“Yes sir, but I want you all to be careful and call me if you see anything suspicious or if you remember anything that might help us.”
Two hours later, Raven’s test come back okay and she gets transferred to ICU. Jenna and James go in to visit her first and then Robbie. I tell Finn to go ahead of me because I need some privacy with her. After a few minutes, Finn comes out and his eyes are red. He says he has to go and he’ll be back tomorrow. My dad and sisters went home and will come back in the morning. James, Jenna, and Robbie already left for home to take a shower, but they promised to be back in a few hours. It’s just me now and I walk into her room.
She looks so peaceful sleeping in the bed. I can see bruises all over her body, but she’s still the most beautiful sight in the world to me. I lean down and kiss her gently before pulling up a chair to hold her hand. I can’t stand seeing her like this, knowing she is in pain. I let out a breath and cry. I cry for the first time since my mom died. I bury my head next to her hips and let go. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I lost her. I replay the last four days in my mind and let it all out. I have never felt so helpless and scared in my life. Now I know that Ravenel James Hayes owns me, all of me.
Chapter 37
We’re Okay
Raven
I wake and feel something weighing down on my arm. There’s beeping and the smell of antiseptic; I’m in the hospital. The last thing I remember is seeing Anna walk into the room. I open my eyes and Declan’s head is on my hip and he’s been crying. He’s asleep, but I can see the tracks down his face. I run my fingers through his hair and he stirs.
“Baby, wake-up.” My throat is scratchy, but I’m not in too much pain.
He jolts up and looks at me with a face full of emotion. Tears fill his eyes and he puts his lips on mine for a brief second. “We need to call the nurse and let her know you’re awake.”
“Okay, I need some water.”
He rings the nurse and she comes in with a pitcher of water and ice chips. She takes my vitals and asks how I’m feeling. I tell her my head hurts and she calls the doctor and says he’ll be right in.
“What day is it?”
“It’s Sunday night. Do you remember anything?”
“Somewhat, I remember opening the door and then waking up in a small room with a sliver of light. I remember Christie and her ranting about wanting you for herself. I got a migraine and was out of it. But for some reason, I felt someone rubbing my head and washing me down with a warm cloth. I remember trying to go to the bathroom and my hand was broken- OH MY GOD! I remember her trying to get my ring off my finger and I fought her. She broke my finger and then stomped on my hand thinking she could get it off, but it was too swollen. She left me alone. Then I remember seeing Anna in the light before I passed out.”
“Baby, this is all my fault. I’m so sorry.”
“What are you talking about?” Declan proceeds to tell me the story the officer told him including how obsessed Christie is with him. I can hear the guilt in his voice as the tears run down his cheeks.
When he’s done, I caress his jaw with my good hand. “Listen to me; you’re not responsible for what that psychotic bitch did. Don’t you dare feel guilty. People are allowed to change, and you changed for the better. I don’t have any doubts about how much you love me. What happened in the past is done.”
The nurse returns with the doctor and Declan steps back so they can examine me. He texts my family to let them know I’m awake and then his family as well. When the doctor finishes checking my body, he asks me a series of questions about the sequence of events. I confirm that I haven’t eaten since Thursday afternoon. He tells the nurse to have someone send up some food. He tells me about the concussion and gash on my neck from the fall. Luckily I don’t have any brain swelling. Since everything is okay, I’m going to be transferred to a regular room tomorrow and I will be released in a few days. He mentions cutting off my ring since my hand is so swollen and I freak out. I promise to keep the ice pack on it and Declan agrees to help. He thinks I should just cut the ring off too, but he isn’t the one wearing the engagement ring.
Shortly after the doctor leaves, my parents arrive and my mom breaks down. She hugs me tight and I let myself cry against her chest. Declan excuses himself because there’s too many people in the room. He promises that he’ll just be down the hall. My dad asks a few questions, but tells me we’ll go over the specifics when I meet with Officer Redding tomorrow.
A nurse delivers the food and it looks gross. My stomach turns at the smell of the soup. My mom laughs and texts Declan to come back to the room. We order take-out from one of my favorite delis and then he and my dad leave to pick it up.
After they leave, my mom turns to me with tears swimming in her eyes. “Baby Girl, I have only been this scared one other time in my life and that was when your brother had his accident. I know you’re okay now, so I’ve allowed myself to relax. What you need to know is that Declan is a wreck. He’s trying to be strong, but I know the signs and he’s starting to come apart. He’s blaming himself for this and he might break down. He loves you so much and no one blames him for this. I’ll talk to him, but know he feels responsible.”
“Mama, it’s not his fault. He can’t blame himself for her being crazy.”
She nods her head in understanding and calls Robbie. She asks him to wait and come back in the morning because she is going to insist I rest after I eat. I hear him complain through the phone but he agrees.
Declan and my dad return with the food and Dad makes arrangements for us all to eat in here together. The soup is magnificent. When I finish, I take Declan’s as well. He chuckles, but lets me take it willingly. The nurse comes in and tells us I have permission to move to a regular room earlier than expected. I look at my dad and know he is responsible for this. He’s also arranged for a nurse dedicated to me for the next twelve hours.
Once I’m settled in the new room and Declan insists on keeping my hand under an ice pack. My parents tell me goodnight and that they’ll be back tomorrow.
I encourage Declan to go home, but he’s staying. He only leaves my side to take a quick shower. He doesn’t have any fresh clothes, but he feels better.
“Declan, will you sleep with me?”
“Yeah, baby, I’m not going anywhere. I have a recliner over here.”
“That’s not what I meant. Come into the bed with me. I need you to hold me.”
He hesitates, but takes off his jeans and climbs into bed. I’m suddenly tired and I throw myself against his chest. It’s close to 3:00am and I don’t know when the last time was that he slept.