Freshwater Kisses (The Kisses 3)

"Come in," I called, but my voice came out hoarse and raspy. I held my hand to my throat, surprised at the sound and the rawness I felt at talking. Just how much had I been screaming? I remembered yelling at Robbie, cursing at the storm, and shrieking for help at the docks, but I didn't think it had been enough to blow my vocal cords.

The door cracked open and a tentative head peeked in. Grace's smile lit up the room as she entered, softly closing the door behind her. She had a tray with food and drink on it that gave a pleasant clink of glass as she set it on the nightstand. I hadn't realized how famished I was until I caught a whiff of toast and eggs. My stomach gave a low growl.

"Sam! I'm glad you're up," Grace said, sitting on the bed and wrapping me up in her arms. I felt a tension relax in my shoulders that I didn't even know was there. Grace was here; she always made sure that things came out right.

"What are you doing here, Grace? I thought you had a test," I whispered. My voice was still too raw to actually speak. Even though I was glad beyond words she was with me, I was still very confused as to why she was here. "Where's Avery? And how's Robbie?"

Grace smoothed my messy hair, a soft smile on her petite features. "Avery is with Robbie downstairs. He's actually in better shape than you right now. As to why we're here, Robbie had the two of us flown out for the weekend as a surprise to greet you at the end of the race. We just got here this morning, actually. "

My head swam with questions, and I couldn't decide which one to pick first. "But you had a test coming up? And what day is it? How long have I been sleeping? And Robbie's okay?"

Grace laughed, a tinkling happy sound. "Here, you eat something and I'll answer all your questions." She handed me the plate of food, and I licked my lips. It smelled so good.

"Shoundsh good," I answered, stuffing my mouth full of eggs. I wasn't sure if it was just ravenous hunger, but they were the most delicious thing I think I have ever eaten. I couldn’t get them down fast enough.

"I'll start with yesterday. You and Robbie finished the race just after noon. Twenty-five hours and thirty-three minutes. Not quite the record, but pretty darn close. The storm was just finishing when they dragged you out of your boat, but it was still pretty hairy. We were supposed to fly in that evening, but the airport was closed due to weather. They brought you here to the hotel, and Robbie to the hospital."

She paused, and I nodded, listening intently as I gulped down some orange juice. It was fresh squeezed, and even though it burned a little at my raw throat, it tasted too good to stop.

"That was yesterday after noon. Avery and I flew in this morning, and it is now almost two. The doctor said to make sure you ate something today, so I brought you breakfast even though it's closer to lunch." She grinned at my shocked look.

"It's two? I feel like I could still sleep for another four hours..."

"How about a shower instead? You look awful."

"Thanks, sis. Love you too," I cracked. She stuck out her tongue and took my empty plate. I hadn't realized I had devoured it so quickly. The headache even seemed to be a little better after getting some food in me. "You said Robbie's downstairs with Avery? Is he okay? What about his arm?"

Grace handed me two round pills which I quickly swallowed. She headed to the bathroom, twisting her head over her shoulder as she started the water

. "Yes, he's downstairs playing with Avery. She loves those princess dresses he got her and is making him have a tea party with her."

I grinned at the image of him playing with Avery. That man was half child himself, so I had no doubt the two of them were getting along splendidly. "What about his arm?"

I could hear the shower running and I stood up, stretching my stiff muscles and moving slowly toward the water. Grace came back into view, her pretty features in a frown.

"It isn't good, Sam. His elbow dislocated, and it tore a ligament. Given the extent of his injury, the doctor says he's not sure it will heal properly. You did fantastic getting him to care in time, but that kind of injury... it just never sets right." Her blue eyes searched mine, waiting to see my response.

I sat back down on the bed, feeling what little strength I had rush out. I had seen this injury once before. It was in college and it had taken her months to recover. Even then, she never had the strength in that arm and had eventually quit racing. This was the type of injury that ended careers. Even if the ligament healed well, it was going to be at least a multiple month recovery. Robbie would never be able to sail safely single-handed again.

"It's my fault, Grace... I should have told him no when he wanted to ride through the storm. He just wanted to win so badly...for me."

Grace knelt on the floor in front of me, taking my hands in hers and forcing me to look into her eyes. "This is not your fault, Samantha Conners. Even he says it. He told the doctors it was his decision to go into the storm and that you wanted to go to port. He underestimated the storm and it ended up biting him, but this is in no way your fault."

I stayed silent, the guilt in my stomach chewing at my ribs. The idea that Robbie would lose the thing he loved most in this world because he was helping me was the worst part. He hadn't even planned on being in this race until I came along and he volunteered to be my partner.

"Sam, I can see where your thoughts are going. Robbie Saunders made his own choice to sail in this race. He chose to sail with you. He could have gotten you a different partner, but he didn't. He could have chosen to pull the sails and wait out the storm, but he didn't. He was the skipper, and he made the choice to go into it. You just happened to be there." Grace paused and made sure I was listening. "It's a damn good thing you were, too. Anyone else, and that ship would have sank. Instead you made it fly and got him the help that he needed. You probably saved his life."

"I guess." I sighed. The idea that Robbie might never race again was horrible. It didn't matter how fast I had gone; I couldn't have stopped the injury. "When'd they let him out of the hospital?"

"This morning. You were actually in worse shape since you sailed through the storm and he was below deck. He's still pretty worn out, but the important thing is that he's going to be fine."

Except for his arm, I thought. Grace frowned and pulled me to my feet. "Okay, no more moping. Get in the shower and when you get out, things won't look so bad."

I scowled at her. I wondered if they taught that cheery-get-your-butt-moving smile in nursing school or if she had just always had it. But I shuffled off to the shower like a dutiful patient.

I stepped onto the tile floor, the ceramic smooth against my feet. Steam already coated the mirror and made the little bathroom delightfully warm. Just as I was about to close the door and slither out of my grungy gear, Grace called out, "Oh yeah, I just realized you probably don't know. They said you were pretty out of it when you landed. You two won the race."

My jaw hit the floor. "What?"