"Get—"
Allison broke in. “I'm thirsty, Drew."
Her voice was still weak and barely above a whisper, but both men stopped talking the moment she spoke to better hear what she wanted.
"Baby, the doctor says we can't give you any water yet."
"Ice chips. She can't drink liquids yet, but she can have ice chips to wet her throat. We learnt that in the paramedic's first-aid course Allison signed me up for last month. She knew I was interested in learning more about becoming a paramedic,” Jeremy replied sheepishly from the doorway.
"You can explain that last comment when you get back with the ice, Kid."
Drew waited for Jeremy to leave the room before turning confused eyes on Jimmy. “When exactly did Allison do that? When did she have the time, without my knowing about it?"
"You got me. Hell, I didn't even know he was thinking of becoming a paramedic, or anything else, for that matter."
"Are you disappointed he doesn't want to follow in your footsteps?"
Jimmy grinned and sat back. “Lord no, my baby brother as a paramedic is fantastic news. I couldn't be more proud if he told me he wanted to become a doctor."
"Do you mean that, Jimmy?"
Jimmy's grin was contagious. Drew always envied the brothers their closeness, and now it seemed he'd be included in the brotherly moment.
"He means every word, Kid."
"Of course I meant it. You'll be a lot safer being a paramedic than a cop any day of the week. I'm just a little confused. Why a paramedic and not a doctor?"
"Here are the ice chips, Drew. Give her just one at a time. Okay?” Sitting on the edge of the bed, Jeremy pressed the back of his hand against Allison's forehead, pulling a weak chuckle from her throat.
"Glad to see you awake Ali, you had me worried there."
"Answer your brother's question and stop fussing over me. I have Drew to do that if I need it,” Allison reprimanded softly.
"Yes, ma'am."
Looking at Jimmy, Jeremy took a deep breath. “I'd love to become a doctor, Jimmy, but besides the fact that we can't afford it, my grades aren't high enough to get accepted."
Allison snorted, then moaned in pain and clutched her side. “That's a load of bull hockey. Your grades are a touch low, but with my help you can get them high enough to take your MCATS."
Drew ran a soothing hand down her face, relieved that she was feeling good enough to reprimand Jeremy. “You'd better not argue with her kid, you'll lose."
"Wouldn't dream of it, Drew."
"As for being able to afford it... hell, Jeremy. I'll figure something out. If you get into med school, you better accept or I'll kick your ass until you're eighty!"
"Jimmy, we can't..."
Allison coughed and glared at them all. “I'll pay for it. No arguments from either or you. You are my family whether you like it or not, and Jeremy can pay me back after he graduates if he feels he owes me. I'd prefer free medical advice for life, myself; being married to Drew, I think I might need it,” she teased, turning her blue eyes up at him. “I want to go home."
"I see she's awake and making demands. It warms my heart to know Allison will be just fine,” Eric replied with a secretive grin Drew couldn't decide if he trusted or not.
"Unfortunately, the doctor won't let her leave until they know for sure she won't relapse.” Drew told him.
"Well, how about a bit of good news then? I know why MacKenzie was delayed."
The pause was enough to make Allison try to sit up to find out more. “Eric, if you make her pop her stitches to get answers out of you, I'll throw you in jail with the rest of the criminals."
Laughing, Eric entered the room and gratefully accepted the chair that Jeremy offered him. “He found your signed divorce papers. It turns out that Sam hired someone to steal them the minute she found out her lawyer had forgotten to file his copies. She was convinced that if you were still married, she'd get half of everything you own, and that would tide her over until she found her next target. What she didn't expect was that you'd gotten over her and moved on."
"Are you telling me that I'm free to marry this angel?"
"As soon as she feels up to it. I even took it upon myself to bring this along, just in case she was ready today.” Eric leaned forward and handed Allison the marriage license and corresponding certificate. “I am a judge... so if you're both ready, I could marry you right now."
"Drew?"
"I'm game if you are, Love. Everyone I care about is already here in this room."
