by Jessie Evans
He held on tight to Reece and to hope, keeping her hand in his all the way to the hospital in the back of the ambulance and insisting on a place beside her in the helicopter to San Antonio. He knew it was crazy, but a part of him was positive she wouldn’t die as long as he stayed with her and kept praying and sending her strength. He knew it was magical thinking—like Reece and her circus peanuts—but he didn’t care.
He had faith and he held tight to it, right until the moment Reece went into convulsions halfway to San Antonio and the EMTs pushed Grayson aside, cutting through her sweater as she flat lined.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Reece
Reece opened her eyes and blinked against the bright summer sun grinning down at her from a cornflower blue sky. At the edges of her vision, stalks of golden wheat waved in a cool, clean breeze that smelled like springtime. Like new beginnings and those blissful summer vacation mornings when she was little and she’d wake up with nothing to do all day but ride horses and get dirty playing in the hayloft with her sister. She and Tulsi would spend hours playing pirates, sliding down the mountains of hay in the loft in battered cardboard boxes they used as ships, waving their swords, stealing each other’s treasure, and giggling like crazy people.
The memories made Reece smile as she stretched. Her fingers brushed the stiff stalks of wheat and the cool, damp earth beneath and her smile widened. She had no idea how she’d ended up asleep in this field, but it felt like a good place to be, a safe, happy place after all her years of wandering.
She laced her fingers behind her head and watched a wispy cloud evaporate in the heat of the sun, in no rush to stand up or sort out where she was. She was content, filled with a deep sense of peace, and might have ended up falling back asleep if she hadn’t heard laughter coming from somewhere nearby.
“Hello?” Reece called out, vaguely hoping she didn’t get stepped on by whoever was running through the wheat. “Who’s there?”
Her question was answered by more laughter, a giddy giggle so cute Reece couldn’t help but laugh along. Still grinning, she sat up, scanning the tops of the wheat to see who had stumbled upon her napping place, but she was still too low to see anything more than gently waving stalks bobbing in the breeze. Brushing her dirty palms on her jeans, Reece stood, holding her hair away from her face as she turned in a circle.
Almost immediately she spotted the giggler, a familiar blond girl in a pink sundress chasing an enormous butterfly through the field.
“Clementine!” Reece called out to her niece and waved an arm in the air, excited to see the only member of her family who was nothing but completely adorable. “Hey, sweet pea! What are you doing here?”
The little girl turned, revealing a different face than the one Reece had been expecting.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Reece’s hand flew up to cover her mouth. “I thought you were my niece.”
The girl grinned a gap-toothed smile that made her pixie face even cuter. “I’m not your niece, you silly.”
“Well, I know that now,” Reece said, smiling. “I guess my eyes were playing tricks on me. Or maybe I’m just getting old.”
The girl laughed again. “You’re not old. But you’d better get back to where you’re supposed to be before too much longer.”
“Oh, yeah?” Reece’s smile sagged at the edges. “Where am I supposed to be? I can’t remember. I can’t even remember how I got here.”
“You came for a rest.” The girl made her way through the wheat, her arms held out to the sides like she was pretending to fly as the cool breeze whipped her curls around her shoulders. “But you should get back now. Daddy’s worried.”
“My daddy?” Reece asked, the thought of Dale waiting for her somewhere sending a flash of anxiety through her chest. She wanted to talk to him about something—something urgent and important—but she couldn’t remember what it was.
“No, my daddy,” the girl said, propping her hands on her hips and looking up at Reece as if she suspected Reece were a few marbles short of a full set. “Grayson Andrew Parker.”
“What?” Reece gazed into the little girl’s ice blue eyes, realizing why they looked so familiar. They were Grayson’s eyes, right down to the flecks of silver that flashed amidst the blue.
“Grayson Andrew Parker,” the girl repeated, enunciating each word carefully. “He’s my daddy and you’re supposed to be my mom, but you might not be if you don’t go back soon. Most people who come here from your side don’t go back if they stay too long.”
