When Worlds Collide (My Kind Of Country Book 3)

by M. Lynne Cunning

  “Wow, look at you.” Katie beamed at him, a swell of pride rising in her chest seeing him so mobile and healed. No intravenous lines strung from his arms, though a PICC line was still in place in his left forearm.

  “Merry Christmas!” Mason pushed past Katie and jutted his hand out, the balloon bobbing with his jerky movements.

  Chad was grinning, too. He took the balloon, his expression, still marred with the faintest shadows of bruises but definitely on the mend, looking a bit surprised at being given such a thing. “Thanks, Little Man! Merry Christmas to you, too. What’s this for?” He was still staring at the balloon quizzically.

  “It’s to say, yay! You’re getting sprung from this joint!”

  Katie’s eyes opened wide, and she burst into laughter. “Mason, where in the world did you hear such a thing?”

  “It’s from a movie on Netflix. But I’m right, though. Right?”

  “You’re so right, Mase.” Chad shook his head lightly, giving Katie a quick wink. “Besides,” he added jovially, “You’re not far off in equating this place with jail, I’m sure.”

  “Has Dr. Vale been in to see you?” Katie asked, taking a glance around the room. Chad’s overnight bag was packed and zipped shut on his bed.

  “I’ve been discharged from the ICU for over an hour. I’ve just been waiting for you to show up,” Chad explained, a hint of a smirk showing.

  Katie looked appalled. “Really? The nurses could have taken you over to the rehabilitation ward instead of making you sit here. It’s on the other side of the building, not the other side of the world.”

  “They offered. I told them I would wait for you.”

  His admission made her rein in her snippiness. “Oh. Well, I’m sorry I’m late.”

  “Better late than never. Now, get me out of here.”

  ***

  The rooms in the acute rehabilitation ward were less daunting and sterile looking than the ones in the ICU. It didn’t exactly measure up to the comforts of home, but the rooms were furnished to resemble something a little less fear-evoking than the confines of the intensive care unit. There was also an array of Christmas decorations hanging brightly throughout the nurse’s desk and surrounding areas in the ward, which made Mason’s eyes shine and Katie feel a little more hopeful. Rehabilitation coincided with recovery, starting over again, second chances, and even the chance to be a family during the holiday season. Being a patient on this ward could give Chad all those things. He would have to work for it, but at least being there meant he was on his way to regaining his life.

  The nurses seemed nice as well, though Katie didn’t have a complaint about the care Chad had received from the nurses in the ICU. She made a mental note to stop by the ward and thank Lucinda, the nurse who had called her when Chad first arrived at the hospital, for all she’d done to help them.

  Once Katie wheeled Chad into his room, he made a big deal of wanting a coffee, asking Mason to take his mom and go get him one in the cafeteria. The cafeteria was farther from Chad’s room now, but Katie reluctantly did as she was asked. In the ten minutes she and Mason were gone, the nurses had aided Chad in transferring from the wheelchair to the hospital bed, and the head of the bed was tilted up into a sitting position. She gave him a knowing look, realizing his reasons for the coffee request, but didn’t say anything as she handed him the paper cup.

  “Hand me that bag, Katie, please?” Chad pointed to the overnight bag Mason had drug along for him. He’d left it near the hard-looking couch by the window.

  She pulled the bag from the floor and set it on the edge of the bed within his reach. “I’ll unpack some of your stuff for you, seeing as you’ve got a dresser and a couch here. You’re moving up in the world, it seems.”

  “It’s no cozy farmhouse with you, but it’ll do.”

  Katie’s gaze rose to meet his. “I would have thought you’d be wishing for a luxury suite at the Hilton or something. You know, being such a big shot country music artist and all.”

  “You know me better than that,” he replied with an amused smile, digging through the bag awkwardly. The movements were causing him pain, Katie could tell by the wincing he was trying to hide. Still, he rifled through his things, pulling out a neatly wrapped box. If she wasn’t sure before, Katie was convinced now that Chad had recruited Elaine in helping him attain the Christmas gift. She’d seen Chad’s gift wrapping abilities during Mason’s birthday a few months ago, and there was no way he had wrapped that box so perfectly himself.

