There was a pause and I noticed some action downstairs.

I shouldn't have been surprised. I wasn't surprised. But I was angry—angry at myself.

My cheeks instantly heated up. I tossed the towel to him. "Wipe yourself!"

He looked at me without bothering to hide his excitement. "But my hands hurt," he wailed.

"Good!" I said, and left him to his ablutions.

*****

Though Richard's injuries were serious, the doctors at Heart of Hope Hospital lived up to their ...