Reece shook her head, unease settling more firmly into her chest, making her pulse beat faster. “What is this place?”
The girl arched a brow but didn’t respond. She didn’t have to. Deep down, Reece knew where this was and why she’d felt so peaceful and happy here.
“But I don’t want kids,” she mumbled, too overwhelmed by the realization that she wasn’t in Kansas anymore to think of anything else to say. “At least I never have before.”
“What do you have against kids?” The pixie made an irritated face almost exactly like the one Reece saw in the mirror on mornings when she woke up aching all over from a rough ride.
She blinked, shocked by the striking similarity. “Um, nothing. I-I just never thought I’d be a mother. I never thought I’d be good at it, you know? I mean, I’m not a naturally nurturing person. That’s more my sister’s gig.”
“Does that mean you don’t want me?” The girl’s irritation faded, replaced by a dejected look so pitiful Reece instinctively held out her arms.
“Oh no, of course not.” Before she could blink again, the little girl was in her arms, hugging her tight, sending a wave of love shooting through her so intense it left her breathless.
Suddenly, the idea of never seeing this child again was unthinkable. No matter how terrifying it might be to be responsible for another human being, she wanted to be there for this little girl, to love her and hug her just like this one day not too many years from now.
“Of course not,” Reece repeated when she found her voice again, her throat tight with emotion as she hugged the girl closer. “I do want you. I want you very much.”
The girl tilted her head back. “Then you have to go back.”
“Okay,” Reece said as she nodded. “And I’ll try not to suck at being your mom, okay? I’ll really try, but maybe take it easy on me if I screw up every once in a while? Give me three strikes or something?”
The girl smiled. “I can tell I’m going to love you already.”
“Me too,” Reece whispered, her head beginning to spin and the girl’s face to blur. “Will I see you soon?”
“Pretty soon,” the girl said, her voice sounding more distant than it had before. “Goodbye, Mommy.”
***
“Guh…bye,” Reece mumbled, even that slight movement causing pain to flash through her head.
This time, she woke up to something much less enjoyable than a sunny day in a beautiful field. She woke to pain pulsing through her every cell, a drugged, cloudy feeling in her head, and a burst of terror exploding in her chest as she realized she still had no idea where she was. She moaned as she fought to open her eyes, feeling like she had lead weights tied to her eyelashes
“She’s waking up, get the doctor,” a familiar voice whispered as it moved closer. “Reece, sweetie, can you hear me? It’s Tulsi. I’m right here, honey.”
“T.T.” Reece mumbled her nickname for her sister as Tulsi’s worried face slowly came into focus.
“Hey, sissy.” Tulsi smiled, but Reece could see the tears sitting in her eyes. The poor woman looked scared half to death, which was probably Reece’s fault. If she looked half as bad as she felt, she was probably a terrifying sight to behold. “The doctor’s going to be in to check on you in a just a minute. How are you feeling?”
“Poop,” Reece said, her voice scratchy with disuse. “On a stick.”
Tulsi laughed. “That’s so good to hear.” She paused, shaking her head. “I mean, it’s not goo
d that you feel like poop on a stick, but it’s good to hear you sounding like yourself. The doctors were worried.”
Reece tried to frown but relaxed when she realized exercising those muscles made the throbbing in her head worse. “Why? What happened?”
“You had a seizure in the helicopter on the way to San Antonio,” Tulsi explained gently. “And you had a touch and go moment in surgery. You’ve been in a coma, honey. For three days.”
“What?” Reece asked, her sharp question underscored by an increase in tempo from the soft beeping noise in the background. She hadn’t noticed it until now but realized that it was probably a heart monitor, tracking the increase in her beats per minute as she realized how long she’d been unconscious.
“Where’s Grayson?” she asked, panic spiking higher. “I don’t remember anything after the gun went off. Is he okay? Is Cole okay? Neil was there. He’s alive, he—”
“We know, everyone is okay, just relax,” Tulsi said, panic flashing in her eyes. “Crap, I shouldn’t have said anything. Just try to stay calm okay? Everything is going to be fine. Cole has a mild concussion and Grayson is fine. He’s been right here with you the entire time and should be back with the doctor in—”
“I’m here,” Grayson said as he hurried into the room, a woman in a white coat not far behind him. “Is she still awake?”
