Strong.
That was Hope.
Stronger than me. Braver than me. The death of me.
“That’s good.” My heart stopped its irregular beating, gulping a huge sigh of relief. “Her father will be grateful to hear that.”
She opened the door and guided me down the stark hospital corridor. “And you too, I suspect.”
I gave her half a smile.
“Does she know?”
I stiffened. “Know what?”
“That you love her.”
“Ah.” I shrugged, wedging shaky hands into my pockets. “If she doesn’t, she’s about to.”
An elevator pinged, swallowed us, and spat us out on the upper floor. She smiled as I waited for her to step onto the new level first. “I have a feeling she probably already knows.”
“I’m not so sure.” My boots thudded on the lino. “I did a pretty good job of proving I didn’t.” I winced, unable to stop the memory of her sleeping in my bed, my fingerprints on her skin, my release still inside her.
I’d wanted her so much that I hadn’t used protection.
I’d taken everything from her…and then I’d left her.
To add contempt to my remorse, I’d just stood there at Cherry River when she’d flown halfway around the world to return my compass. She’d poured out her soul, then driven tear-blurred and exhausted straight into an accident that could have cost her, her life.
“I’ve been a bastard.”
The doctor pointed at a door and squeezed my elbow. “It’s in the past. I’m sure if you’re honest with her, she’ll understand.”
God, I hope so.
I swallowed hard as she added, “She’s in there. Good luck.”
“Thanks.”
She left, and I stood alone, inhaling deep, bracing myself for the hardest thing I would ever do. Hardest because I wasn’t about to do what other men had done before me. I wasn’t about to fulfil a timeless requirement and tell Hope I was in love with her.
I was about to admit I was wrong. About everything. That I wasn’t happy. That I’d never be happy unless I had her.
And I honestly didn’t know if she’d accept me.
I’d lived through her death.
I’d felt the loss of her before it had already happened.
And I’d learned I was strong enough.
Strong enough to love her.
For always.
If she’d forgive me.
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
Hope
* * * * * *
I’D HAD DRIVING lessons after I’d taken Jacob to the hospital with his back injury.
Wow, how many years ago is that again?
It felt like an eternity.
I’d studied, taken my test, and had a licence tucked in my purse that said I was legal to be on the road.
But it hadn’t stopped me from crashing.
Hadn’t stopped my tears from blinding me or the shaky sadness from stealing my reactions.
It was my fault.
I hadn’t seen the lady walking her dog across the street until it was too late. I’d slipped on the brake pedal and careened into the brick wall of Mr. Pickering’s Personals—the only antique store in town.
The rental car exploded with airbags, the front crumpled, and whiplash smashed my head against the steering wheel.
And that was all I remembered.
Until I came to with the sounds of ambulance sirens and paramedics and the embarrassment of being hauled from my ruined rental and placed on a stretcher.
I’d argued.
I’d assured them I was fine and didn’t need such fanfare.
But it turned out…I did.
“So as you know, we called your father. He’s on his way.”
I blinked, pressing a hand against my pounding temple. I’d been here for hours, and my head still hurt. Stupid painkillers were totally ineffective. “He’s in Iceland, though, on a film set. He won’t be here for days.”
“Yeah, he did say he’d be late arriving.” Dr Jorge smiled kindly. His bushy salt-and-pepper beard looked odd against his bald head. “He said he’d call someone close by to take you to their place. They’ll care for you until he can get to you.”
My heart stopped beating. “Who did he call?”
“He didn’t say.” His gaze flittered over the cast on my left leg, resuming his instructions. “Now, the cast has to stay on for six weeks, and you’re to use the crutches assigned. Okay?”
I groaned. “Isn’t there a quicker way to heal a broken bone?”
He chuckled. “Not one that has been invented yet. I recommend you don’t fly for a few days or at all if you can help it. The cast will make long-haul a nightmare.”
That left me one option.
I’d have to somehow drive one-legged across the country to get as far as I could from Jacob and Cherry River. I needed to leave immediately just in case Dad called Cassie to fetch me, and I was placed under house arrest in the very same place I was trying to escape.
I wouldn’t be able to bear it.
Tears stung for the billionth time, but I refused to let them fall. My head ached harder.
I winced, rubbing my forehead.
Why did this have to happen?
I could’ve been on a plane back to England by now.