“Dr. Cross, you’re supposed to be getting married today.”
“I am later.” Johnathan flashed his hospital badge. “I’ll show her in.”
Jonathan took my arm, and I shrugged out of his hold. “Don’t think that this makes up for what you did.”
“I wouldn’t dream of thinking that, Lizzy. I know how long you can hold a grudge.” He swiped his card until the door buzzed and then pulled it open. He walked like a man with authority, not the goofball I saw once a week at Sunday dinners.
“I need a status update on Sheriff Malcolm Michaels.”
With a few clicks of the keyboard, the nurse answered. “He’s stable, and they moved him into room 301 in the cardiac wing.”
“Thanks.” Taking my arm, he led me through the ER instead of back out into the waiting room and only stopped at the elevator. We waited for the people to exit before we stepped on.
He pushed the button for the third floor. “I thought I was doing what was best. You two were sneaking around behind my back, and he was too old for you.”
“That wasn’t your decision to make.”
“It was at the time,” he answered, and we lingered in silence until the elevator dinged our floor and we stepped out. He steered me away from the nurses’ station and down a hall of rooms.
“So, are you two a thing now? You know he’s dating someone.”
“Was dating someone,” I corrected and paused outside the sheriff’s door, stopping my brother. “And for the record, I make my own choices. Are we clear?”
“Crystal,” Jonathan said and shoved through the door, leaving me to follow.
He stopped, and I bumped against his back. I moved to his side to see around him. Ben was holding his grandfather’s hand. He had his head lowered. Worry lay thick in the room. Had we found him in time?
“How is he?” Jonathan asked.
Ben rose from the seat. His jaw ticked, and he advanced on Jonathan. I stepped between them as they glared at each other over my head.
Resting my palms on Ben’s cheek, I waited until he lowered his gaze to mine. “He’s still my brother. I’m the only one who’s going to kick his ass, and now is definitely not the time.”
“Put them in their place, Lizzy,” Sheriff Malcolm said from across the room.
I held Ben’s gaze until he gave me a slight nod. Satisfied, I stepped out of their way and walked to the bed.
“Now I know my visit got your blood pumping, but seriously, Sheriff.”
He chuckled and then winced. “I hear you saved my life.”
I shrugged. “CPR is basic training. So, you can thank the sheriff’s department.”
“Smart and skilled, Benjamin. You need to keep this one.”
“I’m trying, Gramps, but the stubborn woman has other ideas.”
