Erin had said the same thing when she’d first asked him to take her to the hospital. What was he supposed to do, leave an injured woman to figure it out herself? Granted they were no longer married, so he didn’t owe her anything. But he’d like to think he was still a decent human being who would step in to help whenever someone needed it. He let out a long sigh.
“She’s not an imposition. I know she worries about it, but she worries too much. The boys and I will be fine.”
The nurse gave him a relieved smile. “That’s what I thought would be the response because I passed by here a couple of times and watched you with the boys. If you’d like a few minutes alone with her to discuss arrangements, I’d be happy to keep them occupied.”
He helped the boys gather their things and then the nurse led them into the exam room, where Erin was dressed in a hospital gown, her arm in a cast, her leg in a boot and a sour look on her face. “I think they’re overreacting,” she said before he even entered. “I’m fine. I just need to be in my own bed.”
He studied her face. The strained expression of pain was gone, but when he glanced at the IV they’d put in her, he wondered if they’d given her something for it. She’d probably argued about that, as well, but hopefully it would take the edge off so she could feel better.
“Do you remember hitting your head when you fell?” he asked.
She let out a long sigh. “It all happened so fast. There are pieces of my fall I don’t remember.”
“That’s because you have a concussion,” the nurse said, entering the room. She turned to Ryan and Dylan. “I have to go check on the room where your aunt is going to spend the night. Do you boys want to come and give me a hand?”
The boys gave an enthusiastic yes but Lance waited until the door closed behind them before he turned to Erin. “I agree with the nurse that you should spend the night. It’s a lot safer for you if you’re here, especially given that it’s going to be hard getting used to going around in a walking boot, with a cast on your opposite arm, and maintaining your balance.”
Erin let out a long sigh. “I don’t want to be a bother. I’m not your responsibility anymore.”
“Maybe not as my wife, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to help someone in need. The snow hasn’t let up. We’re all better off staying put for the night, rather than trying to make it over the pass. I saw a sign for a hotel just a block or so away. The boys and I can hunker down, and you can get some rest. Driving home tomorrow will be much safer for us all.”
She hated driving in the snow and she hated driving with him in the snow. She thought he drove too fast and took too many risks. He thought she worried too much. He’d never had an accident, but he could use her fear of one to convince her to stay tonight.
“I was worried about that. The roads getting bad, that is.” A weary look crossed her face. “You’re sure you won’t mind taking the boys overnight?”
“I’m not a monster,” he said.
He couldn’t read the expression on her face as she held her free hand out to him. “Come here.”
When he reached her side, she took his hand in hers. “I never thought you were,” she said. “We just...” Erin closed her eyes for a moment. “I needed a different level of connection than you could give me. It doesn’t make either one of us monsters. We’re just not compatible.”
A tear ran down her cheek and, for the first time, he wondered if maybe their divorce had been just as hard on her as it had been on him.
But she’d left him. Any regret she might feel at that action was her fault.
She pulled her hand out of his and wiped at her cheek. “Sorry. The medications they gave me are making me emotional. I know how you hate that. Anyway, my concern over being an imposition is that I don’t want to make you ruin your plans just because of my clumsiness.”
“I don’t have any plans,” he said.
Now would be the perfect time to explain that Chad had essentially relieved him of his duties at work until he could deal with his grief. But Erin yawned as she nodded slowly. Maybe not. She wasn’t in the right frame of mind to discuss anything important.
The door opened and the nurse reentered with the boys. “I know you just got to see her, but she does need her rest and visiting hours are almost over. So say your goodbyes and you can see her in the morning.”
Before they could leave, a doctor entered the room. “Good. Your family hasn’t left. I was hoping to catch them.”
He turned to Lance and held out his hand. “Steve Purcell,” he said. “I just want to be sure that when Erin goes home tomorrow, she won’t be going home alone.”
The doctor explained Erin’s injuries to Lance and none of it surprised him. Nor did it come as a shock when the doctor said, “She’s not capable of being on her own right now. I can’t release her unless I know there’s going to be a responsible adult with her in the house to look after the boys. Their mother, perhaps?”
Lance glanced over at Erin, who wore a panicked expression on her face, like she was afraid of what answer he would give.
“The boys’ mother is on her honeymoon,” Lance said, turning his attention back to the doctor.
“Don’t you dare call her.” Erin sat straighter in her bed, whatever grogginess she’d been feeling during their conversation seemingly gone. “Leah has been working really hard to save up for this trip. You can’t ruin it and make her come home early. I’ll be fine. Please.”
It was just like Erin to be worried about ruining Leah’s honeymoon. Were it anyone else, he would insist on calling. But she was right. If Leah knew that Erin had been injured, she would change her plans and come straight home. He didn’t want that for her. Even Lance could admit that his ex-sister-in-law deserved to enjoy her honeymoon.
“Please,” Erin said more gently. “I can do this. I’m far more capable than anyone gives me credit for.”
“I understand what you’re saying,” Lance said slowly. “I wouldn’t want to ruin Leah’s honeymoon, either. I’ll stay with you. I’ll help with the boys.”
She gave him a hopeful look. “You would do that? What about your job?”
He nodded. “I’m on a bit of an extended vacation.”
It was the closest to the truth he could give right now, especially in front of all these people.
This time when Erin slumped back against her pillows, all the fight had left her. It had clearly taken all of her energy to protect her sister and now the medication had won.
“All right.” She turned to look at the doctor. “You heard him. Lance is going to stay with us. And even though he doesn’t have to, I appreciate it. You can fill him in on any necessary information. My sister is back in two weeks and she can take over then.”
It was obvious she hadn’t wanted to agree to letting him stay but she’d had no other choice. And while spending the next two weeks taking care of Erin wasn’t high on Lance’s priority list, maybe it would allow him to discover the elusive peace he’d been hoping to find.
As they left the hospital room he took a final glance back at Erin, who was already drifting off to sleep. He didn’t understand his tender feelings for her at this moment. Maybe it was because she was injured. But he’d do well to remind himself not to let his heart get entangled with hers again.