  “Here, Little Man. When they spring me from this joint, I’ll get you something way cooler. But for now, well, Merry Christmas, Mason.” Chad held the box out to Mason, who had taken up a spot on the end of the couch closest to Chad, and got up to get the gift from him.

  “You didn’t wrap that gift yourself,” Katie whispered.

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Chad chuckled.

  Mason made quick work of Elaine’s wrapping job and pulled the flaps back from the box to reveal two thin strips of cardstock. The young boy stared at them confusedly, his eyes bulging as he struggled to read the words on them, and as recognition and understanding finally sunk in.

  “Concert tickets!” Mason exclaimed. “I have concert tickets to your show in March!”

  Chad grinned, nodding. “Those are front row tickets to the kick-off concert for my tour.”

  “Whoa!”

  Katie, not wanting to douse her son’s excitement, spoke in a low voice. “Chad, are you sure? I mean, what if you’re not ready—”

  “The date was finalized before I ended up here, so I made sure Barry set aside those tickets for the two people I want there the most. You and Mason. I will be at that concert, Katie. Believe me.” Chad raised his head to peer at the ecstatic young boy. “Giving you those tickets right now just reinforces how much I need to be there. I don’t want to let you down, Little Man.”

  “This is awesome, Chad. I’m going to a concert, Mom!” He held the tickets up proudly.

  “It looks like you are. What do you say?”

  “Thank you!”

  “No,” Chad shook his head, reaching out to slide his hand over Katie’s. His gaze traveled up to meet hers. “Thank you.” He turned to Mason. “And you, too.”

  Katie wasn’t exactly sure what he was thanking them for, but she had a feeling she shouldn’t ask for clarification. Emotions had already been running high enough as of late as it was. “Ready for your gift now?”

  “Yeah, Chad! It’s time for your presents! All of them!” Mason cheered excitedly.

  “All of them?” Chad arched a brow at Katie. “What in the world have you two been up to?”

  “Oh, you know, just a little shopping. A little memory making. Spreading a little Christmas cheer.” Katie grinned mischievously back at him, then leaned over, giving a little nod to Mason. He grinned from ear to ear as he produced a small rectangular box from his pocket, obviously wrapped by a seven-year-old. He held the box out to Chad. “Open it!”

  “Okay, okay.” Chad pulled apart the wrapping and lifted the top off the box. His expression turned from one of happiness into pure confusion as he held up the utensil that was inside. “You guys got me a fork for Christmas? If I’m supposed to get the joke, I don’t.”

  Katie looked over at Mason, who couldn’t hold in his amusement any longer. He doubled over, laughing harder than he had in a long time, and the sight of him caused matching grins to form on Chad and Katie’s faces.

  “I’m glad I’m so funny, Mase. Okay, you got me. What’s the joke?”

  “That’s just it!” Mason shrieked through bouts of giggles. “There is no joke!” Having to explain only made Mason laugh harder, and Katie shook her head before turning to Chad.

  “Just keep it. You’re going to need it...for your real present.”

  Chad seemed relieved to find out there wasn’t some inside joke he was forgetting. “I’m not going to lie, I’m nervous now to even ask. But what’s my real present?” He wore
a smirk, but wariness was in his eyes as Katie stood up.

  “How about I just show you?” Katie asked, heading for the door that was partially closed.

  “That doesn’t make me nervous at all,” Chad quipped.

  “You’re going to like it,” Mason cut in. “Can I say it now, Mom?”

  Katie laughed, peeking her head out the door. Two seconds later, she pulled herself back into the room and gave a nod to Mason. “You can say it now.”

  Mason took a big, exaggerated breath, and hollered, “Merry Christmas, Chad! Bring in the troops!”

  Katie opened the door as wide as it would go, just as Elaine, Hayden, and Jillian tromped in single file, wearing Santa hats and carrying covered casserole dishes. The scents of turkey, gravy, and biscuits filled the air.

