Julian kept his promise and stayed at the hospital until his father was fully settled. Robert was now stable and talking in grunts and sarcasm again.It was the most reassuring sign of life.
By the time Julian and Ashley returned home, the shock of the evening had settled into something quieter. Not fear… just a reminder that life was unpredictable and no ments could slip by so fast.
Ashley showered, pulled on one of Julian's T-shirts, and settled beside him on the bed while he scrolled through emails he clearly wasn't reading.
"Quit pretending," she said softly. " I know you must be so exhausted."
He smiles as he dropped the phone to his chest. "I'm fine."
"You're not," she murmured. "But you will be."
He sighed, a long, raw breath he'd been holding since the ambulance. Then he slid down beside her, wrapping an arm around her waist like he always did when he needed grounding.
For a while, they lay in silence.