His eyes found hers and almost immediately Reece felt her heartbeat begin to slow and the panic in her chest ease away. There he was. He was okay. He had dark circles under his eyes, stubble covering his face, and worry lines creasing the center of his forehead, but he was okay and looking at her with such naked relief she immediately felt a thousand times happier to be back among the living.
“Good afternoon, Reece.” The doctor, a pretty brunette with kind brown eyes stopped beside her bed. “I’m Dr. Branson. I performed your surgery a few days ago. I’m so glad to see you awake and alert.”
“I’m not so sure about the alert part,” Reece said, having a hard time keeping her gaze from drifting back to Grayson, who stood at the end of the bed, watching her like a miracle he expected to vanish any moment. “But I’m awake.”
“And that’s great,” the doctor said, smiling. “I’m just going to ask you a few questions and perform an exam to check your reflexes and response to stimuli. And then I’ll scram and let you visit with your family.”
“Okay,” Reece said, proceeding to cooperate as best she could. The doctor had her follow a penlight and lift different fingers to touch her nose before starting in with the questions. Dr. Branson asked her what year it was, the name of the sitting president, and finally to tell her about the last thing she remembered.
“I was at my parents’ ranch and my friend Cole and I were being held hostage,” Reece said. “I got the gun out of my father’s bedside table and crawled under the bed, thinking I could surprise Neil. I remember standing up and Grayson dropping to the ground.” She paused, searching her memory, but it was like she hit a gray wall of fog. “I know I pulled the trigger, but…everything’s cloudy after that.”
Reece paused, eyes shifting back to Grayson as a terrible thought flickered through her head. “I didn’t kill him, did I? I was aiming for his shoulder.”
“And that’s where you hit him,” Grayson assured her. “He’s fine and recovering in the hospital in Lonesome Point with armed guards at his door. Last I heard, he was healing fast and should be on his way to a federal prison to await trial in a few days.”
“I’m so sorry,” Reece said. No matter how crazy Neil was, he was still Grayson’s father. It had to be tearing him up to see his dad headed to prison.
“I’m not,” Grayson said with a smile. “I’m just glad you’re okay.” His gaze slid to the doctor. “She is going to be okay, right?”
“Things look very good.” Dr. Branson smiled at Reece. “Considering everything you’ve been through, you’ve got excellent motor control. And no short-term memory loss, which is also excellent. I want to hold you for a few more days, but if you continue to improve, you should be headed home by the end of the week.”
“Thank you so much,” Reece said. “And thanks for patching me up.”
“My pleasure,” the doctor said as she moved toward the door. “But no more bull riding for you, okay? Your husband’s right. It’s time for you to retire before your luck runs out.”
“Thanks.” Reece lifted a brow as her gaze flicked to Grayson. “I think he’s right, too.”
As soon as the doctor was out the door, Tulsi leaned close and hissed, “We told her you and Grayson were married so they’d add him to the visitor’s list. I hope that’s okay.”
“That’s fine,” Reece said, holding Grayson’s warm gaze. “Better than fine, actually.”
“Good.” Tulsi leaned down to press a quick kiss to Reece’s cheek. “Okay, I’m going to step out and call Mama and Daddy. They were too sick to get on the plane, but they made me promise to call and update them as soon as you were awake.”
“Don’t step outside,” Reece said, chest tightening with gratitude as she realized she’d have the chance to put the past to rest with her father, after all. “I want to talk to them. Dad first, if he’s feeling well enough.”
Tulsi smiled, fresh tears rising in her eyes. “He’ll drag himself out of his sick bed to talk to you. No doubt in my mind.”
Less than a minute later, Reece was taking Tulsi’s cell and holding it gingerly to her ear. “Hey, Dad. It’s me,” she said, voice shaking. “I’m awake and doing okay. I’m sorry I wasn’t taking your calls before.”
