On Thin Ice Page 18

  “Go. Let him know you love him. He’ll need that.”

  She stood a moment longer. How could she possibly go in to tell him good-bye? Hadn’t they just gotten started with hellos?

  Reluctantly she walked back to his room and pulled the curtain. The man in the bed was not the one she kissed that morning or made love to last night. No, this was a stranger.

  His head was bandaged, and wires and tubes were connected to him. His face was bruised, his nose obviously broken, his eyes black. If only she could kiss him to wake him and they could walk into that happily ever after land together.

  She didn’t move at first. The sight of him kept her feet planted, the curtain still gripped in her hand. She chewed the inside of her cheek, fought back the new batch of tears that stung her eyes, and finally walked to him.

  “They told me to come in here and make my peace with you, but as far as I’m concerned I am at peace with you. So, Christopher Douglas, I will not speak to you again if you do not come home to me.” Her hands trembled as she unclasped the necklace around her neck. She took his hand in hers. “I love you, you stubborn ass. I love you. I want to be your wife and I want to have a houseful of children with you.” She opened his fingers and laid the medal in the palm of his hand and then closed his fingers around it. “You gave this to me as I wept for you. You gave it to me because Saint Christopher would keep me safe in my travels.” She swallowed hard. “I don’t understand the words they use here or what they’re telling me, but at times it sounds like you’ll be traveling away from me, and that’s what has me most nervous. I want you to take this and be safe in your journey no matter where you may land. I want you to come back to me. I love you and I’ve spent the past fifteen years hating you only because I loved you so much. That doesn’t even make sense. I love you. I love you.” She sobbed.

  Her father laid his hand on her shoulder. She hadn’t even realized he’d entered the room.

  “It’s time to go.” He turned her from him and walked her out of the room. “I got us rooms at a hotel nearby. I’m going to take you, and you’re going to get some sleep.”

  All she could do was nod her head. Yes, she needed sleep. A long sleep that would keep her captive until she met with Christopher again, no matter where he’d be.

  Maggie moved to her and held her tight. “He’s too stubborn to leave you now that he has you. You know that, right?”

  How could she answer that honestly? “I’m scared. How are you not scared?”

  “I know my son. He’ll do what he needs to do. My bet is on you though. I’m absolutely sure he’ll come out of this to be with you.”

  Malory wanted her optimism. She needed it. But no matter how far she dug within herself, she couldn’t find it.

  Maggie kissed her forehead. “I love you like my own flesh. You go get some rest and come back for me. I’ll need your beautiful face to keep me chipper tomorrow, and he’ll need you so I can rest. We’ll take turns holding his hand until he’s better.”

  Malory nodded.

  The hotel room was small and dank, and when Harvey closed the door behind him, Malory fell to the bed. Her tears had dried, but her body ached. Her head spun and her stomach rolled. She was starving, but the very thought of food made her sick. She lay back on the bed and turned on the television for noise to occupy her mind. She surfed the channels until she found a M*A*S *H. marathon. It was perfect because it wasn’t a news channel telling her anything that her father, Maggie, or Christopher, for that matter, didn’t tell her themselves.

  Her body was riddled with exhaustion, but her mind buzzed. The cell phone in her hand was like a lifeline that wasn’t being used. She wasn’t going to sleep until it rang and she got the news she wanted. And what she wanted was Christopher’s voice on the other end.

  Minutes turned to hours and when the light interrupted the darkness that had stilled her mind, she realized she’d given in to sleep. Still dressed in the clothes she’d worn since she’d dressed at Christopher’s house, the phone still clutched in her hand, Malory kicked her feet over the edge of the bed and sat for a moment, regaining her composure. A shower and a pot of coffee would clear her mind.

  A tapping at the door startled her. On shaky legs she walked across the room and opened the door to a weary-eyed Samantha.

  “Malory, oh, I’m so sorry about everything.”

  It was obvious to her that Samantha had been crying, and recently. She carried an overnight bag.

