Page 62 of Summer Ever After
I tapped the heels of my boots on the floor. “Can we arrange for a security guard to be posted outside her room?”
“I don’t think that’s necessary; and the hospital doesn’t cover that kind of expense.”
I stood. “I’ll cover it. I also don’t want anyone in that room to see her. Especially not her stepmother. That cop might think Rosie slipped and hit her head, but until we can hear what happened directly from Rosie’s mouth, I don’t want that woman, or her stepsister anywhere near her.
The doctor stood and hugged her clipboard to her chest. She looked me up and down. “Mr. Starling. Come with me. I’m going to go to the third floor. You can get off the elevator wherever you want – but don’t get off on the second floor, and don’t go into room 211.
“I want to hug you right now,” I whispered.
“Don’t make me regret this decision.” She opened the door, and I followed her to the bank of elevators, pushing floor two as she pushed the button for the third floor.
* * *
The chartat the end of the bed read Jane Doe. Rosie was hooked up to a bunch of machines but looked peaceful. Her head was bandaged, and one-half of her face was bruised and swollen.
I pulled the visitor’s chair to the edge of the bed and held her hand. It could’ve been my imagination, but I swear that she squeezed mine.
I stood and stroked the bandage on her head and bent to kiss her cheek. The fragility of life struck me. Last night, when we were on the dock, I wanted to tell her that I’d fallen in love with her. From the very first time we met, I knew that she was the woman for me – but I didn’t – because it was too soon, and we had time.
“Rosie,” I whispered. “It’s me. Max.”
The machines bleeped and blooped and Rosie continued to sleep. She wasn’t going to answer, but it felt good to speak out loud. “I thought that the afternoon that we spent together was the best day of my life. It turns out that last night topped it. You have to get better so we can have a morning together. I have the feeling that every day with you will be the best day of my life.”
I cleared my throat and looked for any sign that she could hear me. There was none.
“Rosie. I don’t know a lot about you. I don’t know your last name, or how you take your coffee, but I do know this, I love you.”
SEVENTEEN
DAISY
The sun was too bright.Wincing, I blinked hard and tried to bring my hand to my face to block my eyes.
“She’s waking up.” A voice I didn’t recognize spoke somewhere off in the distance.
I blinked again. It wasn’t the sun, it was fluorescent lights blaring down on me. I looked down, an IV was taped to my hand. I tried to push myself to a sitting position, but then hands were on my chest, easing me down.
“Where am I? What’s happening?” I looked around the room and realized that I was in a hospital.
The voice belonged to a nurse. He was a handsome man built like a linebacker, his hair tied back into a…what was it called? A mantail. No, that wasn’t right.
“Rose. You are in the Chance Rapids hospital. There was an accident and you bumped your head.”
I reached to touch my forehead and my fingertips met gauze. “I bumped my head?”
“Yes.” He tucked a pillow behind my back. “Go easy on yourself, you’ve been in a medically induced coma. We needed to make sure your brain was okay before we woke you up.”
“It’s called a man bun.” I pointed to his hair. He smiled and touched his hair. “That is what it’s called. Did you hear what I said?”
I ignored his advice and his pillow and sat upright. “I’ve been in a coma.” The words came out of my mouth, but it took a second for me to register their meaning. “I’ve been in a coma?” This time it was a question. “For how long?”
“Two weeks.” He pressed me back into the pillow.
“Two weeks!” I bolted upright again. “I have to go.”
He chuckled. “You’re not going anywhere just yet.”
“You don’t understand.” I threw back the hospital blanket, revealing my bare legs, tucked into wool socks. “I have to be somewhere. I need to meet someone. I promised.” Tears began to fall. “He wouldn’t wait for two weeks, would he?”
