Page 48 of Cold and Bitter Snow

Conor opened his eyes when he heard someone enter the room. He saw his mother and brother walk in, followed by Siena and Luc, who wheeled himself in last.

Conor blinked a couple times—he felt awake but must still be dreaming. He looked at the IV tube on his arm.

What kind of drugs have they been giving me?

Then he saw how tired his mother looked and realized they were really there.

“What are you—” he croaked.

“Conor,” she chided. “You didn’t really think you could get shot and we wouldn’t come? How did you manage to get shot in a Swiss ski resort? Didn’t you say this was the safest place in the world?”

“It’s good to see you, Mother. John … your job …”

John laughed. “Yeah, I don’t think any job’s more important than my brother. Rose and the girls say hi. We left in such a rush they couldn’t come—”

“That’s okay. Wouldn’t really want Amy and Beth to see me like this.” Conor tried to sit up and almost passed out from the pain. He schooled his face into what he hoped was a neutral expression to hide it.

His mother ran to his side—which was surprising because his mother never ran anywhere. “Don’t try to move, Conor.”

“Is it bad?” he asked, looking at John. His brother was the one person he could always trust to tell him the truth.

“The bullet broke a couple ribs going in.”

Conor nodded. That matched the pain he’d felt moments earlier.

“It didn’t hit any vital organs. You’re one lucky S.O.B., is what I think the stuffy doctor meant to say.”

Conor looked behind John just in time to see Siena disappear quietly out the door.

Conor sighed. She’d been too kind to leave while he was alone but, now that his family was there, she wanted out.

“I think thanks are in order,” Conor told Luc. “I knew you’d come when you saw the avalanche beacon.”

“Siena’s the one you should thank, really. She’s the one who kept you alive.”

“Looks like she’s gone,” Conor said. He couldn’t help some bitterness from creeping into his voice.

Luc looked at him strangely but said nothing.

“How long are you staying, Mother, John?”

“As long as you need us here. We’ll need to find a hotel but we can stay until you’re feeling well enough to travel.”

“To travel?” Conor asked. “I’m not going back with you.”

“But you can’t stay here, honey. You’re so far away and—”

“We miss you, Conor. Isn’t it time you came home?”

Conor was saved from replying by the nurse who came in to tell them visitor’s hours were over, ushering everybody outside.

The next morning the doctor seemed surprised when Conor asked to be released. He clearly didn’t realize what it was like to be cooped up in a small room with his mother and brother.

“Are you sure? I would have preferred for you to stay with us a few more days until—”

“I’m sure, Doctor,” Conor said.

“If it’s about the insurance …”