  “I knew you and Maggie could use some clothes and toiletries. I didn’t know how long you’d be here, so I brought you some of my clothes. I think I’m a little taller, but that won’t matter too much. I have the restaurant under control. Oh, and Esther Madison heard what had happened and she made her husband turn around and come back to the valley. day before Christmas, can you believe it? Anyway, she came back to run the bakery for you until you get home. Do you have your key?” Malory stood dumbfounded, holding tight to the doorknob, while Samantha remained in the hallway of the hotel. “I’m sorry. I get a bit winded when I’m nervous.”

  “No, no. Come in. Sorry. I’m a bit out of sorts.” She stepped back from the door and ran her fingers through her matted hair.

  “I ran into your dad at the hospital, and he told me where to find you. He said he slept in a chair, but he didn’t look like he’d slept at all.” Malory only nodded. “He said Chris took a turn for the worse. You must feel awful.”

  The air whooshed out of her lungs and she felt dizzy. Instinctively she sat down on the bed and put her head between her knees. Samantha dropped the bag in the floor and ran to her.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Fine. I’m fine.”

  “I’ll get you some water.” Samantha ran to the sink and pulled the paper off the top of the glass. She filled it with water and ran back to Malory. “Here, drink.”

  Malory took the glass, her hands shaky, and sipped. Her breathing returned to normal, but her heart still pounded uncomfortably in her chest.

  Samantha stood before her eyes wide and skin pale. “You haven’t talked to your dad, have you?”

  “Not yet.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry again. I have a big mouth. I should . . .”

  “Sam, it’s okay.” She swallowed hard and then took another sip of water. “Where’s your son?”

  “Sitters. I had to come. I knew you’d all need something.”

  “Thank you. That was so thoughtful.”

  “Least I could do, especially since Maggie and Chris have been so good to me. She understands me more than anyone ever has.”

  Malory was sure she did.

  “I should get a shower. Oh.” She looked around the room. “I don’t have my purse or my keys. I left them at the rink. Or in my Jeep.” She tried to think, but everything was fuzzy. “I don’t have a key to the bakery.”

  “I’m sure we can figure it all out. Esther knows she left hers at her son’s in their rush.”

  “Maggie’s office,” she blurted out, realizing her partner would have a key. “She’ll have one there.”

  Samantha laid her hand on Malory’s arm. “We’ll find it.”

  Malory nodded. “I should get a shower and get back down there.” She tried desperately to wipe out Samantha’s words about his condition, but they kept coming back to her, stabbing at her.

  “I’ll wait and give you a ride.”

  “I’d appreciate that. Thanks.”

  The shower made her feel a little better. No more tears fell, but she was sure they were all dried up. She thought about Esther heading back to Aspen Creek to help her out and how Samantha sat in the other room having thought about them. That was how community worked. Everyone looked out for everyone else. Wouldn’t she have done the same thing for anyone else? That was how she was raised.

  Then she thought about what else she’d said. She’d said Esther had made her husband turn around the day before Christmas.

  Christmas Eve.

  The Christmas spirit certainly wasn�
�t filling her. She didn’t even care.

  Malory stepped out of the bathroom in a pair of jeans that she’d rolled up at the ankle and a University of Colorado sweatshirt. She’d pulled her hair into a ponytail so she wouldn’t have to worry about it though the day.

  She saw Samantha sitting in the chair by the door, her eyes closed. It was obvious those in town hadn’t had any rest either.

  Samantha stirred then woke as Malory walked through the room. “I must have dozed off.”

  “It’s okay. I feel the same way.”

  Samantha dropped her at the front of the hospital and made sure to step out of the car and hug her. She walked through the lobby of the hospital, ignoring the Christmas tree that twinkled and the stockings that hung from the wall.

  Maggie and Harvey were outside the door of the ICU when she arrived, holding each other tight.

