TIGERLILLY- THE BRAVO BOYS [book two]

Chapter SIXTY FOUR

River O'riley

.... six weeks later ....
....DOWNTOWN....

Cherry paces the hospital room floor, a bundle of anxious energy and frizzy red hair.. Her tired eyes flick nervously around as she bounces Lovey in her arms and watches the pretty little blond-haired doctor as she gives me one final examination before discharging me..

"Maybe you should stay a little longer, Riv?" Cherry urges in concern.. "Doctor Greyson, do you really think a home recovery is the best option for him, I mean- he's had four surgeries now, don't people usually take months to recover from that kind of trauma? He's still coughing up blood for Christ's sake!"

Doctor Greyson, a tiny little Cardiothoracic surgeon with the most steady hands I've ever seen smiles at me, a kind and soothing lilt to her smokey voice.. "It's so sweet of your wife to worry-"

"Ugh gross! I'm not his wife!" Cherry blurts and screws up her face, causing me to laugh the most painful laugh of my life..

Doctor Greyson looks between us and I wink at her with a cheeky grin.. "She wishes, Doc.."

Cherry gags, feigning utter disgust.. "River, I wouldn't marry you if we were the last two people on Earth and you had a gun to my head.."

"You wound me, Aisling.." I shake my head and clutch my heart sarcastically at the tactless woman and her hilariously savage insult and Doctor Greyson laughs.. "If the good doctor reckons I'm good to go, then I'd just be wastin' space stayin' here.."

"Nurse Nessa Murphy has agreed to see to his dressings and home care, she has all the qualifications to keep him in good health.. He'll be better attended at home then he would be here, I assure you, Miss.." Doctor Greyson smiles at Cherry who flops down in the chair at the foot of the bed to rest the baby on her knee..

"How are you going to manage with Lovey all by yourself, River? You don't expect the nurse to care for her too!" Cherry argues and I can't help but adore her a little more for it.. She is a fierce friend, the best one I've ever had..

"Lijuan's agreed to stay with me until I'm back on my feet.. Honestly Ash, quit fussin', yer' given' me a well-horrible feckin' headache!"

"Ah, no stress, Mr O'riley.. You need to keep your blood pressure down.." The doctor chimes before hanging up my chart and gliding gracefully out the door..

"Shhh.. See.. Yer' gotta stop stressin' me out, lass.." I tease, lifting my arms in gesture to Cherry and she promptly stands to bring me my beautiful daughter.. With Lovey in my arms I lay back against the fluffed pillows and Cherry watches over us like some kind of fairy godmother..

"I just don't understand how you're supposed to go back to doin' everythin' alone.." She sighs.. "Don't you miss her, River? Don't you want her back?"

"O'course I do.." I won't lie, I think about Frankie every damn day.. Every minute.. Every fucking second.. But there is nothing left to be said.. She has returned to the life she was born into and I have returned to mine.. But as brief as our time together had been, I could never forget her.. I could never stop wanting her.. Still, I have to respect the boundaries she'd built..

"So why don't you call her?" Cherry protests.. "Why don't you at least try to get her back?!"

"I already did.." I shake my head.. "She knows where I am.. If she wanted me, she'd come find me.. I'm not about to force myself into her life.. She's had enough of that.. She knows how I feel, Cherry, it's up to her to make her own choice.. She gets to decide.."

Cherry sighs.. "That's kinda sweet, actually.."

I chuckle painfully.. "What can I say- I'm a kinda sweet guy.."