a ski resort than a hospital, which he supposed many patients and families found comforting.

At the moment, he doubted anything would make him feel better aside from learning his sister would be okay.

Although that wasn’t entirely true. For the brief time he’d spoken with Camille, the tightness in his chest had lessened. The room’s dim light seemed brighter. A million years ago, she’d been not just his best friend and lover, but his everything.

Truth be told, maybe he’d never fully gotten over her. Maybe Alyssa had been somewhat justified in cheating on him if he admitted that his heart had never fully been with her. Part of him would always remain with Camille—not that it mattered.

Though it would be nice catching up with her, what they’d shared was beyond ancient history. Their relationship wasn’t a dust-covered box he’d shoved to the back of his mental attic, but something he’d long ago abandoned at the side of the curb for weekly trash removal. Their breakup had hurt so badly that he’d needed the memory gone.

The alternative, of ever revisiting that pain, seemed too cruel.

Three cups of tar-like black coffee later, the sun was just rising when a scrub-wearing doctor emerged from behind pass-code-locked doors. He hung his head, raking his hands through longish salt-and-pepper hair.

Jed ditched his latest coffee in a trash can, then strode to meet the man who held Emily’s life in his hands.

“How is she?” Jed asked. “When can I take her home?”

The doctor said nothing, seeming to struggle with his words.

“I get it if she needs to stay longer. She’s been through a lot. I mean, the stress alone from the sudden loss of a spouse would do most people in. But she’s strong.”

“Mr. Monroe...”

“I probably need to grab her a change of clothes and toiletries. A neighbor’s watching my nieces, so I’ll—”

“Mr. Monroe, I don’t even begin to know how to say this, but your sister...” His voice cracked. Exhaustion weighted his shoulders and his eyes were red-rimmed from having pulled an all-nighter.

Stood to reason the guy was tired.

Jed was, too.

“Your sister died.”

No. The doctor’s words didn’t compute.

“We pumped her stomach, but the damage was already done. Approximately thirty minutes ago, she went into cardiac arrest. Every effort was made to save her, but sometimes in suicide victims, there’s no will to live.”

“She didn’t commit suicide. The overdose was accidental. I told you that when she was admitted.”

“Whatever the case, on behalf of the entire ER team, we’re sorry for your loss. The hospital chaplain has been called and will help with arrangements.”

“Arrangements?” Jed clenched his fists. Things like calling a funeral home? Explaining to his mom that she’d lost not only her son-in-law, but her only daughter? Sure, he’d get right on all that.

He needed to punch a wall. The doctor’s placid face.

This wasn’t happening.

There was no effing way this was happening.

But it was.

“I—I need to see her,” Jed said.

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