Page 17 of Defending Love
Dani
* * *
A few hours later, Eli walked with me into the rehab facility, his suspicious gaze scanning everything and everyone around us. After taking the elevator to the second floor, Eli entered a code into a box near security doors—a code I could only assume came from Jack, Mom’s bodyguard. The doors opened. Jack stood from the chair beside the closed door to Mom’s new room. “Dr. Sinclair. Mr. Rhodes.”
“Mr. Webb,” Eli replied.
“How is she doing?” I asked.
“The move over here from the hospital wore her out.” Jack tipped his chin toward the door. “She’ll be happy to see you.”
My gaze went to Eli’s.
Was I silently asking permission?
Before I could continue that thought, he questioned Jack.
“Is there anyone else in there with her?”
“No. We’re hoping she’ll get some rest.”
“I’ll wait out here,” Eli said, in his way of giving me permission to enter without him.
Squaring my shoulders, I decided that this pecking order was a subject for another time. With a nod, I opened the door. With her eyes closed and her body beneath the covers, my mother looked small, almost childlike, lying in the hospital-style bed. Next to her bed, I noticed a walker.
Spinning slowly, I took in the room. It was a little larger than her room had been back at the hospital and there was a large window, currently covered by blinds. Maybe I should go to her home and bring a few things to make this space more personalized and less sterile.
“Dani. Oh, you’re here.”
I turned with a grin and walked toward the bed. “Hey, Mom. How are you feeling?”
She wiggled in the bed and pushed a button at the side that lifted her to a sitting position. “Physically, I’m better.” She pointed at the walker. “They’re letting me get out of bed as long as I promise to use that thing.”
Tears glistened in her eyes as she swallowed. “I know we spoke on the phone but tell me again. How was the service?”
“Sad,” I answered truthfully. “Everyone is shocked.”
“I still can’t believe it’s all true.” She wiped a tear from her cheek. “I don’t know how to live without your father.”
Moving beyond the rail, I sat on the edge of her bed and laid my hand on her blanket-covered legs. “The way Dad would want you to live. Not giving up.”
“Damien is trying to talk me into moving back to Carmel, even offered for me to stay with him, Ella, and Dylan.”
A smile teased my lips. “He told me. He wants me to encourage it.”
She shrugged.
“Oh, it sounds fun.”
“I’ve been thinking about it.” She sighed. “I would love to spend time with Dylan, but I’m also not ready to give up my independence. Maybe I could travel back and forth. Our home here will seem too lonely without Derek.” She feigned a smile. “I’ll be expecting him to walk through the door.”
I remembered my brother’s other request. “Damien wants me to FaceTime him.” I touched his number in my contacts. As soon as he answered, I handed the phone to Mom. While they spoke, I wandered around the room, looking in the closet and drawers. Opening the blinds, I let the natural light stream through the window, while seeing the palm trees from the second floor.
When she hung up, she said, “He wants you to call him later.”
Exhaling, I nodded. “Do you want me to get you some things from your house?”
“That would be wonderful. I made a list for Jack, but he won’t leave me until his replacement arrives.” A pink hue came to her cheeks. “And I feel better asking you to bring me panties.”
