“Thanks,” she croaked, the light of her anger toward Seth dying out just as fast as it came. “But you don’t have to be here. You can go.” Her voice felt scratchy, as if the words had to claw themselves out of her throat. The smell of bitter coffee reached her and mixed with the stale hospital air.
“I’ve got nowhere else to be,” he said before bumping his shoulder into hers.
A doctor rounded the corner, his glasses slipping down his nose and his white coat bulging over his stomach.
“Revelare?” he asked. They nodded, and he motioned for them to follow him as he walked. “Looks like nothing is broken, just some bruising.” His words were short and colored with exhaustion. “Honestly, a fall like this isn’t unexpected in someone her age. Especially with her diagnosis. I’ve prescribed some eight-hundred-milligram ibuprofen, and that’s about all we can do for her. Have you considered a fall alert bracelet or button for her house? Or maybe putting her in assisted living?”
“I live with her,” Sadie said mutinously.
“Oh, well.” He shrugged. “Good then. I’ll have the nurse start her discharge paperwork. Here’s her room.”
And with that, he left.
“Fucking doctors,” Seth hissed. “And what did he mean about her diagnosis? What diagnosis?”
Before she could answer, they heard a small, familiar cough. Sadie threw open the door and rushed inside.
“I’m fine, sugar,” were the first words out of Gigi’s mouth as she held a hand out to her granddaughter. “But if those idiot nurses don’t let me out of here for a cigarette soon, I’m going to have to clock them one.”
Sadie choked out a laugh as she hurried to take Gigi’s hand, enclosing it in both of hers and sitting on the edge of the bed.
“What happened?” she asked with a quiet hiccup. “You needed a break from me so badly you decided to send yourself to the hospital for a little holiday?” she joked, trying not cry.
“It’s my damned back is all, honey. But I wish everyone would stop making such a fuss. I’m fine. I …” She started and then stopped. “I can’t remember what I was going to say. This getting old business is a real son of a bitch, let me tell you.”
“I don’t think that has anything to do with getting old,” Sadie argued with a small laugh. “I forget what I’m going to say half the time. Maybe it’s a Revelare trait.”
“Or maybe it’s the painkillers,” Seth countered from the doorway.
“Seth,” Sadie said through gritted teeth, “why don’t you do something useful and see if you can go find the nurse and charm her into getting Gigi out of here faster.”
“Jesus, Sade. Lighten up. Gigi’s a fucking pioneer, okay? A little fall is nothing.”
“I know what Gigi is,” Sadie said, rising up from the bed and rounding on him. “I know who she is. You? What do you know? You fucking left. And now you’re here like it fixes everything, and it doesn’t.”
Damn him. Damn him. For always making her say more than she meant to. For being the one who loosened her control.
“Sadie Kathryn,” Gigi warned.
“No, Gigi. He’s here now because it was an emergency. That’s all. I’m sure he’ll be gone again by morning. I mean, what more could we possibly expect from you, right?” she demanded, turning back to him.
“You’re being a child,” he said flatly, his eyes mirroring Sadie’s own in their anger.
“That’s enough out of both of you,” Gigi cut in. “Sadie, you look like a bedraggled cat. Go home and get some rest. Seth will stay here with me. I’ll be home before you know it. Stop worrying, honey. Everything’s gonna be fine.”
“You’re kidding me,” Sadie spat. Her throat started to close up, but she flat out refused to cry in front of her brother.
“Come here, toot,” Gigi said, holding out her hand again. Sadie automatically walked forward, reaching for her. “Look at me. I’m fine. I promise. I’ve got some time left.”
Sadie looked at her, really looked. The color had come back into her cheeks, her voice was steady and strong as it ever was, her grip as she held Sadie’s hand was sturdy. The overwhelming need to be in her garden, working with the herbs and spell that was going to heal Gigi almost choked her.
“Okay, fine, I’ll go. But only because it’s what you want,” she said to Gigi.
“I’ll drive you home,” Jake called from the doorway. He looked like he wanted to come in but wasn’t sure if he should.