  “What’s all this?” Chad was shocked, and Elaine leaned over the bed and kissed her son gently on the cheek.

  “It was Katie’s idea,” she explained. “We’re having a family dinner. Even if it is on paper plates.”

  “Are you serious?” Chad looked from his mother to Katie and back again. Katie nodded at him.

  “Well, if you don’t want to, that’s cool. But either way, I’m eating because I am starving. You can sit over there by yourself if you’re not interested,” Jillian piped up, but her tone was laden with humor.

  “Ah, yes. Exactly how I remember family dinners. It just wouldn’t be complete without Jillian’s snide remarks, now would it?” Chad rolled his eyes at his sister.

  “We’re going to need more chairs.” Elaine set down the dish in her hands on the square table beside the couch, disappearing out the door in search of them.

  Katie was helping Jillian pulled the foil from the casserole dishes and set out the plates and utensils when she saw Hayden approach Chad’s bed from the corner of her eye. She held her breath, despite knowing the two of them had already discussed the truth that had stood between them for over a decade.

  Awkwardly, Hayden’s eyes traveled from the foot of the bed up to Chad’s face, and he held out a hand to him. “Merry Christmas, son.”

  Chad stared back at him in awe, obviously not expecting the gesture from his father. After a moment, he reached out and shook the older man’s hand. “You too, Dad. You too.”

  Jillian snuck Katie a knowing grin, reaching into the cooler bag her father had left inside the door. She pulled out two cans of cranberry ginger ale, offering one to Katie with a silent tilt of the head. Katie took it just as Elaine reappeared with two folding chairs. No one asked where she’d stolen them from, too content and hungry to care.

  The turkey was cooked by a deli downtown, the potatoes were frozen from a bag, and the biscuits were from prepared dough Elaine had purchased at the grocery store. Cranberry sauce from a can, and gravy made from a powdered mix. Nothing was homemade, and no one had slaved for hours in the kitchen to pull it all off.

  But the dinner was wonderful.

  As an only child, Katie had never experienced a large family dinner with close family members. The holidays had always consisted of meals at her grandmother’s house surrounded mostly by relatives she didn’t know, or else she and her father just had a small meal by themselves, content with just the company of each other. When she’d been with Jay, they’d had meals as a family of three, but Jay’s parents had passed away before she’d even met him. So, this—the boisterous joking, banter, and laughing, and the stories and smiles that followed—was new to her.

  And she enjoyed every moment of it.

  So was Mason, by the looks of it. Not only had Elaine and Hayden bought him a remote control helicopter as a gift, and Jillian had purchased him two different cards games that they would have to learn to play, but he remained the center of attention for most of the night, becoming the after-dinner entertainment with the help of his harmonica he’d ceremoniously pulled from his pocket, much to the delight of Chad. The Nintendo DS game Katie had gotten him as a gift had been quickly tossed to the side, and she was totally okay with that. There were memories being made, and it meant more than any video game ever could.

  Mason was crouched in the corner of the room with Hayden and Jillian trying to figure out his remote control helicopter when Chad’s fingers brushed against Katie’s arm, making her turn to him, alarmed.

  “Are you okay?” she asked worriedly.

  “Better than I’ve been in a long, long time, Katie.” He pulled on her arm, gently pulling her closer to him. “Thanks to you.”

  “I didn’t do anything.” She was blushing, her gaze on his fingers that were grazing up and down her forearm.

  “You gave me my family back.”

  “They were never mine to give,” she said slowly.

  A wry grin tugged at Chad’s mouth. “It sure looks to me like they’re your family, too, if tonight is any indication.” He pulled her down to him and kissed her tenderly, amusement flashing in his eyes at the heat rising in her cheeks.

  “Then I guess I’d better thank you as well. It seems you’ve given me a family, too.” Katie was already blushing madly, but despite the other people in the room, she kissed him again.

  Chapter Twelve

  Christmas morning came and went in a flurry of festiveness, so much so that Katie could have easily closed her eyes and imagined that she wasn’t spending it in a hospital wing.

