Part 42 (1/2)
Lord, she was falling apart. But finally it was the good kind of falling apart, the kind that occurs when something wonderful happens, like winning a $10 million lottery.
Or finding out that the man you love is going to live.
”Yes,” she said. ”Oh, yes. I'm okay. Believe me. I'm just a little overwhelmed.”
”Would you like some water?”
”No. I'm fine. Really. Can I see him?”
”I'm sorry, but they've already taken him up. When you're feeling better, you can go up to the waiting room on the third floor. They'll let you know when he's out of surgery.”
”Thank you.”
The doctor rose to leave, then turned back. ”Oh. I almost forgot. He wanted me to tell you something.”
”Yes?”
”He said, 'The movie's never over until the hero gets the girl.' Do you know what he means by that?”
”Yes,” she said with a smile. ”I know.”
Four hours later, Dave slowly opened his eyes, blinking until his sight cleared. He felt groggy, and it was a moment before he realized where he was. In a hospital room. Hooked up to an IV. And enough pain was shooting through his leg to remind him of the surgery he'd had.
Between then and now, all he remembered was a few lucid moments in the recovery room before the pain medication had knocked him out all over again. He remembered looking up to see Lisa standing next to his bed, the worry on her face finally replaced with relief, looking more beautiful than he'd ever seen her before. She'd held his hand, stroked his arm, and in minutes he'd fallen asleep again.
He turned over a little, wincing at the pain in his leg, and what he saw replaced his frown with a smile. Lisa sat in a chair beside his bed, her elbow on the arm, her chin resting in her hand, asleep. As if she sensed him watching her, her eyes fluttered open, and she sat up slowly.
”Hi there,” he said. ”Taking a little nap?”
She smiled, her eyes droopy. ”More like a big nap.”
”How long have you been there?”
She stretched a little, then checked her watch. ”I don't know. I've lost track. Four hours? Five?”
He held out his hand. She rose from her chair, came to the bed, and sat down next to him.
”How are you feeling?” she asked.
”Alive. Not much else matters.”
”I was so worried about you.”
”I know. But everything's okay now.”
She brushed the hair off his forehead, then trailed her fingertips along his cheek before letting her hand rest in her lap again. Her face fell into a frown. ”I'm sorry,” she said on a shaky breath. ”I'm so sorry this happened.”
”No apologies. It's over now.”
”If you hadn't made it . . .” She bowed her head, and he could see her trying not to cry.
”Come here, baby.” He tugged on her hand, coaxing her to lie down next to him.
She sniffed a little. ”No, Dave. Your leg-”
”It's okay. My bad leg's on the other side, along with all those tubes and things.”
”But this is a hospital.”
”Do you see any signs posted? You know-a man and a woman in a hospital bed, with a big red slash through them?”
She smiled a little, and he eased her down next to him, wrapping his arm around her. She rested her head on his shoulder, and he sighed with satisfaction. ”That's much better.”
”Yes,” she said, relaxing against him. ”Much, much better.”
”Okay. Here's another place to add to the balcony and the shower. A hospital bed.”
”You're in no condition for hot s.e.x.”
”You're right. I'm incapacitated. I'd be totally at your mercy.”
”Are you trying to turn me on?”
”Is it working?”
”Yes.”
”Then I'm trying.”
Suddenly the door opened and a quick glance told Dave that the DeMarco contingent had arrived. Lisa instantly leapt up and moved away from him to sit on the edge of the bed. Too late. Judging from the looks on his brothers' faces, they'd both gotten an eyeful.
Alex strode into the room first, walking right up to Dave's bed, looking, as usual, as if he was ready to take command of any situation that needed commanding.
”We were stuck at Love Field,” he said. ”They had a f.u.c.king security lockdown thirty minutes before our flight was supposed to leave. We called ahead to the hospital, and all some idiot here could tell us was that you were in surgery.”
”Nice to see you, too, Alex.”
”Are you all right?”
”Yeah. I'm fine.”
”You don't look fine.”
”Thanks, big brother. I appreciate that. Got flowers for me, too?”
”Leg wound?”