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Hope flared briefly, and then she realized her father"Dad?"

"No We discussed that, but I told hi as well I ested they let you handle this on your oith ood fortune "Eleven minutes"

"Eleven minutes?" Sunshine repeated

"You did … all that … in eleven ht "My dear girl, you underesti that Sunshine had been insistent and persuasive Her father appeared to be handling the news of her injuries well Beth paused and realized she didn’t know the extent of everything herself She recalled the doctor briefly talking to her and explaining that she was about to have surgery From what she re re fractured along with a nuhastly pain she felt

"Rest, Sweet Pea," her aunt advised, gently brushing the hair fro tournament this weekend and your dad promised to downplay the accident You’re off the hook Just make sure you connect with them and pretend all is well"

"I will …" Sleep called to her "Thank … you" Her aunt had always been her biggest champion

"Sleep now"

Beth didn’t think she could keep her eyes open another second and fell into a deep slu to her bedside helped ease her mind That assurance was all she needed to float easily into the land of happy drea the room She assumed it was a nurse It seeiving heror another The staff had been wonderful and caring, and she didn’t feel she could complain

When she turned her head, instead of one of the hospital personnel she found it was Sam It took her a moment to identify him because he wore his hair down and he was dressed casually in jeans He had a single red rose she was certain he ift shop

"Hey there," he said, coht I’d stop by and see how you’re doing" He set the flower down on the stand next to her bed

"Better," she whispered

"Certainly better than the last tied a smile

"You remember I was there?"

She nodded and wondered if he kne much he’d helped her

He came to stand next to the bed It seeirl?" Beth asked

"What girl?"

"In the other car She okay?"

Sam frowned "She seemed to be I’ serious Her biggest concern hat her father was going to say because she’d wrecked his car"

Beth closed her eyes and sed "Good"

"Good?" Sary "I wanted to shake her She didn’t even ask about you I hope she loses her license over this It’s what she deserves"

His indignation aer’s father would probably see to that

"You’re ," Sa upset won’t help"

"True," he admitted, albeit reluctantly

He looked away and Beth felt he was probably ready to leave She wanted his she wanted to tell hi tired her out

"I should probably go" He took a step back froo … thank you," she whispered

"Oh sure" He glanced toward the rose "It’s nothing I wanted to check in and see how you’re doing"

She closed and opened her eyes "Not for the flower … for being there I … I thought I was going to die"