Bree sat in Mike's hospital room, watching his heart monitor and listening to it beep steadily. It was comforting to know he was still with her, even though his eyes were closed.
She knew now that she had to tell him she loved him, no matter what. She also knew that she was going to marry him. He was not Dane Cooper, her ex. He was a thousand times more responsible and kind and he loved her boys and her, without a doubt.
As she grasped his hand, she poured her heart out. "Why do bad things keep happening to me? Why can't things just be easy for a change? I'm a good person. I take care of my boys. I've kept them safe and they're happy." She shook her head and wiped the river of tears from her cheeks. "Mike, I need you to fight to live. We need you with us. The boys love you. I love you...so much."
She didn't feel any movement or reaction. Before she knew it, ten minutes were up and it was time for her to head to work. "I love you, Michael Hickam. Don't leave me."
She headed to work, grateful that Clara didn't mind watching her boys again. She hadn't been at the station long enough to earn paid time off, so she had no choice but to go in.
Lee looked up from his desk as she came in, heading for her desk. "Any change, Bree?"
"No."
"How are you doing?"
"I'm hanging in there." If not by just the thinnest of threads.
"That's good. It's been really slow today. You probably don't need to be here."
"My boys need food and a roof over their heads. I don't really have a choice." She realized her tone was disrespectful when it was too late. "I'm so sorry, Lee."
He walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You don't need to apologize. This is rough on you and everyone else too."
"Of course it is."
"Hey, I could send you on some errands. Then you'd be getting paid, but keeping busy at the same time."
"That would be great."
So, she headed to the office supply store, the diner and the post office. She had orders from Lee to take at least a half hour at the diner to drink coffee and eat some breakfast. Who was she to argue with Lee?
Her phone rang just as she was about to sit down at the counter. "Hello?"
"Bree? Where are you? Is he okay? Are you?"
"Hey, Beth. I'm at the diner, technically running errands for Lee. When I left Mike this morning he was still asleep."
"And how are you?"
"Barely holding it together. Let's talk about why you're calling me on your honeymoon."
"We came back early. Jack went up to the hospital and I'm here at the house with Linc."
"Why did you come back early?"
"Really, Bree? Mike and Jack...they're like brothers and you are so important to me. We needed to come back."
"But when will you have time to get away again? Aggie's opens next week."
"We will figure it out. Now, are you really going to stay at work today?"
"Yeah. I need the money."
"Well, after work I can go with you to the hospital. Jack can watch Linc."
"No ma'am. You and Jack need to spend time together. I will go see my boys at Clara's and then head up there."
"I should go with you."
"Are you telling me that right now you're not going crazy without Jack?"
"Well, no, but…"
"As it should be. Take the time. Besides tomorrow I'll need you to watch the boys for me."
"Alright. It's a deal."
By the time she arrived back at the station, she was feeling a bit better.
"Bree!"
"What, Lee? Is it Mike?"
"Yeah. He's awake!"
"Oh, thank you, God!"
"Let's go up there."
"I should stay here. I'm on the clock."
"Listen, you'll still be on the clock because you're going up with me. Official police business."
"You're a good man, Lee Coulter."
"I need Bree. Where is she?" Mike repeated. Why wouldn't they listen to him?
"She's on her way. Please, you need to stay calm and not move so much. You're stitches might pop open," his mom told him.
He closed his eyes in frustration. He felt trapped in the bed, in the room, in the building.
After what seemed like forever, he felt a soft hand touch his. Before he felt her though, her scent of peaches wafted into the room.
"Bree?"
She smiled down at him. Oh, that smile. "Hi."
"Where did you go?"
She ran her fingers through his hair. It felt so good. Like home. "I was at work."
"I need you here. With me."
"I'm here now. But Xavier and Tate require food and shelter, sweetheart, so I need to work."
Pam stepped out giving them a few moments. Mike reached for her hand. She tried to ignore the tears that made her nose burn.
"What's wrong, Bree?"
"Nothing. It doesn't matter anymore."
He patted the bed next to him. "Come here."
She sat down on the edge and turned her head as the tears escaped her eyes.
"Honey, tell me."
"I thought I was going to lose you," she said quietly. "I was so scared."
"I'm sorry I scared you."
"I never thought about you getting hurt here in Maple Hills. It seems so calm."
"There's always a bit of danger on the job."
She nodded and squeezed his hand. He moved over and raised his good arm. "Come here, Bree." She laid down next to him, laying her arm over his stomach. He kissed her forehead. "How are the boys?"
"Good. Clara is watching them."
"What do they know about this?"
"Just that you got hurt and needed to stay close to the doctors."
"I love you, Bree."
"I love you too," she told him, kissing his jaw.
"I'm not going to leave you and the boys for a very, very long time."
She laid there, not moving until he fell asleep and then she allowed herself to doze too. Her heart wasn't hurting anymore. It was at peace now that he was okay.
Jack went home a bit later, ready to see his wife and son. He had been away for only a couple hours but he had missed them.
When he walked in, he smelled roast beef cooking. "Beth? Linc?"
"Dada! Dada!" Linc called running full speed into his knees.
"Hey, Linc! Where's Mama?" Lincoln pointed to the kitchen so Jack carried him in there on his shoulders. "Hey, my beautiful wife. I'm home."
