Harlequin Romantic Suspense April 2021 Karen Whiddon (best fiction books to read TXT) 📖

now. He was at Saint Rita’s Medical Center, but yesterday they moved him into a rehabilitation facility. They said he’d be there a few weeks.”

Rehabilitation. His dad must hate that. Al Harrison had always taken such pride at being a man’s man, big and weather-roughened, his large hands calloused from hard work. Micha couldn’t imagine how he’d deal with being weakened by a stroke. “Will we be able to visit him?”

“Yes.” Expression troubled, his mother placed her hand over his. “But I should prepare you. He’s in and out of consciousness. I’m not sure he’ll even recognize you.”

He hadn’t expected that. He swallowed hard. “I hope he does. There are a few things between us that we need to settle once and for all.”

Though she nodded, his mother once again started to cry. Carly, with her big heart, got up and went to her, wrapping the older woman in a tight hug. “It’s going to be all right,” she murmured. “You’ll see.”

Though she nodded, his mom’s bleak expression indicated she wasn’t sure anything would ever be all right again.

“We’ve received an offer on the house and remaining ten acres,” she finally said. “By the same people who built that fancy subdivision. Though your father and I were only considering it before he had the stroke, I’m likely going to accept it now.”

For a moment, Micha couldn’t catch his breath. But then he realized she was right. He hated the thought of the two of them struggling to run the ranch. Who knows, maybe they’d be open to moving closer to Chicago. He decided to bring that up at some point before he left.

After finishing their drinks and refusing his mom’s offer to make them something to eat, they got Bridget settled in the kitchen and then they all piled into Micha’s Jeep to drive to Lima. After all these years away, Micha would finally see his father again. He only wished it were under different circumstances.

* * *

Thoroughly charmed by Micha’s mother, who’d asked her to call her Beth, Carly kept quiet and stayed in the background while Beth and Micha reconnected. For as long as she’d known and loved Micha, he had buried his emotions deep inside regarding his family. Seeing him now, clearly hurting yet full of love, only made her realize she’d made the right choice in reinstating their engagement.

As if she’d ever doubted. Even when she’d been furious and hurt over the way he’d let her think he’d died, she’d still loved him with every ounce of her being.

Micha had let his mother ride in the front seat and he’d taken the back while Carly drove. Pulling up in front of the rehabilitation hospital, she parked. The single-story brick building appeared welcoming.

Carly glanced at Beth and then Micha. “Should I wait out here?” she asked, willing to give them all the privacy they needed.

“No,” Micha answered immediately. “I want you with me.”

Beth wisely stayed out of the discussion, rummaging in her purse for something.

Carly got out, motioned at Micha to do the same. “I think you should talk to your father privately at first. Once you’re comfortable, you can bring me in and introduce me.”

Opening his mouth as if to argue, Micha considered. He exhaled. “Maybe you’re right.”

“You and your mother,” Carly urged. “I don’t want to intrude right now. I’m sure they have some sort of lobby. I’ll sit there and wait.”

Though Micha still appeared uncertain, he nodded. Inside, he waited until Carly had gotten settled in a chair before offering his mother his arm. Together the two disappeared down one of the hallways.

Her phone chimed, indicating a text. It was Jones, just checking to make sure she’d arrived in one piece. They texted back and forth for a little bit, and right before he said he had to go, he reminded her to let Heath know she was okay. She did that, received a brief, I’m glad, in response, which meant her eldest brother had to be too busy to chat.

She checked social media, scrolling through her feed, when she looked up to see Beth had returned.

“I’m letting them have alone time,” the older woman stated, dropping into the chair next to Carly. “Al has been in and out of it since they moved him here. He’s sleeping a lot, though they tell me they’ve been able to get him up out of bed in a wheelchair. Micha is talking to him, hoping his father will respond to the sound of his son’s voice.”

Carly nodded. “Has he been awake much with you?”

Slowly, Beth nodded. “A little bit,” she said. “It’s been really frightening, not knowing if my husband is going to recover.”

Reaching over, Carly hugged her. “It’ll all work out. Sometimes these things just take time.”

Once Carly let go, Beth eyed her curiously. “You sound awfully confident. How do you know?”

“Because I’m a nurse.” Carly smiled. “Pediatrics, though. I work in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Time, along with modern medicine, often bring about surprising healing. Now I don’t know your husband’s particular medical situation, but I’m sure his doctor can give you a lot more information.”

“Oh, he has. He actually said something similar to what you just did. We need to give Al time and see what functions he regains. The therapy here is supposed to help with all that, too.”

“I’m sure it will.”

Both women looked up as Micha reappeared. He seemed composed, Carly thought.

“Dad woke up,” Micha told his mother. “Not for long, but I’m pretty sure he saw and recognized me.”

Beth’s gaze searched his face. “Did he say anything? I know it can be kind of hard to understand him.”

“No. He just looked at me and smiled. Then he closed his eyes again.”

“How long are you staying?” Beth asked, her tone guardedly hopeful.

Micha glanced at Carly. “I’m not sure. We haven’t actually discussed it yet.”

“I see. Well, you’re both welcome to stay as long as you like. Please, at least another day,” she pleaded. “We have so much catching up to