After the Storm (KGI #8)(64)

Travis glanced between Eve and Donovan and then realized she was only in a shirt. His eyes widened and Eve flushed. Donovan ignored the interchange and set the tray holding the plates down on the nightstand. Then he bent over Travis while Eve got on the other side and they helped ease him upward, Travis grimacing as they propped pillows behind him to support him.

“Hungry?” Donovan asked.

“Starving,” Travis admitted. “It smells good, whatever it is.”

Eve smiled. “Then eat. I’m going to go check on Cammie and try to get her to eat too.”

“Is she all right?” Travis asked quickly, his eyes going dark with concern.

“She’s fine,” Eve assured him. “She’s been sleeping. Like you. She’s getting the medicine she needs. In a day or two she’ll be better.”

“And you, Evie?” Travis asked, lifting his gaze to hers. “Have you slept at all? Are you still hurting?”

“Don’t you worry about your sister,” Donovan said briskly as he set the tray in front of Travis. “She got some rest and she’s about to get some more just as soon as we see to Cammie. I’m going to give you an injection for pain, and then she’s getting the same and I want all of you to get a good night’s sleep.”

“Yes, sir,” Travis said in a low voice.

Donovan smiled down at him and handed him a fork. “Dig in. I’m going to go down with Eve to check on Cammie, and when I get back I’ll give you that shot. It’ll give you time to eat before you crash again.”

Travis lifted his gaze to Donovan, sincerity blazing in his eyes. “Thank you for what you’re doing, Mr. Kelly. For my sisters. We appreciate it.”

Donovan put his hand on Travis’s shoulder and squeezed. “You’re welcome, son. Now call me Donovan. The only Mr. Kelly around here is my dad. Hearing you call me that makes me feel like an old fart.”

Travis grinned and relaxed, the tension easing from his face. He picked up his fork and dug in with gusto. Eve could hear his stomach growl and gave thanks once again that they were safe, under a roof that didn’t leak, and that Travis had plenty to eat and the care he needed.

She leaned down and brushed her lips across Travis’s brow. “I’ll be back later to check on you, okay? I’m just down the hall if you need me. I love you.”

“Love you too,” Travis mumbled around a mouthful of lasagna.

She smiled and turned to follow Donovan from the room.

When they got to the bedroom she shared with Cammie, she went in, her heart softening when she saw Cammie still fast asleep, the IV bag still dripping steadily into the tube. It hurt her heart to see the little girl with an IV in her arm, taped and a tube leading away, but she also knew that this was what was necessary. That if Maren hadn’t acted as quickly as she had, Cammie could have gotten a lot worse.

“I’ll let you rouse her,” Donovan said quietly. “I’ll stand back until she’s awake and oriented. Once you get her sitting up I’ll set the tray up in front of her.”

Eve went to Cammie’s bedside and slid onto the bed beside her. She touched Cammie’s fevered brow, tenderness assailing her.

“Cammie? Cammie, darling, can you wake up for me? I brought you something to eat. Are you hungry?”

Cammie roused, blinking sleepily as she stared up in confusion. Then her gaze settled on Eve and she relaxed.

“I had a bad dream,” she mumbled, sliding her thumb inside her mouth.

Eve bent to kiss her forehead and stroked a hand through her tousled hair. “I’m sorry, darling. But you know nothing can hurt you here, don’t you? It was just a dream.”

“He was there,” Cammie said in a low voice, still sucking at her thumb. “He was here. I woke up and he was standing by my bed just like he used to. It scared me, Evie. You promise he won’t find us here?”

Donovan’s expression had gone utterly black as he listened to Cammie. Eve exchanged helpless looks with him. Now that Donovan knew everything, he could read between the lines. Knew what Cammie referred to when she said that her father had watched her sleep. That he’d acted inappropriately toward her. Eve just didn’t know the extent. Maybe she never would. And that killed her. She didn’t want to remind Cammie of past fears. She didn’t want to bring back those terrors. But at the same time, Cammie needed to talk to someone. She needed to get it out or the wounds would fester, and left unresolved it would cause her problems well into her adult life.

Donovan took a step forward, for the first time inserting himself into the conversation. Cammie’s eyes flickered and she latched on to him, relief lighting her expression.

He seated himself on Cammie’s other side, carefully positioning the tray in front of her. He picked up the hand that didn’t have the IV attached and curled his fingers around her palm.

“Listen to me, sweetheart. You and Eve and Travis are safe here. I’m not going to let your father come here. Okay? Eve has told me everything that happened. Your father is a bad person and I’m not going to let him ever scare you again. Now, what I’d like for you to do right now is eat. Swanny made a special dinner just for you. Think you’re up for that?”

“Did he make grilled cheeses?” Cammie mumbled around her thumb.

Donovan gave her an indulgent smile. “Not exactly. But it’s sort of like a grilled cheese. Only better. Promise. It has lots of yummy cheese. And noodles. Make you a deal. Try the lasagna and if you don’t like it, I’ll make you a grilled cheese instead.”