In Your Dreams (Blue Heron #4)(103)

Then Everett Field arrived, in uniform, puffing up with self-importance as he led the handcuffed kid away to the applause of the O’Rourke patrons. Pru and Carl had been at the bar, too, hidden in one of the back booths dressed in Star Trek uniforms, and Pru burst out laughing at the sight of her brother’s blood, which was fairly typical.

Then Levi had come in, as well as Faith, and, against Jack’s wishes, the ambulance was called, much to the delight of his fellow members on the Manningsport volunteer EMS squad.

He really just wanted to be home. With Emmaline.

As if picking up that thought, Hadley paused in her crying, glanced over and burst into renewed sobs.

“I have to interview her,” Levi said, his forehead wrinkling.

“Sucks to be you,” Em said.

“How much longer will this take?” Jack grumbled.

“They’re busy tonight,” Levi said. “Want me to call anyone? Your dad? Mrs. Johnson?”

“I’m sure your wife already has. If Pru didn’t beat her to it.” Privacy wasn’t an ideal the Holland family held dear.

“Hello! I’m looking for John Noble Holland the Fourth? Gorgeous name, right? Come on in!” Jack stood up and walked toward a tiny Asian woman who looked to be about fourteen years old. “Hi! Nice to meet you. I’m Dr. Chu. Sorry for the wait! It’s totes crazy here tonight.”

Hadley got up and tried to follow them in, but Jack simply said, “No,” which caused still-louder crying.

“Will you pipe down?” Frankie said. “They’re gonna medicate you if you don’t. Stop being such an attention whore, Hadley. He’s fine. And he’s not your concern anymore.”

“I thought he was dead! Oh, Jack, if you’d been—”

Mercifully, the doors swung shut behind him, cutting off his ex-wife’s wails.

The doctor, who couldn’t have been more than five feet tall, showed him into the exam room. “Have a seat, Mr. Holland. We’ll get you taken care of lickety-split. Positive attitude, check!”

There was a knock, and Emmaline peeked in. “Want company?” she asked.

“Sure.”

“Are you his wife?” the doctor asked.

“No. Girlfriend.” She blushed.

“Well, from the look of that gross and bloody towel, Mr. Holland,” the doctor said, “I think you’ll need some stitches. I love stitches. They’re my favorite! Has anyone ever told you you’re really handsome, Mr. Holland?”

Christ.

“Hey, is Jeremy Lyon on tonight?” Em asked. That’s right. Jeremy took shifts here a few times a month.

Dr. Enthusiasm paused. “Um...yes?”

“He’s a family friend. Mind if he sees Jack instead?”

The girl sighed. “Fine,” she said, deflating. “I’ll get him.” She slouched away.

“Thanks,” Jack said.

“Sure.” Emmaline sat down on the edge of his bed, glanced at him, then back at her hands. “You okay?”

“Yeah.”

“Thanks for...you know. Looking out for me.” She stuffed her hands in her pockets. “It wasn’t necessary.”

Jack’s irritation melted a bit. “You’re welcome. I probably earned a kiss, don’t you think?”

“Maybe.”

“Definitely.”

“I’ll think about it.”

He reached out and hooked a finger in the front of her sweater and pulled her to him, then kissed her. Em’s hands went to his chest. Her mouth was so soft, a balm against this whole stupid night. “I really hated seeing that guy kiss you,” Jack murmured against her mouth.

“I should hope so.”

He kissed her again, and this time, his tongue brushed hers, and she melted against him.

“Hey, Jack— Oh, my God, you two are together? Why am I always the last to know the good stuff?” Jeremy stood in the cubicle. “This is so nice! I only wish I could take credit for fixing you up. Hi, Emmaline, how are you?” He hugged her, then shook Jack’s hand. “So you got hit on the head, huh? Not very smart of you, Jack.”

“He turned his back on a drunken idiot,” Em offered. Jeremy tsked and shook his head.

“Actually, you turned my back on a drunken idiot,” Jack said.

“True. Sorry about that.”

“Did you lose consciousness?” Jeremy asked, washing his hands.

“Nope.”

“How’s the pain?”

“Fine.”

“You military types. So stoic.” He looked at Jack’s head, then opened a cabinet and took out a suture kit. “Gonna need a few stitches, bro. This will sting.”

* * *

WHEN JEREMY WAS DONE, Em said she’d check on Hadley and see if Levi needed anything else. “Other than the head wound, how are things?” Jeremy asked when she was gone.

“Good.”

“Any sequelae from the rescue?”

Jack looked up sharply. “Like what?”

“Inner ear pain, balance issues.” Jeremy paused, his eyes steady. “PTSD.”

“No.”

“This is confidential, of course, since I’m here as your doctor. PTSD would be things like nightmares, panic attacks, flashbacks.”