Chapter Nineteen
Tears stream down my face. He’s back. My daddy is back.
“Don’t cry, Annie.” Ray’s voice is hoarse. “What’s happening?”
I take up his hand in both of mine and cradle it against my face.
“You’ve been in an accident. You’re in the hospital in Portland.”
Ray frowns, and I don’t know if it’s because he’s uncomfortable with my
uncharacteristic display of affection, or that he can’t remember the accident.
“Do you want some water?” I ask, though I’m not sure if I’m allowed to give
him any. He nods, bewildered. My heart swells. I stand up and lean over him,
kissing his forehead. “I love you, Daddy. Welcome back.”
He wa一ves his hand, embarrassed. “Me, too, Annie. Water.” I run the short
distance to the nurses’ station.
“My dad—he’s awake!” I beam at Nurse Kellie, who smiles back.
“Page Dr. Sluder,” she says to her colleague and hurriedly makes her way
around the desk.
“He wants water.”
“I’ll bring him some.”
I skip back to my father’s bed, I feel so light-hearted. His eyes are closed
when I reach him, and I immediately worry that he’s slipped back into a
coma.
“Daddy?”
“I’m here,” he mutters and his eyes flutter open as Nurse Kellie appears with
a jug of ice chips and a glass.
“Hello, Mr. Steele. I’m Nurse Kellie. Your daughter tells me you’re thirsty.”
In the waiting room, Christian is staring fixedly at his laptop, deep in
concentration. He glances up when I close the door.
“He’s awake,” I announce. He smiles, and the tension around his 363 | P a g
e
Fifty Shades Freed
eyes vanishes. Oh . . . I hadn’t noticed before. Has he been tense all this
time? He sets his laptop aside, stands, and embraces me.
“How is he?” he asks into my hair as I wrap my arms around him.
“Talking, thirsty, bewildered. He doesn’t remember the accident at all.”
“That’s understandable. Now that he’s awake, I want to get him moved to
Seattle. Then we can go home, and my mom can keep an eye on him.”
Already?
“I’m not sure he’s well enough to be moved.”
“I’ll talk to Dr. Sluder. Get her o
本章未完，点击下一页继续阅读。