Chapter 185


    “Yes,” Kellie says kindly. Standing at the end of the bed, I watch as Ana carefully covers Ray’s hand


    with hers. Abruptly, she sinks into the chair beside the bed,ys her head on his arm, and starts


    sobbing.


    Oh no.


    I move quickly tofort her.


    “Oh, Daddy. Please get better,” she pleads quietly. “Please.”


    Feeling utterly fucking powerless, I ce my hand on her shoulder and sp it tightly, trying to offer her


    some reassurance. “All Mr. Steele’s vitals are good,” Kellie says quietly.


    “Thank you,” I mutter, because I don’t know what else to say.


    “Can he hear me?” Ana asks.


    “He’s in a deep sleep. But who knows?”


    “Can I sit for a while?”


    “Sure thing.” Kellie gives Ana a warm smile.


    Ana is where she needs to be right now, and I should make arrangements for us to stay in Pornd.


    There’s no way we’re going home tonight. I squeeze her shoulder once more and she raises her eyes


    to mine. “I need to make a call.” I drop a kiss on her head. “I’ll be outside. I’ll give you some alone time


    with your dad.”


    From the sixth floor waiting room I call my mother. This time she answers, and I update her on


    Raymond Steele’s condition.


    She takes a deep breath. “It sounds critical. I want toe and see him—”


    “Mom. You don’t—”


    “No. Christian. I want to. Ana is family. I have toe down and check on him myself. Carrick and I will


    drive down.”


    “I can fly you down.”


    “What?”


    “My helicopter is here, but Taylor is taking it back to Seattle. Stephan can fly you down here.”


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    “That sounds good. Let’s do that.”


    “Okay. I’ll let Taylor know, and you can liaise with him.”


    “I’ll do that. Christian, Ray is in good hands.”


    “Thanks, Mom.”


    I call Taylor and let him know about my mother.


    Then I call Andrea. “Mr. Grey. How’s Mr. Steele?”


    “He’s in serious condition. We’ll be here for at least two nights. I’m going to have to do something for


    Ana’s birthday here, if we do anything at all. Maybe a private dinner, if she’s up to it. I’d like her family


    and our friends to attend, too. But we should see how Ray does during the night.”


    “I can talk to The Heathman and see if they’ll amodate a private dinner.”


    “Good. Ana needs her mom, so let’s bring her and her husband out as nned. Book rooms for them,


    for my folks and the rest of our guests, and make provisional arrangements to get them here. My


    mother will be joining us this evening. Please book her into The Heathman tonight.”


    “Will do.”


    “Find out José Rodriguez’s cell number. I’d like to invite him, too.”


    “I’ll text you.”


    “Thanks, Andrea.” I hang up and call Mrs. Jones to confirm that tomorrow’s surprise dinner party at


    Esc is canceled.


    “I hope Mr. Steele makes a swift recovery,” Gail says.


    “Yes. I do, too. I’m sorry about tomorrow.”


    “It’s no trouble, Mr. Grey. There’ll be another time.”


    “There will. Thanks, Gail.” I hang up and return to the ICU. At the nurses’ station I give Kellie my cell


    number and Ana’s, with instructions to call us if there’s a change in Ray’s condition. It’s time I took my


    wife for something to eat.


    When I return to Ray’s bedside, Ana is talking to him and her tears have ceased. She’sposed and


    her face shines with her love for the man out cold and prostrate beside her.


    It’s an affecting sight.


    And I feel I’m intruding.


    But I don’t want to go.


    Quietly, I take a seat and listen to her soft, sweet voice. She’s asking him toe to Aspen, where I’ll


    take him fishing. Her words tug at my heart. Ana is my family now, like my mother said, and by


    extension, so is Ray. I see us side by side, casting flies in the Roaring Fork River or up on Snowmass


    Lake. Ray taciturn. Me rxed and equally taciturn.


    The two of us sharing a beerter.


    “Mr. Rodriguez and José will be wee, too. It’s such a beautiful house. There’s room for all of you.


    Please be here to do that, Daddy. Please.”


    Okay. Ray, José Senior, José, and me fishing together.


    Yes. I could do that.


    She turns and notices me.


    “Hi,” I murmur.


    “Hi.”


    “So, I’m going fishing with your dad, Mr. Rodriguez, and José?”


    She nods.


    “Okay.” I smile in agreement. “Let’s go eat. Let him sleep.” Ana frowns, and I know she doesn’t want to


    leave her father. “Ana, he’s in aa. I’ve given our cell numbers to the nurses here. If there’s any


    change, they’ll call us. We’ll eat, check in to a hotel, rest up, thene back this evening.”


    She looks longingly at Ray, then back at me. “Okay,” she capittes.


    Ana stands in the doorway of our suite at The Heathman, surveying the familiar room. She looks shell-


    shocked.


    Or perhaps she’s remembering the first time I brought her here, though that’s doubtful, as she was


    blind drunk at the time. I ce her briefcase beside one of the sofas. “Home away from home,” I


    murmur.


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