Chapter 76

Kiki came out of the hospital bathroom early the next morning, dressed in the clothes that Jocelyn had brought over for her. The money that her mother had wired her was safely stowed in her purse. True to her word, Jocelyn had picked it up for her that morning before coming to get her. The clothes she had brought for her weren't perfect, but Kiki was grateful that she didn't have to go home dressed in scrubs.
"There you go!" Jocelyn said, a bit too chipper. "Now you look more like yourself."
Kiki smiled, knowing she meant well. "Thanks, Joss. I appreciate you bringing me something. I couldn't imagine having to go home in a hospital gown."
"Now, that might be interesting."
When Kiki turned around, Taren was standing in the doorway. "You came."
"I told you I would." Taren smiled. "Would you mind if I take you home?"
"Home?" Jocelyn asked, her eyebrows pulling together in concern. Caden stood up from his perch on the edge of the hospital bed, his eyebrows pulling together in concern.
Kiki nodded, touched that both Jocelyn and Caden were so protective of her. "Taren spoke with Mr. White at The North Pole Lodge and he's giving me a suite with a kitchenette for as long as I need it. Come to find out, he and Taren are friends."
"Wow! That was generous," Jocelyn exclaimed, her eyes wide.
"We played football together in high school and have been friends ever since." Taren smiled. "When he heard about what happened to Kiki, he didn't hesitate." He inclined his head toward Kiki, but spoke to Jocelyn. "He and a lot of other people wanted to help. When he found out she lost everything, he told me to tell her to stay for as long as she needed."
"I was completely surprised." Kiki gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Thank you for offering to let me stay with you, Jocelyn. But you never know. By the time everything's said and done, I may end up staying with you after all."
"You're welcome any time." Jocelyn smiled. "But that's quite all right! If I had an opportunity to stay at The North Pole Lodge, I would jump at the chance. I heard that they book up quickly, especially this time of year."
Kiki nodded. "He must hold back some rooms just for emergencies."
Turing to Kiki, Taren asked, "Do you feel well enough to drive?"
Kiki let out a deep breath and nodded.
"How about letting me take care of it," Jocelyn intervened, giving Caden's hand a gentle squeeze. He looked down at her and smiled. "Kiki, give me your keys. Then Caden can take me to your house, I can pick up your car, and he can follow me over to the lodge."
"Are you sure you don't mind?" Taren asked Caden.
"No, man." Then Caden looked over at Kiki and winked. "Anything for Kiki."
"Hey, wait a minute there," Jocelyn teased.
Everyone laughed.
Caden slipped his arm around Jocelyn's waist and whispered just over her head, "Within reason."
She slapped him playfully on his chest.
"Just kidding." Turning to Taren, Caden added, "We'd be glad to."
Jocelyn gave Kiki's hand a gentle squeeze. "If you're busy settling in, I'll leave your keys at the front desk."
"Are you kidding me?" Kiki pulled her in for a one-handed hug. "You'd better come up to see the room." She pulled back, but held her hand. "I'll leave your name at the front desk and they'll tell you what room I'm in." Then she dropped her hand, picked up the keys from the counter, and handed them to her.
A sly smile spread across Jocelyn's face as she held up Kiki's keys and glanced over at Caden. "Wanna take a trip to Mexico?"
Kiki laughed. "Jocelyn, if you go to Mexico in my car, then you're taking me with you."
"And me," Caden added.
Jocelyn sighed, feigning disappointment. "Well, it looks like we'll have to go some other time-." Then she lowered her voice and stage whispered, "- when the guys are working."
Kiki burst out laughing.
Jocelyn pulled Kiki in and kissed her cheek. "I'll see you later."
"Drive safely," Kiki replied. As Jocelyn started to walk away, Kiki added, "Jocelyn?" She turned around and lifted an eyebrow. "Thank you."
"Any time." Jocelyn gave her a wink and then walked out with Caden.
Once they were gone, Taren reached out and took her hand, looking into her eyes. His eyes were a pale blue ocean, appearing to see into her soul. "So, are you ready?"
She nodded, enjoying the feel of his hand in hers a bit too much. She had to keep telling herself that he was probably just being nice. "I am sssooo ready. Although they've been nice to me here, I don't like hospitals."
Taren laughed. "Okay, what things do you have? Give them to me and I'll carry it out for you."
"That's okay. I have it." She let go of his hand and picked up the bag from the bed, containing what little toiletries that the nurse had given her along with the nightgown she had been wearing when they brought her in. It seemed like another world, another lifetime ago, as if it had happened to someone else. When she thought back to that night, it was still hard to believe that it had been real. But she found that the more time she spent with Taren, the more real her time with him was becoming- maybe a bit too real.
"Here's your discharge papers," the nurse said, looking down at the paperwork as she walked into the room. "I'll just need you to sign here- and here." She pointed to the places marked with an X on the paperwork.
"Congratulations! You're free to go," the nurse teased. "I'll call an orderly to come up with a wheelchair."
Kiki shook her head. "Thank you, but that won't be necessary."
The nurse shrugged. "Hospital policy. Sorry, but everyone who leaves gets a free ride." She gave her an apologetic smile and then hurried out the door.
"By the way," Taren began, "My mother and I decided to have a Christmas dinner celebration of sorts tonight, since we didn't get to celebrate much on Christmas. And we were wanting to know if you'd like to come over."