Echoes at Dawn (KGI #5)(91)

That’s it, Grace. You can do it. You are doing it. Just a little more.

It took every ounce of willpower she had to force her eyelids open the rest of the way. For a moment all she could see was one huge blur.

But then her vision cleared and the first thing she saw was Rio leaning over her, his eyes filled with such joy. He was smiling so big that his cheeks dimpled. She’d never known he had dimples.

His hair hung limply over his shoulders, some of it falling forward into his face. Moisture welled in those deep brown eyes, and his hand shook as he lifted it to touch her forehead.

“Hi,” he said softly.

She tried to smile and it was then she realized that something was terribly wrong. She couldn’t move her mouth. There was a tube down her throat. She panicked, reaching, trying to yank it out. Then she gagged.

Rio grabbed both her hands and held them tightly, all the while yelling over his shoulder for help.

She was only dimly aware of what they were saying. She caught a few words from Rio. She’d woken up. She’d realized there was a breathing tube. She’d been more aware than maybe they’d thought she’d be. Or maybe it was that she’d come around before they expected.

Then from the nurse, talking to Rio about sedating her so they could remove the tube, but they had to wait for the doctor’s orders. Had to be certain she could breathe adequately on her own.

She tried to protest, but she couldn’t talk around that damn tube. All that came out was a muffled choking sound.

Rio turned back to her, still gripping her hands tightly. He put his lips to her forehead.

I need you to calm yourself, Grace. Itۀ, Grace.x2019;s just a breathing tube. You’ve been in a coma and you weren’t able to breathe on your own at first. They’ll take it out. All will be well.

And suddenly her world went fuzzier. That panicked her too.

Rio!

Shhh, it’s okay. They’re just sedating you so the tube can be removed. They don’t want you pulling it out and doing more damage. I’ll be here when you wake up again. I swear it.

WHEN she woke again, her eyes came open immediately. There was no fight just to crack her eyelids. She felt stronger. Relief coursed through her veins until she was heady with it. She wanted to crawl out of the stupid hospital bed and do a double fist pump.

She was here. She was alive. She was going to make it.

She lifted her head, immediately searching for Rio. She frowned when she didn’t see him anywhere. Figures. She was finally something other than a panicked, freaking-out nitwit and he wasn’t even here.

Shea?

The response was immediate. She could feel her sister’s relief.

Grace, you’re awake. You’re stronger. I can feel it. You’re already so much better.

Thanks for being there. For all of it. I couldn’t have done it without you.

It’s over now, Grace. I can’t wait to see you. You have to come for my wedding.

Wedding?

Grace felt Shea’s beautiful smile, her absolute joy, and it warmed Grace to her very soul.

Nathan and I are going to marry at the same time that his older brother and his fiancée get married. We were the reason they waited as long as they did, so it’s kind of fitting that we do it all together.

That’s wonderful, Shea. I’m so happy for you. And of course I’ll be there. Nothing could keep me away. Now go. I know you can’t keep up a link for long. We’ll talk later. Right now I have a man to track down.

Shea’s laughter lingered in Grace’s mind long after her sister left the conversation.

She was about to send out a demand to Rio to ask where the hell he was when her door opened and she saw him stick his head in.

His eyes brightened with joy and relief when he saw that she was awake and looking in his direction.

“Hey you.”

She smiled. “Hey yourself. Where you been?”

“I brought someone to see you. I wanted to make sure you were up for it. She just wanted to peek in on you while you were sleeping.”

Grace’s brow furrowed and then Rio walked farther in. Elizabeth came in behind him, holding his hand, a shy smile on her face. As soon as she saw that Grace was awake, her face lit up. She dropped Rio’s hand and ran for the bed.

“Careful!” Rio warned, not a second too late.

Elizabeth pulled up when she would have leapt onto the bed and instead stood beside it, jittering with excitement.

Then her smile turned down into a frown. “I was so worried for you. They told us you would die.”

Grace smiled and then held up an arm to hug her. Elizabeth needed no urging and snuggled immediately into Grace’s side.

“They were wrong,” Grace said. “I have too much to live for to die now.”

Her gaze found Rio’s as she spoke, and his warm gaze stroked gently over her face.

He walked around to the other side of her bed, pulled up a chair and sat. He took her fۀHe took ree hand, the one that wasn’t occupied with holding Elizabeth, and he ran his fingers over the back of her hand and then her palm, over and over as if reassuring himself that she was here and alive.

“How are you feeling?”

She thought about it for a moment, mentally running down her body, testing what hurt and what didn’t.

“Tired,” she finally said. “Mentally tired. Like I’m burned out, you know? The mental fatigue is more overwhelming tha