  Malory stood as the elevator closed behind her. Her feet wouldn’t move her forward. Just the thickness of the air was hard to suck in.

  Maggie nodded at something Harvey had said and she stepped back from him. Then, as though they felt her standing nearby, they both turned to her.

  Her feet still wouldn’t move. Not moving toward them didn’t stop them from moving toward her, and Maggie wrapped her arms around her.

  “We can’t go in for a bit. He’s not doing well.” Maggie ran her hands up and down Malory’s arms. “Did you get some rest?”

  She nodded, but there were no words on her tongue.

  Maggie smiled a forced smile. “Good. And I see Samantha found you.”

  “Yeah. She brought you some clothes too.”

  “She’s a sweetheart, she is.”

  Harvey placed a hand on each of their shoulders.

  “Malory here is going to go downstairs and get herself some breakfast,” he said with a nod in Malory’s direction and then turned his eyes to Maggie. “And I’m taking you to the hotel to get a shower and a nap.”

  He’d made sure to make it a statement and not a request. Neither of them argued.

  “The desk has your phone number, so they’ll call you if they need you to come back up. Okay?”

  Malory nodded.

  He put his arm around Maggie’s shoulders and they disappeared into the elevator.

  Malory stood alone in the hallway as people in green scrubs and white coats rushed past her. Some had charts, some had tubes and bandages, others spoke in tongues that made no sense. Her eyes focused on the room she knew Christopher was in. Doctors and nurses moved in and out, all in a hurry, but no one came for her.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Malory had waited another two hours before she heeded her father’s advice on going to the cafeteria. She had hoped that if she stuck around, they would come to her and tell her she could go into Christopher’s room, but they hadn’t. Instead, they were too tight lipped to tell her anything—she wasn’t his wife or his mother.

  She sat near the bank of windows, a cup of coffee between her hands and an untouched donut on a plate in front of her.

  “This place gets you down doesn’t it?”

  Malory turned to see a man seated beside her. She hadn’t seen him sit down.

  His sipped at the cup that he held between his hands. “That was quite a hit he took, wasn’t it?”

  Her eyes opened wide at his knowledge of what happened to Christopher, and it was then she remembered the man from the restaurant. His snow-white beard and his red hooded sweatshirt. His ocean-blue eyes, rosy cheeks, and smile that put her at ease.

  “He’s had some setbacks, but they won’t tell me what’s going on.”

  “Swelling. They seem to have it under control, but he has to be watched.”

  “How do you know that?” Her voice rose in pitch.

  “I see everything.” His sipped from his mug again. “It’s hard to sit here on Christmas Eve, isn’t it?”

  “I’m not giving it much thought.”

  “Well, you should.” He turned to her. “What is your Christmas wish?”

  “Seriously, I don’t mean to be disrespectful, sir, but I’d just like to be left alone.” She pushed her plate away. The tension in her shoulders forced her to jerk them back.

  “You always were the kind who wanted to be alone when she needed to think things through. But I know what’s in your heart, Malory.”

  Her head snapped toward him.

  He laughed and it rolled from his belly. “You don’t think you know me but you do. So, with that said, what is your wish this Christmas?”

  Didn’t she feel better just having him there with her? What harm was there in saying what was in her heart? “I want him to wake up and tell me he loves me. I want him to tell me he still wants to marry me. I want him back.”

  “You love him.”

  “I always have. As far back as I can remember.”

  He nodded and patted her hand. “I know, and he’s always felt the same. Have faith, my dear. You’ll be able to pull that forgotten cake out of the freezer and still celebrate. He’ll like that.” He raised a hand to her cheek and gave it a pat. “Everything will be okay. Merry Christmas.”

  She stared at him, trying to discern what he could mean by his comment about the cake. She certainly hadn’t told anyone about that. And how could she be thinking of making love with Christopher when he was fighting to stay alive? Heat crept up her neck to her cheeks, and her white-haired visitor smiled. She looked into her mug and just breathed, and when she looked back up, he was gone. She looked around the cafeteria, and there was no sign of him. His mug still sat next to her and she picked it up. It had remnants of hot chocolate, but her donut was gone.

