Death Changes Everything by Linda Crowder

going on out there.” He sat down in the chair by the bed. “So, picked out a ring yet?”
    “What? Have I…? You’re so full of it.”
    “I’m not the one whose girl is crying her eyes out in the waiting room.”
    Matt may have frowned, but Jake couldn’t be sure through all the bandages. “Kristy’s crying?”
    “Yep. Have you popped the question yet?”
    “Knock it off.” An alarm pinged and the nurse came into the room. She checked Matt’s IV and reset the alarm, raising an eyebrow at Jake before departing.
    “Guess I’d better change the subject,” said Jake, taking the clue.
    “Do you think she loves me?”
    “Emma? She thinks you’re a peach.”
    Matt laughed, then coughed, setting off another alarm, followed by another visit from the nurse. “You’re an idiot,” he said when the nurse left.
    “I don’t know Kristy as well as you do, but yes, I’d say she thinks you’re a peach, too.”
    “Crap.”
    “I thought you’d be happy about it.”
    “I’m happy she cares. I’m not happy I made her cry. Crap.”
    “Back up a minute. The woman you love, loves you. What’s bad about that? Unless you don’t love her.”
    “Oh, I love her. I just haven’t told her yet.”
    “No time like the present.”
    “Now’s the worst possible time.”
    “Why?”
    “Because I’m in a frickin’ hospital bed trussed up like a turkey. ” Two alarms sounded and the nurse returned.
    “Whatever you’re talking about, guys, save it for later,” she told them, glaring first at Jake, then at Matt.
    “There’s never a bad time to tell a woman you love her,” said Jake once the nurse had returned to her perch at the desk.
    “I don’t want to rush her.”
    “Matt…”
    “Let it go, man. I know what I’m doing. I’ll let her say it first. Then I’ll know she’s ready.”
    “I think you’re nuts, but since you look like death warmed over right now, I’m gonna let you win this one. I bet Emma will agree with me, though.”
    “Don’t you tell Emma.” Matt struggled to sit up, setting off an array of alarms and bringing the nurse back into the room.
    “You need to leave,” she told Jake with a look that brooked no resistance.
    “I won’t tell her. But I still think you’re nuts.” He left the ICU and went back to the waiting room. Both women jumped when he walked in.
    “How long have you been there?” asked Emma.
    “Not long enough, apparently.” He put an arm around his wife. “Nurse kicked me out.”
    “I’d better get back to him.”
    “Do you want us to drive you home?” asked Emma, as Kristy started for the door.
    “I’ll stay here tonight. I couldn’t sleep if I went home.”
    “I could bring you breakfast tomorrow.”
    “That’d be nice. I’ll call you in the morning,” Kristy said and was gone.
    Emma turned to Jake. “Why did the nurse kick you out?”
    “Just guy stuff. What was Kristy all upset about? Matt’s gonna be fine.”
    “Just girl stuff.” Emma picked up her purse from where she’d dropped it on the table and walked out with him.

 
     
     
     
     
    8
     
    When Emma and Grace showed up at the hospital the next morning, they found Matt had been moved out of the ICU and into a bed on a medical floor. After a short visit, while Kristy ate the breakfast Emma had packed for her, they gave her a ride home so she could shower and change clothes.
    “Do you think you could kill an hour or two downtown, Grace? I don’t have clients on Mondays but since Kristy’s going to be out, I feel like I should take some of the paperwork off her plate.”
    “I could easily spend that long and more at that bookstore. Why don’t you drop me off and come over when you’re finished?”
    Emma switched on the lamp on her desk. While she waited for the computer to boot up, she picked up the phone. The rapid beeping indicated several messages and Emma worked her way through them. She jotted down the names of people whose calls she needed to return. One message made her