"Eric, if you marry us today you'll make me the happiest woman in the world. Not to mention you'll be helping me save face.” Biting her bottom lip she prepared herself for Drew's impending wrath. “If Sam had been a better shot..."
Drew exploded right on cue, making her smile in relief. His Mr.-Nice-Guy routine was starting to scare her. “What do you mean, ‘if she'd been a better shot?’ She almost killed you!"
"She could have shot me in the stomach and killed the baby,” Allison whispered, closing her eyes to avoid all the disappointed stares.
"Baby? Jeremy, go fetch that doctor, please,” Drew ordered. “I have a few questions for him. It seems there's a few things he forgot to mention."
Allison felt her chin being tilted up and reluctantly opened her eyes. “I found out the day of the shooting. I know how disappointed everyone is in me, but I couldn't be happier. I—"
Drew leaned in and kissed her to stop the nervous flow of words. “I'm far from disappointed, Love, and if it weren't for Sam, we'd already be married."
"Did I mention that I back-signed the marriage license to the day you two came into my office asking for help?” Eric replied with a grin.
"Sheriff, you wished to see me?"
Drew ran a hand over Allison's abdomen and pinned the doctor with a glare. “I did. I wanted to make sure my child is still safe. Also, my wife would like to go home now.” The fact that they weren't married yet meant nothing as far as he was concerned.
"The child is safe; the bullet missed by three inches, but..."
"But?"
"I'm afraid that Ms. McKay..."
"Mrs. Perry!"
"Excuse me?"
"Her name, Doctor Clover, is Mrs. Allison Perry, and she'd like to come home.” Everyone in the room was glued to the conversation with rapt attention. They wanted to know as much as he did why Allison couldn't go home yet.
"My apologies, Sheriff. As I was saying, Mrs. Perry needs to stay here for at least another couple of days for observation. The lady just regained consciousness, and I can't in good conscience release her until I'm sure she's completely recovered."
The explanation made sense, but Drew didn't have to like it. He wanted Allison home in their bed as much as she wanted to go home.
"In that case, you'd better get used to seeing me here, because I'm not going anywhere until Allison is released, and since we're staying a few more days, you will double-and triple-check that my baby is safe. Am I understood?"
"Yes, Sheriff."
"Oh, and Doctor? The next time you forget to inform me about something as important as my wife being pregnant, I won't be so understanding. Am I making myself clear?"
"Crystal. Now if you'll excuse me, I will go and set up a few more tests."
Watching the doctor back out of the room, Drew felt a twinge of regret for scaring the man so much, but only a twinge; he had more important things to take care of right now. Like a wedding.
"So, Judge, when do I get to kiss the bride?"
The End
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www.alinedechevigny.com
Author Bio
When I was born, my parents christened me Aline de Chevigny. Maybe they knew then, what I'm just now figuring out. I was born to be a romance author! I am Canadian and a Chemical Engineering Technologist who decided one day to try the impossible. Or so I thought, LOL, the year I turned 30, I moved far away from all my family and friends to start a new job. I was so bored and lonely that
I picked up my pen and started writing the stories floating around in my head down on paper. I never dreamed they'd be published, but to my surprise and delight my publisher liked it. My family has been extremely supportive of my goal and they continue encouraging me to sub my works.
Since that day I've written and sold 16 books, from Novella to Novel length and in various romance genres.
You can find blurbs and excerpts of my all my stories at www.alinedechevigny.com along with some free reads, contests and in progress works.
Thank you for being a fan and supporting me in my goal to entertain the world the only way I know how.
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Red Rose Publishing
Bare Bones
Deadly: SKIU Series
I Know You Love
Lifemates
Merry Christmas to Me 112
Nature's Whim
One Night
The Perfect Hero
The Prophecy
Psychotic: A SKIU Serial
Toss of a Coin
Wolf's Revenge
Wrongful Punishment
I Know You Love Me
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Visit www.redrosepublishing.com for information on additional titles by this and other authors.
I Know You Love Me Page 19