Rescuing Ryder (Serenity Securities, Team Hawk #1)

Chapter 30

CHAPTER THIRTY

Claire waited impatiently for Chase to write his discharge orders. She attempted to make a grocery list, but her swollen eye made everything appear hazy and if she tried to focus for too long, it caused a migraine.

She sighed for the hundredth time as she laid down her pen. Throwing her head back against the pillow, she closed her eyes and threw her arm over her head.

“I don’t know, Kassie, she doesn’t appear in any shape to return home,” Catherine whispered.

“She insists Chase discharge her today. He’s making an appointment with the eye specialist, then letting her return home,” Kassie whispered sadly.

“You know I can hear you, right?” Claire muttered.

Frowning Chase walked in with papers in hand.

“Please tell me I can go,” she pleaded.

Chase sighed resignedly as the team filed in, “Yes. You’ll return home this afternoon under some conditions,” he warned.

“I’ll do anything. I want my bed and as much as I love the quality care we provide here, I’ll scream if another nurse takes my vitals at 0400,” she complained.

“Good. Then we’ll send you to one of our homes to recuperate,” Kassie insisted. “Oh, I’m afraid we gutted out the guest room for Tori’s nursery and I don’t want you climbing stairs.”

“I’m not sure if she’ll receive any rest at my house with Grace, who’s up every two hours,” Catherine added.

Samantha shook her head. “Whiskey walks the floors at night. It might disrupt her rest and she’ll try to counsel him. Our house won’t work.”

Bryanna bit her lip as she pondered the problem. “We’re packing at the cabin. The new house isn’t ready, and the painters haven’t finished painting the apartments.”

“Tess and I stay at the facility,” Taco said. “With the walls soundproofed, we won’t hear her if she needs anything.”

“I can stay at my own house. I promise to take it easy,” Claire assured them.

Chase crumpled the papers in his hand. “Nope. We all know you. If given any leeway, you’ll camp out in your office working on your files.”

Claire let out a moan. “I don’t know what you want me to do. I’ll do anything you say if you’ll discharge me.”

Kassie smiled.

“We hoped you might feel this way. Here are the rules: No reading or working on files, driving, or cooking. You’ll allow someone to stay with you. When they say you need to rest, you listen,” Kassie ordered her sternly.

“You allow us to install a security system,” Leo said.

“We’ll handle the yard work,” Taco and Shadow raised their hands.

“We assigned days for food deliveries to your house,” Catherine informed her.

“Saint will drop off a basket of baked goods in the mornings,” Bryanna volunteered as she snuggled into her husband’s arms.

“I’ll make up a basket of gentle skin care products, lotions and oils to help you heal,” Samantha chimed in. “The ladies will come over and clean once a week until you’re released from care.”

Claire’s vision grew watery as she listened to them list how they planned to help her. They stared at her, appearing sad. Chase stepped to the foot of her bed as Kassie wrapped her arms around her.

“We’re sorry we let you down. You’re part of our family, and you didn’t feel comfortable telling us what you were going through. This time, we’ll support you, hoping you’ll understand how much you mean to us.”

Catherine passed her a tissue.

“I didn’t want to burden you. You’re too kind. But we must stay realistic here. You have busy lives. Leo’s team spent the last few weeks investigating something huge. Kassie and Chase adopted a new baby and run the hospital. Bryanna and Saint move in less than a month. Samantha and Whiskey planned on decorating their nursery. You can’t babysit me.”

Kassie smiled smugly. “We won’t desert you.”

“Kassie, there’s no one else left to help. You see how crazy our lives are,” Claire said, exasperated. “Who can possibly babysit me all day?” She laughed at the absurdity.

“I can.” Ryder parted the group and his hazel eyes stared back at hers. “I’ll stay with you.”