Speak Easy to Me

Chapter 17

The lights were so bright it made it difficult to open my eyes. As I squinted, allowing my eyes to get adjusted to the light, I saw a figure sitting to my left. My eyes finally focused enough to let me take in Emmett, sitting in chair, head tipped back as soft snoring matched his breathes. The sight made a smile instantly cross my face.

I took a minute to look around the stark white room. No decorations hung on any of the walls. The people milling about the hallway were all dressed in white coats and dresses, carrying around clipboards. I was in a hospital.

I took in a breath causing me to hiss in pain arousing Emmett from his peaceful sleep. My throat was on fire and my ribs were sore. I put my hands on the bed and tried to push myself up to a sitting position which in turn had my side feeling like I was getting stabbed again. Emmett joined me on the bed, perching himself on the side edge.

“Don’t move, Lottie. You’re safe.” Without leaving my side he shouted, “Doctor! We need a doctor in here!” A woman in a white hate and white dress poked her head in. She gasped, saying “Right away!”

Emmett’s large, calloused hands were cupping my face. He was looking at me so intensely, it was as if he never thought he’d see me again. The look of relief on his face comforting.

“What? How’d I get here?” The last thing I remembered was standing up in the barn. Everything had gone black. I had no memory of anything from that point in time, to now.

“We carried you after you passed out. Oh God Lottie. I thought you died!” His rough thumb was stroking the side of my cheek as he recounted the saga of getting me to the hospital. “You lost so much blood.”

A tear escaped his eye, running slowly down his cheek. He made no effort to stop its running. I lifted my hand to wipe it away the dampness on his cheek. He put his free hand over my hand, turning his head ever so slightly to place a gentle kiss on my palm. Emmett then placed my hand on his cheek holding it there with his hand.

He closed his eyes as he drank in our respective hands on each other’s cheeks. “I never thought I’d feel you again. I still can’t believe you’re here.” He took his hand off my cheek, taking both of my hands in his as he brought them up to his lips, gently placing kisses on my knuckles. He was kissing the hands of a killer.

I had killed two men in the span of a day. The elation of being alive was replaced by feelings of dread and sorrow. “I killed two men, Emmett.” A hoarse whisper escaped my mouth. I felt my throat starting to close up a bit, causing it to burn like the tears in my eyes were doing.

“Don’t you dare cry for those men Lottie.” Emmett cupped my cheeks with his hands. The warmth of his touch made my tears flow more. It was as if the flood gates opened and every emotion I had felt was being released through the salty tears streaming down my face.

Emmett held my face so gently as he looked directly into my eyes. He wanted to make sure I took in what he was saying. “They were both going to do atrocious, unimaginable things to you. They do not deserve one more ounce of your compassion. You did absolutely nothing wrong. Everything you did was right.” He kissed my forehead. “I am so proud of you. I am amazed by everything that you are.” Another forehead kiss. “You got out of a situation I do not think I would have been able to get out of. Those men all made their own decisions and had to deal with the harsh consequences.”

There was a group of people who rushed into the room in a flurry at that moment. Emmett’s hands left my face as he was pushed off the bed by the medical professionals now tending to me. He pushed a doctor back and the older man scolded him, “You stay out of our way, or you will be escorted out of this room.” There was a stare down between the weathered doctor and the man who had been comforting me. “You were needed earlier, that is no longer the case.” Emmett took heed and sat back down in the chair he had been sleeping in.

After a few minutes of poking and prodding most of the doctors and nurses left the room. Now it was just the older doctor, two nurses, Emmett, and myself in the room.

“You are one lucky young woman, Mrs. Emmett.” I whipped my head to the doctor about to protest the use of the incorrect name. Seeing the confusion on my face, Emmett shook his head no, moving his arms in a way to indicate not to bring it up.

“If it wasn’t for your husband rushing you here in time, you wouldn’t be here with us right now. It truly is a miracle you survived at all.” I had all my focus now on Emmett, who was sheepishly standing in the corner of the room, staring back at me. He told them he was my husband. I wondered how much of the story he had fabricated on how my injuries had come to be.

The doctor looked down at his clipboard as one of the nurses fussed about taking my blood pressure. The doctor commenced his findings. “The blood transfusion seems to be successful so far, but it can take months to be completely sure. We would like for you to stay two more days, just for observation.”

He flipped a page on the clipboard before continuing, “You also have three broken ribs, a concussion, and a crushed windpipe.” He took a beat before the final injury, “And a stab wound to your side. You need to take these next few days to rest.” The doctor looked over to Emmett before he made his next statement. I didn’t like the accusatory look thrown at Emmett. “Please be careful in the future Mrs. Emmett, next time you might not be so lucky.” He made a quick exit from the room, followed by the nurses.

Emmett was back at my side holding my hands in his. “I needed a blood transfusion?” My voice still raspy. I had been so stunned I hadn’t been able to ask the doctor any questions.

Emmett nodded, “As it turns out you and I are a perfect match in more than one way.” A cocky smile engulfed his serious face.

