Jax shifted. “What else did Dr. Melendez have to say?”

Gretchen picked up the pen again. She spelled out a few words, but her attention was more on the way Jax followed her movements. Drilled a hole! She tilted the pad and pointed to her head.

“Yeah,” Jax said with a chuckle. “I freaked out a bit when I heard they’d drilled into your skull, too, but your vitals improved immediately after. So as scary as it was…” Jax took the notepad from Gretchen and started flipping through the pages.

Gretchen felt like Jax was trying to snoop into her earlier conversations with Amanda. But her anxiety disappeared when Jax smiled and handed her notebook back.

“I’ll stop at the store and get you another pad or two and some better pens. I know how you prefer gel over ballpoint.” Jax started to leave.

“So soon?” she said, her lips feeling foreign as they worked slowly.

“I’m needed in the office today, but I’ll be back later with Caleb, if you’re feeling up to it.”

She nodded, even as fear rose in her chest at the thought of the screaming toddler she hardly recognized. She wrote quickly, the words looking more like a scribble than anything else. But she had no doubt that Jax would be able to decipher it. She smiled sweetly as she turned the paper for Jax to read. Did you send me flowers?

Jax tilted her head. “You already have flowers, plenty of them from everyone.”

Gretchen shook her head and pointed at Jax. She had looked at every card on every bouquet, and one name was noticeably missing.

They stared at one another, and it felt like more of a standoff than a simple moment of understanding. Jax didn’t say a word, and Gretchen wondered just how bad things were between them. Her heart ached, but she tried her best to keep things light. This time, she used her voice and not the pen.

“Cactus?”

Jax was still for a second before a deep, loud laugh bubbled out of her.

“I’m happy to hear some laughter coming from here,” Dr. Melendez said as she entered the room. “Good morning, Jax.”

“Good morning, Doc.”

“Today will be a busy, tiring, and eventful day for Gretchen.” Gretchen perked up, and Jax did, too. “I’m pleased with your progress in the last thirty-six hours, Gretchen. You’re out of the ICU, following conversation, and your personality appears to be consistent with how everyone knows you.”

“But she doesn’t remember a thing.” Jax’s words went unacknowledged.

Amanda rushed into the room with two muffins and a coffee in hand. “Did I miss anything?”

“No, you’re right on time.” Dr. Melendez winked at Amanda.

Gretchen widened her eyes and looked at Jax, whose face said I told you so. She started giggling.

“First, I’d like to get you moving today. Any little bit, but ideally a lap of the floor. I’d like to see if there’s been any more physical damage, and I’d also like to avoid any muscle atrophy.”