“This is the lowest dose. It still might make you a little loopy, but it shouldn’t be too bad. And if, for some reason, it doesn’t take the edge off, it’s perfectly safe to have the other half.”
She nods and takes the pill followed by a big glug of water.
Sitting down next to her, I sweep some hair off her face.
“Can you turn your head?”
“That’s not what’s broken,” she says with a pathetic laugh. Then she turns her head toward me.
“Other way.”
She squints at me, but does it.
Gently, I run my fingers through her soft hair, then take a few strands in my hand and fumble through braiding them together. I looked up tutorials online, and they seemed easy enough. I figured having her hair out of her face would be a must, and she told me in the past that she didn’t like to wear her hair in a ponytail for too long because it hurt after a while.
Painstakingly slowly—and probably really poorly—I French braid her hair.
“What are you doing?”
“Putting your hair back. Just relax.” Holding all the strands in one hand, I grab the remote with the other. “Here, put something on.”
I get back to braiding, and to my surprise, she doesn’t put onOnce Upon a Time.
“Virgin River?”
“Have you ever seen it?” she asks.
“Nope.”
I swear she snickers under her breath. “Well, get ready for all the drama. This makes my books look tame.”
Somehow, I doubt that’s possible, but I’ll take her word for it.
After another few minutes, I finish the braid. “Okay, all done.”
She turns so her back is against the couch again, then reaches up to feel her hair.
“Thank you,” she whispers, then shakes her head. “I can’t believe—” Her voice breaks again, and I move closer.
“What?”
“I can’t believe you did that for me.”
“I’ll do whatever you need, darlin’. Now, teach me about this show.”
Jade fell asleep halfwaythrough the first episode. After making sure she was breathing okay, I took a quick shower, grabbed some extra pillows and blankets for the couch, and warmed up some more food.
After eating and watching more ofVirgin River—which is terrifyingly addicting—I put our bowls in the sink and start making a little bed for myself on the other side of the couch.
“What are you doing?” Jade asks. “Aren’t you going to sleep on the couch with me?”
She’s loopy from the pain meds and still a little emotional.
“Yeah, that’s what I’m doing.”
“No. Not there.” Emotion swells in her voice again, and I stop and walk over to her. “Will you sleep here? Next to me?”
Oh.
