Kit huffed, which didn’t hurt nearly as much as laughing. “He came in to tell me that Aric still won’t let anyone else take care of him, but it was okay, since his current jobs mean Aric can be with him. What does he do, anyway?”

“He manages the repairs for their family businesses and takes bush piloting jobs.” Frankie’s eyes grew soft. “Aric loves flying and gets all puffed up when someone calls him Hawk’s co-pilot.”

A co-pilot. Her little boy. She blinked back the tears. “He’s getting so big.”

He should start kindergarten this fall—and wasn’t it wonderful that he wouldn’t be subjected to the Patriot Zealot propaganda during their version of homeschooling. He’d go to a real school. Her baby.

“I…” She winced at the patient expression on Frankie’s face. “What were we talking about?”

“Flutter-brain.” Frankie smirked. “I’d blame it on the concussion, only you were like this before.”

“And you’re a total brat.” The insult escaped before Kit thought, and she froze in anticipation of a blow. Dear God, how had she relaxed so much as to—

No, wait…this is Frankie who loves a good insult. Kit used to deliberately annoy her—especially when they were both under the influence—just to see the sparks fly and the hand-waving begin. Sweet heavens, when Frankie started cursing in Italian, everyone loved it.

Frankie’s dark eyes held sympathy, but she simply resumed the conversation. “You were telling me that Hawk came in to say you shouldn’t worry about Aric.”

“Oh, right.” That was where she was going. “The doctor said I’d be discharged soon but have to go to a rehab facility for the respiratory treatments and all the physical therapy and stuff. They don’t trust me not to get pneumonia.”

Frankie made a face. “Girl. Coughing with broken ribs would really hurt.”

It totally did. “Anyway, things are pretty much arranged.” She hauled in a breath and said the words she so didn’t want to say. “Frankie, it means…everything…that you came here, that you got me and Aric out. I owe you so big and—” She caught Frankie’s annoyance. “I know, I know, friends don’t do the owe thing, but I have no way to tell you how much it means.”

“You’d do the same for me.”

I would. Kit nodded. “But, after Hawk came in, I started thinking. I’ve upset your life long enough. With JJ and Audrey helping Hawk with Aric, he’ll be all right.”

Her throat tightened. They weren’t Frankie, and she couldn’t trust them like she did her friend. But…her comfort was irrelevant. The police chief and the doctor lived out there wherever Hawk was. Aric would be safe. “Anyway, I’m going to be in that rehab place.”