  Malory spent some time in the chapel praying before she went back upstairs. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d done that, but it couldn’t hurt.

  Her father sat just outside the door to the ICU, his head in his hands. Malory sat down next to him, and he lifted his head.

  “Maggie’s in there with him now.”

  “I heard he had some swelling.”

  He nodded. “They told you, huh?”

  “No.” She shook her head. When he looked at her quizzically, she waved the question aside. “It’s a long story.” The aches in her body subsided for just a moment when she thought of the man who knew the special cake she’d made for her night with Chris was still in the freezer. It baffled her that he could know that; speaking with him might have been an exhaustion-induced hallucination.

  “When she comes out, you can go in and spend some time with him.”

  Malory nodded. That was what she wanted more than anything. She wanted to spend forever with him, but that certainly didn’t seem to be the way of it.

  The doors opened and Maggie slowly walked out, rubbing her eyes. Dark circles shadowed them, and her skin was pale. Malory had never seen her so worn down. Both Malory and Harvey stood as she crossed to them.

  “They say he looks better.” Maggie shook her head and wiped away a tear that rolled down her cheek. “He still looks bad to me.”

  “They’ll take care of him,” Harvey said as he reached for her hand.

  She nodded and looked at Malory. “You can go in.”

  Malory bit down on her bottom lip. “Can you go in with me?”

  “One at a time.”

  Malory blew out a breath. All she could do was face it. She had one more chance to tell him good-bye. She had to do it.

  She agreed with Maggie. He still looked bad. She was sure it took her an hour to walk across the room. Each step took a little away from her life as she looked down at the man she loved lying there, helpless, unconscious.

  It was better if she thought of him as sleeping. Perhaps she’d be able to get through another day without losing her mind to grief if she thought of him as resting.

  “I heard you had a hard night.” She took the seat next to his bed and reached her shaky hand to cover his. “I guess I should see some good in the fact that you made it through the night.” She swallowed hard. “Christopher
, I miss you. I love you so much, this is killing me. Tomorrow is Christmas, and I swore if you didn’t ask me to marry you again by the end of tonight, I’d ask you myself. So here I am. It’s Christmas Eve and you haven’t proposed to me yet. So I guess here I am to make good on my promise to myself. So, Christopher Douglas, will you marry me?”

  The room remained quiet except for the machines that kept rhythm at Christopher’s side.

  “Well, I guess that’s that. Kinda was hoping you’d say yes.”

  She let out a halfhearted snicker. How silly she must sound sitting there with him, holding his hand, while he was silent and sleeping.

  The curtain to her back opened and a nurse entered the room.

  “Ma’am, all visitors must leave during the shift change.”

  Malory nodded.

  “Well, Chris, I’ll see you later. It would be very nice if you would give me my answer when I come back. I don’t want to be angry with you for another fifteen years.”

  She leaned over him gently and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

  “I love you,” she whispered in his ear.

  The emotional rollercoaster she’d been on for the past two days had taken its toll. She went back to the hotel room with a bottle of water and a sandwich from the deli next door, and slumped at the little table by the window to eat the only meal she’d had in two days.

  Esther called her to discuss what was expected for the week ahead and she let her know how grateful she was to have her there.

  Malory called Samantha to make sure everything at the restaurant was going well and then made her last call to Mac Stern, who told her someone had gotten their hands on Quincy LeBlanc when he’d returned to Detroit earlier that morning. They beat the heck out of him before the police arrested whoever attacked him. But he thought she should know that people, faceless people, were defending Christopher.

  She toed off her shoes, lay across the bed, and turned on the TV to keep from dwelling on how still and pale Chris looked in the ICU. Her phone was clutched in her hand as she listened to Rachael Ray cook something in thirty minutes, but her eyelids had become heavy.