Chapter 27

Slipping quietly into the room, Grace paused in the dim light and took in Ana's drained appearance. She had known from reading the medical records that Ana had presented with contusions and abrasions, but seeing it for herself was something else. Immediately her heart went out to her. Yes, this might be the woman who had broken her son's heart, but she was also the one who owned it. She had no doubt that things would be different between them this time, in fact she planned to make sure of it.

"Christian?" Ana asked as she heard the movement, and started to move slightly on the bed.

"No, Sweet Girl its Grace," the older woman said as she closed the door and crossed the room. "I ordered Christian to do something for me, and promised I'd sit with you till he got back," she explained as she crossed the room to a vacant chair.

"His hand?" Ana asked knowingly.

Grace smiled slightly: "yes."

"Good. He kept insisting it was ok."

"He's not the only one hiding how he's really feeling," she replied as she slipped into the chair, placing her purse on the nearby window sill.

"He worries too much."

"Only about those he loves," Grace mused, noting how Ana inhaled and then turned her head slightly away from her. "What is it, dear?"

"You must hate me. I know I hurt him when I left all those years ago."

"You did what you thought you had to do," she replied to the softly spoken declaration. "You don't plan on hurting him this time, do you?"

"I love him too much to hurt him intentionally- although I guess…" Ana let her voice drop off.

"You were both hurting… after all, if he hadn't of left to come help with Mani and Mia you might have gotten back together then."

Ana swallowed as she turned her head slowly back to Grace: "sometimes I wonder about that… but I think… no, I suppose I know… something else would've probably derailed us back then.
I didn't know how to listen to my own mind- hell I'm still not sure that I do.
I just know that I want to take the chance now; we've talked about a future…."

"That doesn't surprise me," Grace admitted. "I know that you both have been with other people, but I know for him- and now from hearing what you have to say and how you talk about him that for you too- it has only ever really been the other."

"So you'll give me a chance?" Ana asked in a small voice.

"Oh sweet girl, how could I deny the girl who owns my son's heart to be a part of all of our lives. Even if you only wanted to be a friend to him you'd be family. You always have been.
Now you rest.
Flynn was going to order a sedative for you for when you have your tests done.
By the time they're done, Christian's should be too and he'll be waiting…"