Just For The Holidays (Home for the Holidays)

28. Teddy

Chapter 28

Teddy

Hate To See You Go, Love To Watch You Walk Away

T he head nurse threatened to strap Teddy down to the bed if he moved a muscle, before someone arrived to collect him. He’s been diagnosed with a potential concussion and patched up with three stitches in his forehead. All X-rays are clear but the reddened Imprints from the seat belt and steering wheel gracing his ribs are likely to bruise over the coming days—according to the doctor.

“Right this way.” The nurse’s voice approaches from beyond the curtain, before it sweeps open.

Nichol steps inside the fabric barrier with rosy cheeks and wild eyes, chewing the inside of his cheek, his hair poking out in all directions.

“Hey.” Teddy greets him softly.

“Hey.” Nichol’s expression softens and he sighs heavily, clearly relieved. “What the hell were you doing, out in this mess?”

“A quick trip to the mall.” Teddy murmurs.

“What?” Nichol’s upper lip curls and his eyes narrow.

“I needed an outfit for your party.” Teddy lifts his shoulders.

“Well, that’s ridiculous,’’ Nichol mutters.

“You shouldn’t be out in this mess,” Teddy retorts.

“Ya think?” Nichol scoffs. “C’mon… I’m taking you home.” He knots his arms and lightly kicks the bed’s wheel with his toe.

Teddy slowly shifts, swinging his legs off the bed, wincing as he lifts off the mattress to sit up.

Nichol hops forward, with winged arms, ready to scoop him in. “You good?” His annoyed voice turns tender and his warm breath kisses Teddy’s neck..

“Yes,” Teddy grunts.

Nichol hovers closely until Teddy is standing.

The charmed prince’s body heat carries the fresh scent of orange blossom soap and a familiar hint of Teddy’s own bakery still on his clothes.

Teddy’s head swirls with pain medication and their eyes meet, lingering for a moment, before the nurse arrives pushing a wheelchair with a bag of Teddy’s belongings hung off the back.

“Sit,” she barks.

“I can walk.” Teddy protests.

“No you can’t, Hospital policy.” She points at the chair, still glaring at him.

“Just sit,” Nichol commands. “I’ll push him,” he tells the nurse.

She shrugs and struts away.

Teddy wobbles on jello legs, slowly lowering into the wheelchair, he peers up at Nichol dreamily. “Thank you.”

Nichol smirks, gripping the handlebars, spinning the chair around, and pushing it down the corridor, toward the lobby. “Wait here,” he orders, stepping around the front of the chair, and looking down at Teddy. “I’m going to get the van. I’ll be right back.” He trots across the main entrance.

“Hate to see you go… Love to watch you walk away.” Teddy slurs.

Nichol glances back, before he walks through the automatic slider, roaring with laughter that echoes into the night.

Ages later, headlights sweep across the floor-to-ceiling wall of glass spanning the front lobby and Nichol returns to collect Teddy. They abandon the wheelchair, load into the vehicle, and head for the bakery.

The hum of the engine, theater of whirling snow squalls ahead of the windshield, and cocktail of pain medications, have Teddy dozing in and out of consciousness.

Twinkling lights glimmer on pepto-pink siding . . .

Nichol’s arm snakes Teddy’s waist, hoisting him off the seat. . .

Orange blossoms waft…

“Mmm, you smell nice.” Teddy murmurs…

Bells jingle a cheery greeting…

“Am I hurting you?” Nichol’s voice is underwater…

Teddy rolls his neck. “Mm-nooo.”

Aluminum scrapes…

He falls slowly, like floating, onto a fluffy cloud…

A soft blanket tucks around him…

Teddy drifts…

Sometime later, a warm body lies against his back…

Gram’s fresh-baked pies tease his nostrils…

And sleep carries him away…