  Almost.

  Moods all around were elevated, though, by the spirit of Christmas in the air and the by the once-forgotten sense of belonging that came with having close-knit family nearby. Chad, it seemed, was remembering what it was like to have his own immediate family within arm’s reach, and the glow emanating from him was unmatched from any level of happiness she’d witnessed in him before.

  Chad’s family left late into the evening the night before, but not without laughingly trying to figure out how to play Mason’s new card game with him, reminiscing about bygone memories, and laughing until crying at many of the stories that surfaced from the depths of their minds. Most of those stories, Katie noticed, starred Chad, and by the end of the night, he was practically begging his mother and sister to stop airing his childhood mishaps out for Katie to bring up at some opportune moment.

  Katie and Mason stayed the night in Chad’s room—Jillian couldn’t hide her enthusiasm at having a double bed all to herself instead of “that god awful couch”, as she bluntly put it—not wanting to spend Christmas night anywhere but with Chad. Instead, she and Mason snuggled up together on the couch beside his bed. Her son had been asleep within minutes of the overhead lights being turned off, despite the harsh lighting coming in through the large east-facing window from the parking lot. That left Katie and Chad in the quietness of the ward, and in the dimness of the room, to converse quietly with each other without prying eyes or curious ears to eavesdrop.

  Unfortunately, all Katie’s energy had been zapped from bustling around throughout the day in an attempt to pull off a decent Christmas, and she didn’t even remember at which point in the evening she’d fallen asleep.

  “You know, you were mid-sentence when you finally succumbed to sleep,” Chad told her when she first woke up in the morning. Bright sunlight was streaming through the windowpane, and she squinted through barely opened eyes toward him.

  “Somehow, I don’t doubt that. What was I saying?”

  “That you adored the hell out of me.” He said it in a whisper, as though it was some dirty little secret between the two of them.

  “That’s not what I was saying, though it may very well be true.” She brought her hand up to rub her eyes, smiling sleepily.

  He shrugged. “Well, you didn’t come right out and say it, but it was implied. Definitely implied.”

  Mason awoke soon after, undoubtedly due to Katie’s chest rising and falling with laughter, on which her son’s head had been resting. The day progressed quickly after that, beginning first with the Christmas gift the nurses had found at the nurses’ desk with Mason’s name on it from Santa Clause—Katie would never forget the w
ide eyes that stared at the wrapped child-sized guitar, or the onslaught of questions that came at her as to how Santa Clause could’ve possibly known he was with Chad at the hospital.

  “Santa knows everything. I told you that,” she smiled, shrugging.

  “Obviously!” Mason exclaimed. “He even knew I wanted to be just like Chad someday!” he held up the guitar proudly, and Chad had covered his face, feigning embarrassment.

  “Oh, kid,” he muttered playfully. “Please, please don’t say that.”

  After that, a second nurse had come in and advised Chad that they would help him to get out of bed and moving around a bit. Everything had been going great until they mentioned that. Chad promptly sent Katie and Mason on another coffee run, masking the fear in his eyes with a stone-like expression.

  “Mason’s leaving in a few hours to go see Jay,” Katie said, realizing she hadn’t mentioned the arrangement to him yet. “Mason, you’d better go give him a hug now. We’ll have to go back to Chad’s apartment and get some of your stuff together. I’ll come back after I drop him off, okay?”

  “Take your time,” Chad replied. Mason scrambled onto the side of the bed and gave Chad a cautious hug, aware that he could easily hurt him if he jostled him or grabbed him too tightly.

  “Merry Christmas, Chad!”

  “Right back at you, Mason.” He turned his gaze to Katie. “I’ll call you later, all right?”

  She could see him shutting down before her eyes. She put a loose arm around her son, and nodded once to Chad, then she left the room. She understood that he didn’t like the idea of her seeing him in any sort of vulnerable state, and such a formerly independent man requiring help to even get out of bed and walk around was something Katie couldn’t even begin to fathom. There was no doubt this was going to be hard on Chad, but it would only be harder if he didn’t let her in.