A Rose in Bloom

She struggled to sit up, but Scotty pushed her back on the bed.

“Don’t be stupid! You were almost killed, and you’re in the hospital. The wedding people will just have to understand.”

“No! It’s a wedding. It’s not like they can reschedule. It’s mostly finished, but I’ve got to get the flowers there. They can’t do without flowers just because my shop got broken into.”

“No, Elyssa! I’m sorry, but—”

“I’ll do it.” Jaxon’s face appeared over Scotty’s shoulder. “I mean… I don’t know what to do, but I’ll do my best. Maybe you can give me instructions. I’ll get some of the girls at the gym to help me.”

Scotty crossed his arms, glaring at Jaxon. “You need to stay out of this. It’s none of your business.”

Jaxon lifted his chin. “It’s Elyssa’s business. She has a lot of money invested in this wedding, and I’m not gonna let her lose it. Not if I can help it.”

Elyssa’s insides glowed. No wonder she’d agreed to marry Jaxon. He was her knight-in-shining-armor. She lifted her hand toward him, and he moved beside her to grip her fingers.

Scotty’s hands were on his hips. “What’s the story here, Elyssa? Last time I talked to you, you told me you couldn’t stand this guy.”

She shrugged, as her cheeks grew warm. How could she explain her engagement when she didn’t even remember it?

“Well, things have changed. Actually, I might as well tell you, we’re engaged.”

“Engaged?” Scotty's face turned an unpleasant shade of purple, his blood vessels bulging across his temples like they might explode. “How could you possibly be engaged?”

“Jaxon? Why don’t you tell him, since my memory is kind of fuzzy right now?”

Her brother’s agitated expression reminded her of that cool word. What was it? Oh, that’s right, apoplectic.

Jaxon cleared his throat. “Uhmm… well… we weren’t exactly dating as much as spending time together. You know… and… and I was… I was helping her with her flowers. And things just happen…”

“What things? What things happened with my sister? If you knocked her up, I’m gonna kill you.”

Elyssa pushed up on her elbows. "You don't control my life! It’s none of your business, Scotty. You can just stay out of it.”

Jaxon held up both hands in front of his face. “Nothing happened! We kissed—that’s all.”

“That’s right!” said Elyssa. “All we did was kiss.” That much she could remember. He’d kissed her, and it was amazing. He kissed her, and… and…

She gasped. Images flooded her mind. She remembered. She remembered everything that had happened. And everything that hadn’t happened. Tears flooded her eyes and spilled over, running down her cheeks. The entire horrifying night replayed in her mind. She sobbed, unable to catch her breath.

“Elyssa? What’s wrong?” Jaxon reached to take her hand again.

She turned her face away. "Leave me alone."

Part 19: Cutting it Short

ELYSSA CRIED for twenty minutes straight. Jaxon and Scotty fled for their lives at her words; “I don’t want men in here!”

She couldn’t purge her mind of the intruder’s grotesque face as he broke through her door. The terror of the moment returned with a vengeance. She experienced the panic she hadn’t permitted herself to feel during the crisis. Her emotions raged as she relived every moment until the time she woke in the hospital. She waited for a sense of relief. But instead, she felt raw and exposed… humiliated. Her mortification was wrapped up in Jaxon and his lie.

Why did he say we were engaged? What possible reason could he have? He regretted kissing me. I kissed him back like a slut, and he pulled away, saying it was a mistake. So, obviously he didn’t want me. Did he feel guilty for leaving before the break-in? Did he feel sorry for me because I’m alone? What was his motivation for lying about our relationship? Was it pity? Poor Elyssa with no one to love her?

A tiny seed of an idea sprouted in her mind. And it took root. And it grew. Her tears stopped. Her racing heart slowed. Her breathing relaxed. And she smiled—a devilish smile.

*****

Sparks flew in Jaxon’s head… His circuits were blown.

“Wait, wait, wait! Go back and explain again about the pennies.” He scribbled as fast as possible.