“The emotional side,” Carol said. “We need to find out why you need the drugs in the firstplace.”
“You going to head-shrink me? Good luck. I went to a group for a few years. Didn’t do nothing. Got back on the meth when a dealer started hanging out in the parking lot after themeetings.”
“Bastard,”Hanksaid.
“Yeah,” her momagreed.
After a few moments of silence had passed, Carol gave her mom’s hand a gentlesqueeze.
“We’ll figure out all the details later. Right now, I want you to get better. Get some rest and we’ll come back in the morning. Okay?” sheasked.
“If you keep insistin’ on helpin’, I guess I don’t have much of a choice,” hermomsaid.
“That’s right,” Carol smiled. “You can push me away all you want, but I’m notleaving.”
“I don’t deserve you, especially after all the terrible things I said to you. I didn’t mean it,” hermomsaid.
“I know.” She leaned down to plant a soft kiss on her cheek. “We’ll be back tomorrow to check on you. I’ll leave my cell phone number with the nurse in case you needanything.”
Her mom’s head rolled across the pillow toward Hank. “You take care ofmygirl.”
“I will,”hesaid.
“Can you do somethin’ for me?” her mom asked. “Can you ask them to keepTrevorout?”
“He’s in jail right now, but I’ll make sure security knows just in case,”Hanksaid.
“Good. I think I’m donewithhim.”
Relief flooded Carol’s body. Her mother had just taken the first step toward healing. As she followed Hank through the halls to the truck, a seed of hope sprouted in her heart. Maybe she could find a way to stay and build a relationship with her mom… and maybe even withHanktoo.
* * *
Carol snuggledinto Hank’s arms in the hotel room they’d rented for the night. He hadn’t wanted to drive back and forth between Bozeman and West Yellowstone. The trip was too long and too dangerous to be doingeveryday.
She pressed her cheek against his chest and listened to the thump of his heart. Earlier, she’d been ready to confess her feelings, but to actually come up with the right words was harder than she thought itwouldbe.
“What are you thinking?” Hank askedsoftly.
“I’m thinking about you… about us.” She felt his heart beat a littlefaster.
“Aboutus?”
“I don’t know where to start,” sheconfessed.
“You know I’m here for you, no matter what.Right?”
“Iknow.”
“It’s more than that, though,”hesaid.
“It is?” She propped up on her arms and looked intohiseyes.
“Honey, I know we’ve only known each other for a few days. Incredibly intense days, but still, only a few days.” He stopped. “I’mbabbling.”
“It’s okay,” she said, glad that he was starting theconversation.
“I’m just going to come out with it. I’m falling in love with you. I know you don’t really believe what I was telling you about fated mates, but it’s true. My bear recognized your bear as his mate the second he saw you. I was just too dumb to believe him,” he said with a crookedsmile.
