Walker Revenge (The Walker Family Series Book 5) Read Online Free Page A

his vitals closer to
the bed.
    He turned his head. “I thought you were
transferring floors.”
    “What kind of nurse would I be if I left
every patient that made me uncomfortable?”
    He cringed. “I make you uncomfortable?”
    She placed the clip that would read his
oxygen saturation on his finger and pushed a few buttons so that
the blood pressure cuff on his arm would inflate. Then she picked
up the thermometer and scanned it across his forehead, noting the
reading.
    “Your vitals are looking good,” she said
retrieving the clip from his finger. “Can I get you anything?”
    “A straight answer.”
    No, that certainly wasn’t what she wanted to
give him. “You should rest more. It’s early.”
    “Time is all the same from my perspective.
Do I make you uncomfortable?”
    “No,” she said softly as the door opened and
another nurse walked in.
    “Mr. Walker, you’re looking well this
morning.”
    “Yeah, feel like crap, though. When do I get
to go home?”
    The nurse laughed. “You’ve only had our
hospitality a few days. You’re ready to fly the coop?”
    He shifted a glance to Chelsea and then back
to the nurse. “Yeah. The view at home is better.”
    The nurse laughed, but the comment cut
through Chelsea’s heart.
    She signed out of the computer as the nurse
took his cup out into the hall to fill.
    “Let me know if you need anything,” Chelsea
said, as it was part of her training.
    “I’m fine.”
    “Today is my last day for this week. Then
I’m off for three days.” She felt the need to let him know he was
safe from seeing her.
    He nodded slightly. “I’m sure you’d rather
be anywhere but here.”
    The thought of not looking in on him was
breaking her heart. “I have some Christmas shopping to do. You
know, Santa can only do so much on his own.”
    He snorted out a laugh. “You always did like
wrapping gifts.”
    “I’m sure you’ll be home before Christmas.
I’ll bet your mom will be happy to have you there.”
    “That or I’ll ruin her Christmas cheer.”
    Chelsea moved to his bedside. “I don’t think
that could ever happen.”
    His eyes shifted to lock with hers. “It’s
been a long time since Christmas was wonderful.”
    Again, his words sliced through her, and it
was all her fault. Christmas nearly three years ago was when she’d
promised she’d be there when he returned—she promised she’d
wait.
    “This Christmas will be different,” she
offered, but she wasn’t sure if she were assuring him or
herself.
    “Chels, I’m in a bad way, and I know it. My
attitude more than even my wrecked body.” He sucked in a breath.
“You’re standoffish to me, and I don’t blame you. I just want you
to know it’s been nice waking with you next to me. I know it’s all
that’s left, but I appreciate it. You’re going to make a fine
nurse. I’m sure your husband is very proud of you.”
    Tears began to well in her eyes as the nurse
walked in with his cup full of water. “Here ya go. I’ll be back
with pain meds soon. I want to see you get some food in you today.
You can’t live on Jell-O alone,” she chuckled.
    “I’ll try,” he promised.
    Chelsea followed the nurse to the door and
walked out as Russell turned on the TV. She deserved his hate and
his bad attitude. She didn’t deserve his appreciation and praise.
At some point, she should tell him she failed at marriage. It would
give him some pleasure, she was sure.
    She rubbed her fingers between her eyebrows
to ward off the headache that was starting.
    “You doing okay?” the nurse asked, as she
logged into the computer at the nurses’ station.
    “Yeah. Just a little headache starting. I’m
getting used to these shifts.”
    The nurse laughed. “It gets easier. Wait
until your night rotations start.”
    The very thought gave Chelsea a stirring of
anxiety. Once she was done with her schooling, everything would be
better. But for now, trying to juggle her schedule, and Lucas’s was
killing her. What she