Page 41 of Save Me

Hunt grinned. “So, a hamburger patty in sauce?”

She nodded and took another bite, and so it went. They were down to scraping the bottom of their pudding cups when Dr. Wagner came in with his nurse, making rounds.

“Good evening, Lainie. Who’s your dinner partner?” he asked.

“Hunter Gray. Childhood sweetheart. Man of my dreams. Also, the man who found me. Hunt, this is Dr. Wagner. The man with the staple gun and anesthesia.”

Wagner grinned. The hospital staff was well aware of Lainie Mayes’s wicked sense of humor.

Hunt immediately stood and shook the doctor’s hand. “It’s a pleasure, sir.”

Wagner arched an eyebrow. “That was very military. Did you serve?”

Hunt nodded. “Ten years. I’m out now. Been flying charters for Randolph Charter Service in Flagstaff, but I’ll be staying here in Denver.”

“Good. That means you’re not sweeping Lainie away from us. She is a very valuable employee, as well as a good friend. We’d hate to lose her.” Then Wagner switched focus and moved closer to Lainie’s bed. “The wound in your head looks good. Shirley is going to unwrap your feet for me. I need to make sure everything looks okay before I let you go home tomorrow.”

Hunt moved out of the way, but stayed close enough to get a good view after the bandages were removed.

“The antibiotics are already working,” Wagner said. “The infected areas are looking much better, and the more superficial cuts are already starting to seal up.”

“How long will it be before I can walk?” Lainie asked.

“Don’t rush it, but I’d say, as soon as you can comfortably bear weight. You’ll need to be cleared before you come back to work, but take the time to heal without worry. Your job isn’t going anywhere.”

“What happened to the clothes I was wearing when they brought me in?” she asked.

“We cut them off, remember?” Wagner said.

“I had a set of car keys in my pocket. I’m going to need them. And now that I think of it, my car is still parked at the trailhead.”

“I believe your keys were bagged and tagged and are at the nurses’ desk. Shirley will check for you when we’re done here,” he said.

“Will I need to change bandages daily?” Lainie asked.

“Maybe for another day or so. After that, I think heavy socks should suffice. Definitely no shoes until you can walk comfortably, and then something like a slipper.”

“She’s got me,” Hunt said. “I waited eleven years to find her. I’ve got no problem carrying her.”

Wagner nodded.

Lainie teared. She made jokes to hide her fears, while Hunt simply blurted out his truths. When the nurse began putting fresh bandages on Lainie’s feet, Hunt reached for her hand. She clung to him without words, and soon they had the room to themselves again.

“Don’t worry about your car. Once we get you home and I get you settled, I can take an Uber back to the park to get it,” Hunt said.

Tears rolled.

Hunt groaned, and then lowered a bed rail and slid onto the bed beside Lainie. He slipped his arms around her. “Honey...what’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Just a little PTSD, and not used to having anyone help me do anything.”

“Understood,” he said. “Tomorrow is the beginning of us again. You and me. For the first time in our lives, we’ll be together and on our own.”

AS PROMISED, Lainie was released the next morning after Wagner made rounds. Hunt had already filled her prescriptions at the hospital pharmacy, and was waiting outside the hospital entrance with the passenger door open. Lainie was wearing borrowed scrubs and another pair of his socks when the orderly brought her down in a wheelchair. It was gray and cloudy, with a forecast of thunderstorms, and Hunt wanted to get her home before they hit.

“Did they give you your keys?” he asked as he picked her up and settled her into the front seat.

“Yes, right here,” she said, and held up a plastic bag with her release papers and the keys safely inside.

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