Annie stepped in front of the other two women before she even thought about it. This could be a real cluster of drama—drama none of them needed tonight. “Mr. Henedy, going home today?”
She heard a tiny gasp from Nikkie Jean and a louder curse from Izzie. The two of them had been warned Wallace Henedy’s son was on the same floor as Izzie, but Annie had been hoping to avoid the man. No doubt Nikkie Jean and Izzie had felt the same way.
“Y-yes. Annie, I...want to say thank you for taking care of me in the emergency department.” He almost stumbled over the words.
The poor man looked so awkward, so unsure of himself, a rush of compassion for him hit her. No doubt he had no clue what had happened with his father, either. She’d been in his position before, not understanding why. “No thanks necessary. I hope you have a speedy recovery, Reggie.”
She had no idea what she was supposed to say here. As unsettled as he made her friends, he didn’t deserve this, either.
Nikkie Jean took the first step. “I’m sorry about your accident.”
“Dan—Dr. Netorre.” Reggie swallowed, then looked straight at Nikkie Jean. Annie took the chance to study him. He was tall and well-built, with deep, dark eyes. His hair was a lighter brown, like Annie’s own. He was far better looking and more well-built than his father. More importantly, he didn’t have the oily, unsettling way of looking at a woman that his father did. “I’m sorry for what my father did to you; and to you, Ms. MacNamara. I don’t know what he was thinking, but I am sorry he did it. If I—if my family—can help in any way, please let me know.”
“Find out why he did it,” Izzie said bluntly. Annie looked at her quickly. Izzie was going into defensive mode. “I’d rather have answers than anything else.”
Something she usually only did when she was afraid.
Annie reached down and squeezed her friend’s hand. It would be ok. Reggie Henedy wasn’t going to just snap and attack them all right now.
He could probably barely move without hurting. She’d seen the contusions on his admittedly well-defined chest herself.
“I’m...trying. And I truly am...sorry. I don’t understand what happened at all.”
He was staring at Izzie, a look of almost fascination in his eyes. That did concern Annie.
That was starting to freak her out.
It was a bit too much like how his father used to look at Nikkie Jean when she wasn’t looking.
Annie hadn’t been blind to how Wallace Henedy had felt about Nikkie Jean. He’d been attracted to her. Nikkie Jean had confirmed it after Wallace had asked her to coffee one night.
Right before Nikkie Jean had had a one-night stand with Caine. Everything had seemed to devolve from that, Annie thought. “Well, Mr. Henedy, we wish you the best in your recovery, but we need to get Izzie back to her room. She’s been walking long enough.”
“Yeah, really enjoying my not-so-free stay here at Club Finley Creek Gen.” Izzie’s sarcasm was hard to miss. Annie followed the other woman’s gaze—to the watch Reggie Henedy wore. The watch that no doubt cost more than Izzie or Annie made in an entire year. Hospital bills were going to put Izzie back a long way on her plans to graduate. Not to mention how she’d have to take the semester off while she recovered.
It wasn’t fair what had happened to her. Not one bit.
Izzie hadn’t had the chance for therapy or even to really process what had happened to her. She was afraid now. Trauma impacted a person for life. Annie would stop by and talk to one of the people in psych about how she could help Izzie start to process what had happened. It couldn’t hurt.
Izzie’s entire worldview had changed with three squeezes of a trigger. Nothing would ever be the same for her.
All because of Wallace Henedy.
The impact one person could make on so many lives slammed into her with a vengeance.
“Izzie? You ready?”