Free Left to Love (The Next Door Boys) by Jolene Perry Page A

asleep.
     
    “Grandma Lila said that I have to be really careful around you for a while.”
     
    “Yep. They had to take out more broken parts and it just hurts a little for a few days.” I didn’t want to cheat him out of an answer, but some things were going to be hard to hide.
     
    “Do I have broken parts?” he asked. He grabbed his stomach, his brow furrowed in concentration.
     
    “Nope.” I pinched his chest. “Nothing’s broken in Nathan.” I tickled his tummy until he laughed. That was the end of my strength. I let my hand drop. “Nathan, I’m taking a lot of medicine right now, and it makes me sleepy. I’m going to go to sleep, okay?”
     
    “Goodnight, Leigh.” He leaned forward and gave me a kiss.
     
    “Goodnight, Nathan.” I waved at him as he ran to his room.
     
    Brian sat on the edge of the bed.
     
    “It feels so nice to be home.” I breathed in smelling our house and our room and felt nothing but comfort.
     
    “Do you want to be in here by yourself? Will I hurt you or keep you awake?”
     
    “No. I need you here.” I reached up and touched his neck with my hand.
     
    He took my hand in his and brought my palm to his mouth to give me a kiss.
     
    “Maybe we could share a snack and then you can take something to make sure you don’t wake up uncomfortable in the middle of the night?”
     
    “Okay.” He was trying to make it sound like I had choices again.
     
    He came back a few minutes later followed by Mom with cereal and fruit. He helped me half sit in a position where I felt comfortable and could eat.
     
    “Thanks mom, for taking care of Nathan.” I looked up. “Grandma Lila, huh?”
     
    She smiled. “It was his idea and I have to admit that I love it. He’s such a good kid.”
     
    “I know.” I’d missed him.
     
    “If either of you needs anything tonight, don’t hesitate to ask, okay?”
     
    “Thanks, Lila,” Brian said. “Honestly the best thing you can do is to get a good night’s sleep. Nathan doesn’t have school tomorrow.”
     
    “Jaron and Megan want to take him up north to the zoo.”
     
    “Perfect.”
     
    “Thanks, Mom.”
     
    She leaned over to give me a hug. It must be weird for her. She’d been the one to take care of me last time. Now I had Brian. Life really did change so much when you got married. I wanted Brian here. I wanted him next to me.
     
    “I’m starting to feel foggy again.” I smiled apologetically.
     
    “Let’s lay down.” He carefully helped me get comfortable. It took a few readjustments and about five pillows. Brian moved me easily. He was so strong. I forgot sometimes how strong he was.
     
    We lay down in our own bed facing one another.
     
    “You amaze me, Leigh. You will always amaze me.” He touched the edges of my hair with his fingers.
     
    “You amaze me too, Brian.” I took his hand in mine. “I’m proud of you, and I’m even more proud to be your wife.”
     
    “Thank you.” He leaned forward to kiss me. I reached out to hold him next to me and to make sure he gave me the proper kind of kiss before leaning back.
     
    He chuckled at me as he pulled away. “I can’t believe you even want to kiss me like that.”
     
    I smiled back. And then I closed my eyes and drifted off under the heavy weight of whatever medicine I’d just taken.
     
    - - -
     
    “I have a surprise for you.” Brian came and sat next to me on our bed.
     
    A week after surgery, and there was only a small amount of soreness left. Quick recoveries weren’t like me, but I was grateful anyway. “Is that so?” I shifted toward him and rested my nose on his cheek.
     
    “Come on outside.” He stood and held out his hand for me to take. “It’s remarkably warm for being October.”
     
    “Okay.” What on earth could Brian be surprising me with? I followed him, sliding my hand into his.
     
    He opened the front and gestured for me to walk through. I stopped as soon as I set foot on the large front porch.
     
    There was