Chapter 65

"Right now, you need to get some rest." The nurse's lips curled into a concerned smile. "My name is Olivia. If you need anything, just push this button right here." She placed a slender rectangular object with a call button next to Kiki's hand. "I'll be right back."
"Thank you," Kiki replied and watched as the woman walked out.
Jocelyn sat in the chair next to her bed and Caden stood behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders.
"See? I knew you should have come over to my house last night." Jocelyn patted Kiki's hand.
"No. I had a great time at the Children's Home." Kiki tried to sit up and Jocelyn helped her, adjusting the pillows behind her back. "I lit a fire in the fireplace and some candles and laid down on the couch. I must have fallen asleep without putting the fire screen back in place." She let out a deep breath. "My mother's going to kill me."
Jocelyn's eyebrows pulled together in concern. "But you bought the house from them, didn't you?"
Kiki nodded. "Yes, but they're the ones holding the note. The insurance is going to them and if my mother has anything to say about it, I'm sure she won't give me any of it. And my father will just go along with her." It was terrible to think about her parents like that, but she knew her mother far too well.
Jocelyn sighed and then patted her arm. "Well, try not to worry about that now. You can stay with me for as long as you'd like. Mallory's leaving for California and we have an extra bedroom--"
"Thanks, hon. I appreciate the offer, but I'm not going to make any decisions yet." Kiki tried to readjust herself, but her head was throbbing. "I'm going to see what's what when I get out of here."
"Here you go." Olivia came back in to the room and handed her a glass of water and some pills. "Here. Take these. It'll help your headache and your throat."
"Thanks." Kiki took a sip of the water and the cool sensation going down immediately put out the fire in her throat.
The nurse waited for her to take the pills and then took the plastic glass from her and set it on the nightstand beside the bed. "I'll be back in later to check on you." Turning to Jocelyn, she said in a low voice, "Don't stay too long. She needs to rest."
"We won't." Jocelyn stood, obviously preparing to leave.
But Kiki held up her hand and waited for the nurse to leave. "You can stay as long as you like," she whispered, and then nodded in the direction of the nurse. "No matter what she says."
Jocelyn nodded and then squeezed her hand as tears filled her eyes. "Kiki, I was so worried--"
"I'm fine now." Kiki squeezed her hand back and then noticed something and smiled. "Is that The Christmas Ring I see on your finger?"
Jocelyn laughed. "You know it is. You sold it to Caden. Remember?"
"Oh, I remember." Kiki chuckled. "He came into the shop and I called him an idiot."
"You didn't!" Jocelyn said, her eyes wide.
"Yes, she sure did." Caden placed his hand on the small of Jocelyn's back and then looked into her eyes. "And I was an idiot. Let's just say that Kiki gave me a much-needed talking to."
"No!" Jocelyn exclaimed, a bit too loudly.
"Ssshhh-." Kiki giggled. "I don't want you to get kicked out of here."
Jocelyn nodded. "Thanks, Kiki. I knew you were the one who told him about the ring." She looked down at it appreciatively.
"When I asked her which one you wanted," Caden interjected, "she went straight to this ring."
"Was that before or after the strong talking to?" Jocelyn teased.
"After." Kiki shrugged, thankful that the ibuprofen was doing its job and lessening the pain in her head.
Jocelyn smiled, raising an eyebrow. "I'd love to know what you said to him."
"I'll never tell," Kiki teased, her lips curling into a smile.
"And neither will I," Caden agreed.
But Kiki knew that what she said must have worked because they were together now. Not that she could take full credit, but she was sure it hadn't hurt. "So, when's the big day?"
Jocelyn looked over at Caden, her lips curled into a smile. "We're not sure yet." Then she turned back to Kiki. "But when we set the date, you'll be the first to know."
"I'd better be," Kiki teased. "Look. I appreciate you coming, but it's Christmas Day. Wouldn't you rather be home celebrating?"
Jocelyn shrugged. "We celebrated last night. Besides, being here with you is more important."
"Thank you." Kiki readjusted the plastic oxygen prongs under her nose. "I wonder how long I'll have to wear this."
"Well, keep it on. You went through a pretty big ordeal last night." Jocelyn leaned over and adjusted the oxygen tubes on her, pushing Kiki's hands away. "You could have--"
"Don't say it." Kiki let out a deep breath, knowing that she was going to say that she could have died.
Jocelyn smiled and sat back down. "It's a good thing that fireman found you and pulled you out when he did."
"When I get out, I'm going to find him and thank him." Kiki let out a deep breath and decided to divert the attention away from herself. "Since you're here, we need to start planning this wedding of yours."
Caden rolled his eyes. "No going to the courthouse?" he teased.
Jocelyn hit him playfully on the stomach. "Not on your life."
Kiki and Jocelyn spent the next hour planning the wedding. Caden sat back, smiling, obviously enjoying the ladies having their fun.
Kiki observed the way Caden looked at Jocelyn, as if he had just seen his first Corvette, and wondered if she would ever have that. But she wasn't jealous of Jocelyn. No, not at all. In fact, this was the first time that Kiki had seen her with a guy- ever. Kiki was beginning to think that Jocelyn would spend the rest of her life single. But it was a testament to what could happen when you found the right person to share your life with.
But Kiki was the same age as her. Although people told her that she was young and to give it time, she still couldn't help but wonder if she would ever find her soul mate- or if he was even out there.