Page 63 of Summer Ever After
The nurse called to someone in the hallway. “She’s awake and confused.”
“I’m not confused.” I rested on the pillow. The night started to rush back to me. I pressed the heel of my hand to my forehead as the memories played out like a horror movie. “I was supposed to meet a man at Keystone Point. He’s going to think I lied to him.”
The nurse tucked the blanket back around my body. “I think he’ll understand. You were found floating in Windswan Lake. It’s a miracle that you’re here.”
A searing heat shot through my head and I squeezed my eyes tightly with the pain. “I was found…floating in the lake? Who found me?”
“It’s a bit of a puzzle. A fisherman found you.”
“Not a woman named Christina?”
He shook his head. “No. The details aren’t totally clear, but it was definitely a fisherman.”
The last thing I remembered was falling. I must have hit my head and landed in the water. Which meant that Christina left me there. “Has my stepmother visited me?” My throat constricted. I knew that Christina hated me, but was she cold enough to leave me to drown in the lake.?
The nurse took a breath. “Your friend is here. I think that he’ll be able to fill in the details better than me.”
“My friend?”
The door opened and Max Starling was standing in the doorway, a bouquet of flowers wrapped in brown craft paper in his hand. “You’re awake.” He rushed to the side of the bed.
The nurse scribbled some notes on the clipboard and then hooked it on the end of my bed. “I’ll leave you two to catch up.” He looked over his shoulder as he left. “That man has been here every day.”
“Is that true?” I whispered.
Max smiled. “They let me sleep in that bed.” He pointed to the empty hospital bed next to me. “I haven’t left.” He squeezed my hand. “I wasn’t leaving you here alone.”
“Max, I’m sorry I didn’t make it to Keystone Point.”
He seemed to crumple. “Rosie. Don’t you worry about that. I can’t believe I almost lost you again, this time for good.” He bent to kiss me. I pressed into his chest with my hand.
“Max, I haven’t brushed my teeth in two weeks.”
“I don’t give a fuck.” He pressed his lips to mine. Hot tears seared my cheeks. I wrapped my arms around his strong neck and he hugged me, gently, but firmly. I wasn’t the only one crying, tears streamed down Max’s face too.
“Come, sit with me.” I patted the bed next to me.
“Are you sure?” Max raised his eyebrows.
“Get in here.” I tugged his hand. He crawled into the bed beside me and I curled into his body. “Did you really not leave?”
He cleared his throat. “I was here the entire time. Do you remember anything about that night?”
I sighed. “I do. I wish that I didn’t though.”
He stiffened beside me. “I’m so mad at Trey for leaving you there on the dock.”
“Don’t you dare be mad at him. I forced him to leave. He’s a good man. It was my fault that I was there alone. Mine and mine alone.”
“Were you alone?” he asked.
“No. I wasn’t. Christina was trying to steal Jessica’s earrings. We fought and I hit my head. That part was an accident.”
Max kissed my cheek and rested his hand on my neck. “What else do you remember?”
The only thing I really remembered was the dock cleat coming at my face as I tripped. “Not much.” I took a deep breath. The next part was going to be tough. “Max. I think that Christina left me there…to drown.”
He nodded and kissed me again. “You don’t have to worry about that woman ever again.”
