Read Online Obsession (Southern Comfort) by Lisa Clark O'Neill - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lisa Clark O'Neill
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to no end. Hence the rebellion. She’s made some unwise decisions in order to spite me, which she is unfortunately paying for right now.”
Justin gathered that Anne was referring, at least at the moment, to her sister’s choice of career. And explained why she’d been less than friendly to the other women. Although violence could happen anywhere, so he didn’t necessarily believe that Natasha getting shot correlated to her place of employment. Or qualified as some sort of punishment, for that matter. More like a random piece of unfortunate luck.
“She should be fine. Her body has experienced a serious trauma, which often translates, emotionally, into bouts of anxiety or depression. It could be a reaction to anesthesia and narcotic painkillers, to pain and discomfort, or simply an undetermined biological process. In Natasha’s case, this is compounded by the violent manner in which she sustained her injuries. I’m not attempting to make light of it, but it is relatively common and should go away on its own, provided she has proper support.”
“I’ve always supported Natasha.”
Justin blinked at the defensive tone. “I didn’t mean to imply otherwise. But if you need help in dealing with her, if she doesn’t seem to be getting better, emotionally speaking, within the next month or two, then do not hesitate to call the numbers listed in the paperwork you received.”
“I’m sorry.” Anne blew out a sigh as she rubbed her fingers across her puckered brow. “I didn’t mean to bark at you. I guess I’m just a little stressed out myself, given what’s happened. And you of all people don’t deserve my irritation. You’ve been… wonderful, really, considering Natasha isn’t even your patient. And you saved her life. I don’t know how I can ever thank you enough.”
“There’s no need. As a job, it’s self-rewarding.”
“Humble, too.” She flashed him another smile.
“I need to get going, so I’m going to say goodbye to Natasha now. You take care of yourself. Don’t forget that the caregiver needs care as well.”
“I’ll try to remember.”
With that promise, she followed him back into her sister’s room.
CHAPTER SEVEN
JUSTIN pulled into his driveway, frowning as his headlights illuminated a familiar black SUV. Cutting the engine, he climbed out of the truck, his confusion escalating when he realized the SUV was occupied.
He tapped on the driver’s side window.
“What,” came the muffled yell . James blinked the sleep from his gray eyes as he looked around a little wildly.
Noticing Justin peering at him through the glass, he turned the ignition so that he could roll down the window.
“What are you doing?” Justin asked without preamble. “It’s freezing out here, you idiot. And why aren’t you at school?” His brother had left for Virginia several days ago to return for his final semester.
James, usually confident to the point of cockiness, looked distressed. “I quit.”
“You what?”
“I dropped out, okay? I… look, can we talk about this inside? I’ve been waiting for you for over an hour. I’m exhausted and I’m cold.”
“Any reason you didn’t just let yourself in?” Justin asked after his brother rolled up the window and climbed stiffly out of the vehicle, his bulky black parka making him look like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man turned ninja. “You know where I keep the spare keys.”
“I didn’t feel right just barging in without consulting you first. Especially given what I have to ask you.” He looked both mulish and somehow vulnerable. The same expression he’d worn through most of their childhood, when he’d tried so determinedly to keep up with his older brothers, who, given the age gap, had mostly looked at him as a thorn in their collective side. A thorn of which they were inordinately fond, but a thorn nonetheless.
Justin sighed, but nodded toward the darkened house.
Justin gathered that Anne was referring, at least at the moment, to her sister’s choice of career. And explained why she’d been less than friendly to the other women. Although violence could happen anywhere, so he didn’t necessarily believe that Natasha getting shot correlated to her place of employment. Or qualified as some sort of punishment, for that matter. More like a random piece of unfortunate luck.
“She should be fine. Her body has experienced a serious trauma, which often translates, emotionally, into bouts of anxiety or depression. It could be a reaction to anesthesia and narcotic painkillers, to pain and discomfort, or simply an undetermined biological process. In Natasha’s case, this is compounded by the violent manner in which she sustained her injuries. I’m not attempting to make light of it, but it is relatively common and should go away on its own, provided she has proper support.”
“I’ve always supported Natasha.”
Justin blinked at the defensive tone. “I didn’t mean to imply otherwise. But if you need help in dealing with her, if she doesn’t seem to be getting better, emotionally speaking, within the next month or two, then do not hesitate to call the numbers listed in the paperwork you received.”
“I’m sorry.” Anne blew out a sigh as she rubbed her fingers across her puckered brow. “I didn’t mean to bark at you. I guess I’m just a little stressed out myself, given what’s happened. And you of all people don’t deserve my irritation. You’ve been… wonderful, really, considering Natasha isn’t even your patient. And you saved her life. I don’t know how I can ever thank you enough.”
“There’s no need. As a job, it’s self-rewarding.”
“Humble, too.” She flashed him another smile.
“I need to get going, so I’m going to say goodbye to Natasha now. You take care of yourself. Don’t forget that the caregiver needs care as well.”
“I’ll try to remember.”
With that promise, she followed him back into her sister’s room.
CHAPTER SEVEN
JUSTIN pulled into his driveway, frowning as his headlights illuminated a familiar black SUV. Cutting the engine, he climbed out of the truck, his confusion escalating when he realized the SUV was occupied.
He tapped on the driver’s side window.
“What,” came the muffled yell . James blinked the sleep from his gray eyes as he looked around a little wildly.
Noticing Justin peering at him through the glass, he turned the ignition so that he could roll down the window.
“What are you doing?” Justin asked without preamble. “It’s freezing out here, you idiot. And why aren’t you at school?” His brother had left for Virginia several days ago to return for his final semester.
James, usually confident to the point of cockiness, looked distressed. “I quit.”
“You what?”
“I dropped out, okay? I… look, can we talk about this inside? I’ve been waiting for you for over an hour. I’m exhausted and I’m cold.”
“Any reason you didn’t just let yourself in?” Justin asked after his brother rolled up the window and climbed stiffly out of the vehicle, his bulky black parka making him look like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man turned ninja. “You know where I keep the spare keys.”
“I didn’t feel right just barging in without consulting you first. Especially given what I have to ask you.” He looked both mulish and somehow vulnerable. The same expression he’d worn through most of their childhood, when he’d tried so determinedly to keep up with his older brothers, who, given the age gap, had mostly looked at him as a thorn in their collective side. A thorn of which they were inordinately fond, but a thorn nonetheless.
Justin sighed, but nodded toward the darkened house.
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