She smiled and turned from the counter where she was stirring something. "Hey, husband."
Jack leaned down and gave her a kiss. "I missed you."
"I missed you too. How's Mike?"
"Good. The doctor said he needs to be in the hospital a few more days and he will be on medical leave from work for at least six weeks. But he's alive."
"Thank goodness."
"Yeah. That means that I need to go off my leave early."
"How early?"
"I need to go back Monday." He put Lincoln on the floor and leaned against the counter. "I know you were counting on me taking care of Linc on opening day."
"I was but maybe I can see if my parents will come."
"I'm sorry, Beth. If there was anyway I could stay, I would."
"I know. It will be fine." She had two reservations for opening day. A newlywed couple, the Fradenburgs and a man, Fred Kramer in town on business.
"And tomorrow night," he whispered, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"What about it?"
"I was thinking I could make you dinner for a change."
"You can cook, huh? I mean, more than mac and cheese and hotdogs."
"Very funny, babe. I can make other things."
"Alright. I'm up for it. Might be kinda nice to have a night off."
He kissed her forehead and then her lips. "It's going to be good. And maybe you can wear that peachy thing you wore before?"
"My lingerie? For dinner?" she asked, blushing.
He raised his eyebrows and smirked. "It will just be us."
"I'll wear the peachy things under actual clothing just in case someone shows up."
"I guess that'll be fine."
"It'll have to be," she told him, turning back to her stirring.
Linc pulled some things out of the cupboard and started throwing things around and giggling.
"Hey, bud. What are you doing?"
He threw a spoon and giggled.
"That's his cupboard, Jack. I put old things in there that are safe and that I don't use."
"Mine," Linc said, grinning up at Jack.
"Yours?" Jack asked, sitting on the floor with him.
"No, mine."
"So it's mine?" Jack teased.
"No! Mine."
"So it is yours."
"Mine!"
Elizabeth laughed and continued finishing her cookies.
The phone rang so she answered while opening her laptop. "Aggie's House, this is Beth, how may I help you?"
"Hi, my name is Abigail Stanton. I was wondering if you had a room available for a few weeks."
"We do, yes. We open on the 15th. Let me look at my screen here. Yes, our Blue room is available. I just need your credit card number please."
Jack listened to his wife making another reservation. She was smiling and chatting with the woman on the phone.
"Any dietary restrictions I should know about?"
"No. I just am not a fan of eggs. Other than that, I'm not picky."
"No eggs, got it."
"Great. Thank you so much. I'll see you on the 15th?"
"Yes. The 15th."
Jack and Linc walked over. "Another reservation for opening day?"
"Yeah." Her eyes teared up. "This is happening. I can hardly believe it's actually happening."
"You deserve it, sweetheart. And it's going to be great."
"I hope so."
The next night…
After Linc was sleeping peacefully, Jack sent Beth in for a luxurious bubble bath while he made her dinner.
He had picked up a nice lobster from the store in Burlington and made them creamy lobster risotto. He poured a glass of Chardonnay for both of them and took it into the dining room. Then he lit a few candles and turned down the lights.
"Something smells good," she told him, slipping into the room in a green wrap dress that showed off her curves that he loved so much.
He took her in for a long moment. "Wow. You look...gorgeous."
She blushed and kissed his cheek. "Thank you."
He slipped his arm around her waist and led her to her seat, pulling her chair out for her.
"Thank you," she said again. "This looks amazing."
"Creamy lobster risotto."
"You made this? I had no idea you could cook like this."
"I hope you enjoy it."
After the blessing, they dug in and chatted about their day.
"I was thinking, Beth."
"About?"
"I don't know how much time I'm going to have to build our cottage. If I do it after work and on weekends, it will probably take a year and I won't have any time to spend with you and Linc."
"So what should we do?"
"I think we should hire someone to build it."
"Okay. Do you have someone in mind?"
"I do. Remember Sam Avery from high school?"
"Yeah. Bill's son."
"He owns a construction company. They build homes and his rates seem pretty reasonable."
"Alright. Let's set up a meeting with him."
"I did. Tomorrow at nine."
"Great!"
As they finished their meal, they heard Linc cry upstairs. "I'll get him," Beth said, popping up from her chair.
"Hey, buddy, what's going on?" Beth asked when she walked over to his crib. He raised his arms as he kept crying. "Shhhh, its okay, baby. Mama's here."
He clung to her neck and cried and cried as she swayed and rocked.
"Did you have a bad dream, sweet boy?"
"Choos...choos?"
"You're thirsty?"
She carried him downstairs and got him a sippy cup of juice. Then she took him into the living room and sat down in the corner of the couch, under a blanket.
"Is he alright?" Jack turned the lights down and joined them on the couch.
"Yeah. I think he must have had a bad dream or something."
Jack put his arm around her shoulders and stared down at their sweet boy. "Poor Linc."
"I love him, Jack. So much."
"Me too."
"I think we should adopt him."
"Well, technically I'm his legal guardian. We don't need to adopt him. We could change his name though."
"Lincoln Gabriel Thornton."
"Yeah. He'll grow up knowing we are his parents."
"I like it but I think his middle name should reflect where he came from. So Lincoln Gabriel-Montgomery Thornton."
"Perfect."