“I sensed something was wrong this afternoon when I called,” Sam said. “You seemed to be having trouble breathing.”

She lowered her eyes. “Yeah, but no one knew why, at least not right away. My oxygen levels dropped significantly and the nurse in charge phoned my doctor, and then everyone started rushing around. I had a number of tests, starting with a chest X-ray and then an electrocardiogram.”

“Do you feel better now?”

She hesitated before she answered. “No.”

Sam raised her hand to his mouth and kissed the backside. It was such a sweet, reassuring gesture that tears gathered in her eyes. She rapidly blinked them away, embarrassed by the display of emotion. He was practically a stranger, yet he’d been her rock from the moment of the accident.

“Who told you?” she asked.

“Nichole. Apparently the hospital notified Sunshine …”

“Oh no.” Beth groaned. “And now she’s probably freaking out.”

He grinned. “Probably. I know how I felt when I heard. Nichole sent me a text on my way to the hospital. Sunshine is flying back as soon as she can get a flight.”

“Oh dear. I didn’t want her to do that.” Beth’s shoulders sagged with regret. This art show was important to her aunt and she hated the thought of Sunshine cutting it short because of her. “I wish she wouldn’t.”

“Beth, come on. Of course she’s coming. She’s worried about you.” He hesitated, his hand tightening around hers. “For that matter, so am I. What can I do?”

He’d been so good to her, and in her weakened state it demanded every shred of control she possessed not to break into tears.

Sam apparently noticed her struggling with her emotions. “Would you like me to read you another Psalm? I’ll do it if it will ease your mind. Actually, I might do it anyway to ease my own.”

Despite the tears crowding her eyes, Beth smiled. “I wish you’d stop being so wonderful.”

He chuckled. “That’s not a word most people would associate with me.”

“I do.” It shocked her how quickly he’d come to mean so much to her. It’d been only a few days and it was as if her entire day revolved around him and his visits.

“My guitar is in my truck. Would you like me to play for you again?”

Of all the things Beth missed most during her hospital stay, not being able to play the piano topped the list. Yes, she could listen to music, which she did every day, but it wasn’t the same. Nothing compared to being able to sit down at the piano with her own hands running over the keys. The sound pulsed through her fingertips, the music swirling around her, lifting her above whatever was troubling her mind, lifting her higher and higher until her problems dissolved into thin air.

Sam released her hand and she immediately felt the loss of his touch. “I’ll be back in a jiffy.” He took two steps in retreat before turning and hurrying out of the room.

Before he’d arrived she’d been feeling low, wondering why all this was happening to her. The instant Sam walked in the room, Beth felt better both emotionally and physically. She didn’t want to become dependent on him, so when he phoned to say he wouldn’t be by she’d thought it was probably for the best. Then here he was, and she was doing an imaginary happy dance knowing that as soon as he’d heard he’d rushed to the hospital to stand at her side.

Within a few minutes, Sam returned with his guitar.

“Thank you,” she whispered when he pulled out the chair next to her bed and took out his pick.

He smiled up at her. “I’m taking requests.”

She smiled. “How about a little Bob Dylan. His music soothes me. It always has.”

“Me, too.”

Resting his hands on the strings, Sam played a gentle melody. The notes whirled around her and she sighed as if he’d wrapped her in a warm blanket. Sam glanced at her and smiled and she swore the connection between them in that moment felt almost physical. One unlike anything she’d ever experienced before. He played two or three songs before the door to her room opened and one of the nurse’s aides came in to take her vitals and test her oxygen levels. Over the course of the last few days Beth had gotten to know the nurses, who were wonderful, and the aides, too. Jazmine was one of her favorites.

Jazmine glanced shyly at Sam as she made a note of Beth’s temperature and blood pressure.

When she’d finished getting what she needed, she hesitated and then asked, “Would you mind if I cracked the door open? Several patients have asked. We’d all like to hear the music.”

“I don’t mind.” Beth looked at Sam for approval. Her gaze held his and she smiled, letting him know how much she appreciated his playing. “I’m not the only one you’re soothing,” she whispered.

Jazmine left and Sam continued to play. As she had the night before, she struggled to remain awake, not wanting to fall asleep when Sam was visiting. Twice her eyes drifted closed, and she forced herself to open them again.

“Sleep,” he urged. His voice was low and rough, and as odd as it might sound, gentle at the same time.

After a restless and uncomfortable afternoon being dragged from one test to another, Beth was exhausted. It felt as if she’d run a marathon. Lulled by the music and Sam’s presence, she felt her eyes drooping closed. She wasn’t sure at what point she fell asleep. All she knew was that when she woke, Sunshine was on the other side of her bed.

“Oh my dear, precious girl.”

“I’m so sorry,” Beth whispered.

“Sorry?” Sunshine repeated. “What in the name of heaven do you have to be sorry for?”

“Your art show.”

Sunshine made a sweeping gesture with her arm. “Oh, for the love of heaven, there are art shows every other day. Don’t you worry. I was foolish to have left you when I did. If anyone has regrets, it should be me. I hated the thought of you going through this alone.”

Beth glanced about the room, and then realized it was morning. Sam must have left when she fell asleep. Try as she might, she couldn’t keep her eyes open any longer. “Sam stopped by.”

“Yes, I know.”

“You know?” The two of them must be communicating.

Sunshine looked amused. “He was sound asleep in that chair when I arrived.”

Beth nearly gasped out loud. “He spent the night here … at the hospital?”

“Apparently. His guitar was propped against the wall and he’d slouched back, legs stretched out in front of him and his arms crossed. On my way to your room I swear I could hear him snoring.”

“You did not!”

Sunshine laughed, the sound girlish and irresistible, making Beth want to laugh along with her. She could be in a room with a hundred people speaking at a high volume and be able to pick out her aunt simply by the sound of her laughter.

Sunshine grew serious then. “I’m going to need to talk to your parents about this latest development, Beth.”

“No,” she cried, instantly alarmed. This was the last thing Beth wanted. Knowing her parents, especially her mother, this complication was sure to bring them rushing to her side as if she were on her deathbed. Before she could protest further, pleading with Sunshine to reconsider, her aunt raised her hand to stop her.

“Don’t get your panties in a wad.”

“What?” Beth cried.

“You heard me. I’ll handle this. Your mother has already booked a ticket to come visit. I’ll do what I can to reassure her, but it wouldn’t surprise me if she leapt on a plane the minute she hears about this.”

“Mom’s coming?” The weight of the news fell heavy on Beth. This was the last thing she wanted to hear.

“I did my best, Sweet Pea, but you know your mom. She’s worried. I wasn’t going to mention it until it got closer to the time, but with this latest development I can’t guarantee that I can keep her away. It was hard enough to convince her to give you a couple weeks before she flew out.”

If her mother came, then there was a good possibility she’d meet Sam. The mere thought was enough to make Beth go cold inside. That would not go well. She could just imagine what Ellie would have to say about her precious only child associating with a man with long hair, tattoos, and a beard. And associating with Sam was definitely in Beth’s plans. Even now, thinking about him produced an immediate smile. That he’d stayed by her side through the night was above and beyond anything she could expect. Knowing he’d done that for her made Beth go all soft inside.