Page 80 of Don't Forget Me
Jasmine didn’t look at her like she had lost her mind. “Has anyone told you yet what happened when you crashed?”
“I hit a tree, right? I don’t remember it.”
“Once I learned there was a second coma patient here, I did my research. You basically died at the scene. Your heart stopped, and they had to bring you back.” She paused as if unsure if she should continue. “There are stories of people who die and are brought back. I researched one as a grad student years ago. They… go someplace else.”
Relief at being believed flooded Elizabeth. She rested her chin on Nick’s hand that she still held. “We definitely went somewhere else, didn’t we, Nick?”
“Liz.” Jasmine’s sharp voice made Elizabeth jerk her head up.
“What?”
“Look at his other hand.”
The one she wasn’t holding. Her eyes found it on top of the blankets. A single finger tapped against the bed while another curled in. “Jasmine, go get someone. A doctor.”
“Shouldn’t we get you out first? If they find you here…”
“I don’t care! Just go.”
Jasmine shot her one more look before ducking into the hall.
“It’s okay, Nick.” Elizabeth squeezed his hand again. “I’m here. It’s okay to open your eyes.” She stared into his face, willing him to come back to her, to rejoin this world and leave the lake house behind.
When footsteps sounded in the doorway, she looked up to find not just any doctor. Booker’s gaze skidded along her with disapproval. Behind him, Jasmine stood with the two security guards who’d been summoned away for the agent’s call. Both wore matching frowns.
“Who is this?” one of them asked. “No one can be in here unless they’re approved by Ms. Brown.”
Elizabeth didn’t know who Ms. Brown was, but she didn’t care. “He’s waking up.” She sent Booker an imploring look. “I swear it. His fingers moved.” She brushed away fresh tears. “Where’s his doctor?”
Booker turned away from her and studied Nick. “I’ve paged Dr. Stephens, but I was the first one Jasmine found. I was coming to see you, actually.”
“Please, Book. Just help him. Bring him back to us.”
He sighed. “His stats are reading as they have for weeks, Lizzy. Sometimes, a little movement is normal. It doesn’t hold any significance.”
“No, it has to. Do something.”
Dr. Stephens rushed in. “What’s going on with my patient?” His eyes found Elizabeth. “How did she get in here?” His voice softened. “Liz, I thought we dealt with this. You can’t enter another patient’s room, especially this patient. Dr. Hill, please remove her.”
“No, you don’t understand,” she cried. “He’s going to wake up. I know it.”
As Booker gently but firmly forced her into the wheelchair, she heard Dr. Stephens speak to Jasmine. “Nurse Jas, next time another patient comes into this room, please alert security. She is wrong, I’m afraid. It’s starting to look more and more like this young man will never wake.”
“No.” Booker wheeled Elizabeth past the security officers, who refused to look at her, and into the hall, leaving Nick behind. “Book.”
He didn’t say anything until they reached the privacy of her room. “What has gotten into you?” He didn’t bother helping her up, instead lifting her from the chair and setting her on the bed. “Liz, this isn’t you. Bothering a celebrity in a coma.” He sighed as he looked down into her tearstained face. “Are you okay?”
As angry as she wanted to be at Booker, she needed her best friend. Scooting over, she patted the bed, letting him lower himself. His large frame took up all the open space, and she curled against him. “No. I’m not okay.”
“Lizzy,” he murmured, brushing a hand over her hair. “You’re back with us. That should make you happy. Evelyn and Owen… they need you.”
“I know they do. And I need them.” But she also needed him. She didn’t say the words though. Unlike Jasmine, Booker wouldn’t understand.
“Did that reporter put you up to this?”
Lifting her chin, she looked up at him. “You know Jasmine isn’t a nurse?”
“Of course I do.” He laughed. “I realized it the moment I saw you in that room with her. There’s only one reason she’d bring you there. For some hope you were telling the truth you knew him and could give her something for her story. No nurse would have helped you. You’re reckless, Lizzy.”
