Backstage Pass: V.I.P. Read Online Free Page A
Author: Elizabeth Nelson
“Come.” My gaze bounced to Kerri and Axel. “All of you. Please.”
The elevator took forever and I couldn’t keep my foot from tapping impatiently on the off-white linoleum. We had to go to the third floor and down to the other end of the hall and between twin sets of glass doors to the nurses’ station in the ICU. Kerri and Axel split off into the first waiting room, with a promise that I’d come get them as soon as I could—or if I needed them. Jesse hesitated in the doorway and I wished that we could hold hands during this walk instead of me gripping these stupid crutches like my only support.
His hand found my shoulder again and I inhaled, drawing his calm in to still the butterflies in my belly. “I’ve got you.”
“I know.” It was barely a whisper, but I hoped he heard how much I really did know.
I found my mom in room 3122 and swept her into a hug before she could react to my broken foot. We clung to each other and her wispy hair tickled my nose. I felt her heart thunder against mine. Even though it wasn’t just us anymore, something about having our foundation shaken made me recommit in my heart that I’d always be here for her. Always. Her fierce grip echoed the promise. I clung to her for another minute and found a way to pull myself together. It wasn’t just the two of us. Dad would be okay.
Jesse stood back and waited.
In the dim light, my dad looked a little worse than I’d pictured him. Dark circles rimmed his eyes and his hair looked thinner than when I’d left him months ago. I hugged my mom tight again, then released her.
“What in the world did you do to your foot?”
I shook my head. “No big deal. It’s healing fine. I tripped.”
She scowled and I didn’t want her pulling the focus away from why we’d come. My stupid cast was nothing compared to what she’d endured. “How’s he doing?”
“He’s good.” She petted my hair. “I told you he’d be fine.”
Jesse stepped up behind me. “That’s good to hear. We came as fast as we could.”
She smiled and extended a hand. “I’m Charlise.”
“Jesse.” He actually lifted her fingers to his lips and kissed the backs. “My pleasure.”
“Not even dead a day and some young stud’s trying to make off with my wife.”
I spun and raced to the edge of the bed, barely stopping myself from catapulting into his arms. My crutches clattered to the floor and I leaned over and cupped his cheek, balanced on one foot. “Daddy.”
He covered my hand with his, impaled with the IV and dangling tubes. “Hey, honey.”
Tears sprang to my eyes and I leaned closer, kissing him gently. “Are you okay?”
He patted my hand and tried to sit up, but Mom rounded the other side of the bed. “No, sir. You will stay lying down just like those nurses told you. She can see you just fine.” Her gaze lifted to mine, pleading.
I pressed my hand against his shoulder. “She’s right, Daddy. You need your rest.”
He grumbled, but stayed. “Who’s the guy?”
I pulled Jesse beside me. “Mom, Dad, this is Jesse.”
Jesse jammed his shoulders back and thrust out his hand. “Sir.”
My eyebrows shot up my forehead. I’d never seen him so serious.
Dad took his hand and, even prone in a hospital bed and gown, managed to convey all sorts of that’s-my-daughter-what’s-your intention threats. Jesse did a great job of answering with all the appropriate submissive body language answers, because Dad gave him a curt nod and released his hand.
Jesse stepped behind me and clasped his hands tightly in front of his belt. I would have laughed, but the posturing was so clearly respectful I didn’t want to ruin it for him. I glanced at Mom and she was biting her lips to keep from laughing. Apparently Dad had caught her off guard, too.
“So what’s next?” I asked, looking from Mom to Dad and back again.
Grateful for the
The elevator took forever and I couldn’t keep my foot from tapping impatiently on the off-white linoleum. We had to go to the third floor and down to the other end of the hall and between twin sets of glass doors to the nurses’ station in the ICU. Kerri and Axel split off into the first waiting room, with a promise that I’d come get them as soon as I could—or if I needed them. Jesse hesitated in the doorway and I wished that we could hold hands during this walk instead of me gripping these stupid crutches like my only support.
His hand found my shoulder again and I inhaled, drawing his calm in to still the butterflies in my belly. “I’ve got you.”
“I know.” It was barely a whisper, but I hoped he heard how much I really did know.
I found my mom in room 3122 and swept her into a hug before she could react to my broken foot. We clung to each other and her wispy hair tickled my nose. I felt her heart thunder against mine. Even though it wasn’t just us anymore, something about having our foundation shaken made me recommit in my heart that I’d always be here for her. Always. Her fierce grip echoed the promise. I clung to her for another minute and found a way to pull myself together. It wasn’t just the two of us. Dad would be okay.
Jesse stood back and waited.
In the dim light, my dad looked a little worse than I’d pictured him. Dark circles rimmed his eyes and his hair looked thinner than when I’d left him months ago. I hugged my mom tight again, then released her.
“What in the world did you do to your foot?”
I shook my head. “No big deal. It’s healing fine. I tripped.”
She scowled and I didn’t want her pulling the focus away from why we’d come. My stupid cast was nothing compared to what she’d endured. “How’s he doing?”
“He’s good.” She petted my hair. “I told you he’d be fine.”
Jesse stepped up behind me. “That’s good to hear. We came as fast as we could.”
She smiled and extended a hand. “I’m Charlise.”
“Jesse.” He actually lifted her fingers to his lips and kissed the backs. “My pleasure.”
“Not even dead a day and some young stud’s trying to make off with my wife.”
I spun and raced to the edge of the bed, barely stopping myself from catapulting into his arms. My crutches clattered to the floor and I leaned over and cupped his cheek, balanced on one foot. “Daddy.”
He covered my hand with his, impaled with the IV and dangling tubes. “Hey, honey.”
Tears sprang to my eyes and I leaned closer, kissing him gently. “Are you okay?”
He patted my hand and tried to sit up, but Mom rounded the other side of the bed. “No, sir. You will stay lying down just like those nurses told you. She can see you just fine.” Her gaze lifted to mine, pleading.
I pressed my hand against his shoulder. “She’s right, Daddy. You need your rest.”
He grumbled, but stayed. “Who’s the guy?”
I pulled Jesse beside me. “Mom, Dad, this is Jesse.”
Jesse jammed his shoulders back and thrust out his hand. “Sir.”
My eyebrows shot up my forehead. I’d never seen him so serious.
Dad took his hand and, even prone in a hospital bed and gown, managed to convey all sorts of that’s-my-daughter-what’s-your intention threats. Jesse did a great job of answering with all the appropriate submissive body language answers, because Dad gave him a curt nod and released his hand.
Jesse stepped behind me and clasped his hands tightly in front of his belt. I would have laughed, but the posturing was so clearly respectful I didn’t want to ruin it for him. I glanced at Mom and she was biting her lips to keep from laughing. Apparently Dad had caught her off guard, too.
“So what’s next?” I asked, looking from Mom to Dad and back again.
Grateful for the
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