“You don’t have to be sorry,” Dale said, his voice thick with emotion. “It’s my fault. I made so many mistakes with you, sweetheart.”
“It’s okay,” Reece began, but her father cut her off.
“No, it’s not okay. I should have believed you when you came to me for help. At the very least, I should have let you know years ago that I realized what a pig-headed fool I’d been. You deserved so much better from me and I’m just…I’m so sorry. I know I don’t deserve forgiveness, but I want you to know I realize all the ways I failed you and your sister and I’m determined not to be that man anymore.”
Reece swallowed hard. “That’s good to hear, Dad. But I’d kind of like to forgive you anyway. I’m tired and I’d rather have my dad back than waste any more energy holding on to that grudge. Especially if you’re sorry.”
“I am. I really am,” he said, the gratitude in his voice touching her heart as much as his words. “I’m going to prove I’m not the man I was when you were growing up. I hope you’ll think about staying with your mama and me while you’re healing and give me a chance to show you even old fools like me can change.”
“I’ll think about,” Reece said. “Thanks, Daddy.” Dale said goodbye and Reece chatted with her mom for a few minutes. Patty sounded happier than she had in ages, offering further proof that Dale’s transformation was real and went deeper than words.
After Reece had said her goodbyes, Tulsi took the phone with a tired, but grateful, smile. “That made me happier than you can imagine.”
“Me too,” Reece said. “I love you, sis. Thanks for coming to be with me.”
“I’m so glad I could be here,” Tulsi said. “But just so you know, this is the last time anyone in this family is allowed to be in the hospital unless they’re having a baby. No more near death stuff. Between you and Clementine, my heart just can’t take any more.”
“Got it.” Reece’s pulse picked up as the face of the little girl in her dream flashed on her mental screen.
It had to have been a dream. It was crazy to think it had been anything else, but when Tulsi left the room a few minutes later to grab dinner from the cafeteria and Grayson moved to take the seat next to the bed, a silly part of her couldn’t help hoping it was real.
“Hey,” she said, smiling as Grayson took her hand gently in both of his. “You look like shit.”
He laughed. “Thanks. You’re no beauty queen yoursel
f right now, Shortstack.” He took a breath, his smile fading as he lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “I’m so sorry. I should never have left you alone.”
Reece gave a small shake of her head, careful not to disturb the equilibrium she’d found since she woke up. “Don’t you dare apologize. It’s not your fault. And if you hadn’t shown up when you did, there might not have been a happy ending.”
“All I did was provide a distraction while you took the bull by the horns,” he said. “I was really proud of you.”
“We make a good team,” she said, warmth spreading through her chest.
“We do.” Grayson squeezed her hand again. “But don’t scare me like that again, okay? You’re not allowed to check out for at least another fifty years. Preferably sixty.”
“Okay,” she whispered, then added in a softer voice, “I had a crazy dream a few minutes before I woke up.”
“Yeah?” he asked, a spark of trouble flaring in his tired eyes. “Was I there? Was it dirty?”
She huffed. “No, but…” She pressed her lips together, worried that Grayson would think she was crazy. But then she decided a woman who’d nearly died was allowed to ask the man she was falling in love with a few crazy questions. “How do you feel about kids?”
Grayson blinked and his eyebrows lifted, the question obviously catching him by surprise. “I don’t know. I guess I figured that wasn’t in the cards for me.”
“Why not?” she asked.
“I don’t know.” He let out a long breath. “I’m almost forty and I wouldn’t want to start a family much later than that. If I had kids, I’d want to have the energy to play hard with them when they were little and ride their asses when they were teenagers, you know?”
Reece smiled. “You’d be a hard-ass dad, wouldn’t you?”
“Nah, I’d probably be a pushover,” Grayson said, watching their joined hands. “I’m an easy mark when it comes to the people I love.” He looked up, eyes softening. “What about you? Are kids part of what you want for the future?”
“Well, they never were before,” Reece said, glancing up at the ceiling. “But I…may have met our future daughter on the other side.”