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"There’s no need for you to stay," Nichole told him

"You can leave if you want," Rocco reiterated "Nichole and I will let you know in thee hear"

"No" Sa No way He wasn’t sure why he felt so strongly about it, but he did He wouldn’t desert Beth now, not after the way her eyes had held his He had to know if she was going to survive this

When the doctor appeared, the physician paused and looked around the waiting area "Is anyone here for Beth Prudhoht away Sa dark look

Nichole spoke first "How’s Beth?" she pleaded, holding Rocco’s hand in a death grip

Sa

"She’s in surgery with internal injuries She has four fractured ribs and a fractured hip that requires an operation"

Sauessed as much

"She’ll need to be in the hospital several days and then will be transferred to a rehab facility for the reainst her husband as if the neas almost too much for her "Oh poor Beth"

"You’re her friends?"

"Yes," Nichole said

He looked from one to the other, nodded, and said, "Good"

Good?

Sam could only speculate what the otherinto it, the otherhim Beth would need her friends now more than ever

Chapter 5

Beth

Beth woke and blinked, having trouble focusing She knew she was in the hospital, because the nurse had told her so when she’d regained consciousness in the recovery rooly, she hadn’t felt any pain Not then The pain had coiven medication that immediately put her to sleep

She sensed so her head, she found Sunshine sitting in the chair beside her bed She seeht away that Beth ake

Sunshine stood and brushed the hair frolad to see you’re awake"

Beth aze revealed her concern "This is a fine predicaot yourself into"

"Sorry," Beth said, but her voice was no ize, Sweet Pea"

"How’d … you find out?" She hadn’t expected to see anyone in her room

"The hospital called Someone must have told them I was your aunt They found my number in the contact list on your phone"

"Oh" Beth briefly closed her eyes "Sam," she whispered

"Sam?" Sunshine repeated, apparently unable to follow Beth’s line of thought

"He was there" She remembered very little of the accident itself What did come toher that help was on the way

"At the accident scene?"

"Yes" At the ti to die and had peace about it, and then Saht For whatever reason she chose to believe him She would survive This wasn’t the end, her life wasn’t over, at least not yet

"Who’s Sam?"

"Thes"

"Nichole and Rocco’s friend"

"Ah," Sunshine said, her eyes brightening with understanding "Your dinner date How’d that go?"