Just seeing that sets my rage off, but I tramp it down. She doesn’t need to see anger of any kind.
“My manager called and told me when the doctors clear me to go back to work, I’ll have a job waiting. That’s one less thing to stress about.”
I doubt she’ll be cleared to go back to work for a good long while with all the recovery she needs. She has broken bones, torn ligaments in her legs, and a serious concussion. Which is why I’m glad she agreed to let Cherese file a suit against the hotel for not having working cameras in the parking garage. Cherese filed for twenty million each for Daisy, Lucy, and Will. I doubt they’ll get even half of that, but hopefully, they’ll get enough so they won’t have to worry about working any time soon. And the hotel will have to cover medical bills. It’s the one thing I insisted on when Cherese filed the civil lawsuit.
“You’re going to be pissed, but I need to tell you something.”
Her eyes meet mine in the rear-view mirror. “What did you do?”
“I paid your rent at the house for the next six months.” She opens her mouth and I keep talking. “Jenny said I could stay there with you and Collin will be sleeping on the couch downstairs. It’s only fair we pay our share of the rent.”
Her mouth snaps shut. “You’re staying at the house with me? I thought you two would get an apartment or something.”
“You don’t want me staying there?”
“No, I do. I was dreading you leaving.”
Like that was going to happen. She’s told me countless times over the last three weeks that I make her feel safe. I’m the one she reaches for when she wakes up from the nightmares. I was already planning on finding a place close to campus if Jenny had booted us out. A first-floor apartment Daisy could move into with us.
“Can’t get rid of me that easily.”
She relaxes, but I can still see her wince.
“You good?”
She nods slightly. “The sun is just giving me a bit of a headache.”
“We’ll be home soon. Just close your eyes and try to rest.”
“All I’ve done is rest,” she grouches.
“Robbie at least has settled into his base housing.” Collin is still on his phone. How he eats so much I don’t know.
Her brother had been transferred to a reserve base here in Minneapolis. He’s not a reservist, but his post is one of the few full-time postings at the base. That was his surprise. No more overseas for the foreseeable future.
“He asked me to help him decorate for Christmas.” The smile on her face has me smiling. When Daisy is happy, her smile is infectious.
“Christa said they are going to start decorating right after Thanksgiving. Speaking of which, Mom asked me to invite you and your brother over for Thanksgiving dinner.”
“Tell her thank you.”
“You can tell her yourself. You and Rob are coming to Sunday dinner.”
She nods and I see the strain in her expression. Robbie doesn’t have tinted windows, and the sun is excessively bright today. Even with dark sunglasses, the bright light has to be affecting her.
We make it to the house soon after and I can see the big Welcome Home Daisy sign strung up across the front porch. Daisy laughs when she sees it.
I hope to God Jenny kept the crowd inside small.
Collin and I exit the car. He holds the door while I swing her up into my arms to carry her inside. Walking is a no go for her and she can’t use crutches because both hands are encased. She’s stuck relying on people helping her. Which she hates.
They didn’t even realize she had torn ligaments right away. The surgeons had been so focused on her major injuries, it wasn’t until she complained about the pain that they did an MRI of her right leg and saw the damage. That was another surgery that delayed her coming home.
Collin runs up the steps, but the door opens before he even hits the porch. Smoke billows out of the house as Dylan and Mitchell stumble out.
“What the fuck? Is the house on fire?”
Dylan looks up at my question and his expression turns sheepish. “Hey, Daisy, good to see you home.”