“You?” His blood now ran through my veins. We were one in the most basic sense of being.

“I would have given my heart if it meant that you lived. Ripped my chest open myself if that’s what it took.” The sincereness of his declaration took me off guard. “Rest.” He kissed the hair on the top of my head. “I’ll be here when you wake up.” Emmett took his seat in the chair again. Sleep sounded like the best idea. I was positively exhausted.

According to the clock on the wall it was 7 am when I woke back up. The sky was starting to come to life with the red and golden sunrise brimming up from the horizon. Emmett was still fast asleep in his chair, head bowed down, soft rumblings of snores intermittently coming from him.

I gingerly slid out of my hospital bed and padded into the bathroom. I relieved myself before washing my hands. I had just turned the water on in the sink when the bathroom door flew open. Emmett was staring at me with his dark eyes wild with worry.

“Lottie. You scared me. I woke up and you weren’t in bed.” I chuckled a little bit making me wince from the sharp pain the radiated from my ribs. This big, commanding man in front of me who looks like nothing in the world could scare him, was scared because I wasn’t next to him.

“I had to pee.” My voice seemed to be coming back a bit more, losing some of the raspyness. “I didn’t know I needed to check in for that.” I gave him a playful little smile as I passed him, making my way back to my bed.

“I just want to know you’re alright. After everything that’s happened, that you’ve been through, I want to make sure you’re safe.” The heat from his hands permeated my nightgown as he placed his hands on my shoulders.

“I am safe, because of you.” I pulled my knight in shining armor into an embrace. I didn’t know how else to thank him for saving my life. If he hadn’t shown up when he did I would have died in that barn with Nathaniel.

Emmett’s arms easily wrapped around my body. He took great care to not squeeze too hard. I took a deep breath, risking the pain, just to have his scent in my nose again. He smelled of laundry soap and cedar. We both reluctantly broke the embrace.

“You need to get back in bed.” In one motion he folded my bedding down allowing me to climb in. He helped me arrange my pillows before pulling the blankets over me. “I am going to go get you food and something to drink. I’ll be right back.” He bent down and placed a chaste kiss on my lips.

As I watched him walk out the door a flood of memories came back. I don’t know if it was the blood loss, concussion, or both, but it seemed that my memories of certain events had been hidden away. Now those memories been unlocked with his kiss. Images of Emmett and Brooke tangled up together on the floor of his office made my stomach churn. The scene in Uncle Lon’s office of Maggie laid out on the desk as Cameron thrust into her came into focus.

I jumped off the bed to run into the bathroom, my stomach releasing what little contents had been in there into the toilet. Emmett found me on my knees as I clutched the side of the cool porcelain.

“Lottie! Are you okay? Do I need to get the doctor back in here?” Concern laced his words and his face. I didn’t even know if I could look at him so I kept looking into the bowl of the toilet.

“I need some time. Alone.” The bile from my stomach had my throat in pain once again. “I need time to process everything.” I didn’t want to start an argument. I had a feeling that if I brought up the whole Brooke situation he would stubbornly refuse to leave until I forgave him. It would be easier if he was out of the hospital before I revealed my feelings.

I couldn’t see him, but I could hear the hurt in his voice, “You can’t do that with me here?” He placed a comforting hand on my back. The hand that had been on Brooke. I dry heaved again. There was nothing left in my stomach to expel.

I looked up at him. His eyes searching mine for an answer to my sudden change in mood and attitude. “Please, Emmett.” When I looked at him I couldn’t see anything but his unbuttoned pants as he stood up from between Brooke’s legs.

His nod was so subtle I had almost missed it. “If that’s what you need right now, that’s what I’ll give you.” He stood up and reluctantly moved to the doorway of the bathroom, looking back at me one last time. I kept my head down so I wouldn’t be tempted to relent and let him stay. I needed to decide on my own what I wanted and that would almost be impossible with him doting over me.

I crumpled to the floor as soon as I heard the click of the door closing. I wished I had hit my head harder to permanently block out the heart breaking images that danced through my head mockingly. The more I tried to think of other things the more the images became clearer. Dying wasn’t the worst thing that could have happened to me. Being stuck in this endless purgatory in my mind was.

I had to force myself to eat and drink the next two days. The doctors wanted me to rest and to all their delight, that is exactly what I did. I slept for two days straight. I was awake long enough to eat, drink and use the restroom, otherwise I was sleeping. I don’t know if the doctors would have been so happy had they known I was sleeping to escape my reality.

Emmett hadn’t come back to my room for those two days. He respected my wishes, but he also refused to leave the hospital. The nurse informed me he had camped out in the lobby of the hospital threatening anyone who dared to try to make him leave.

“He is still down there Mrs. Emmett.” The young blonde nurse, Joan, informed me. “He has new clothes on though. Not sure when he changed or who brought them to him.” I politely smiled at her.

“Thank you, Joan.” I wanted to lighten the mood. “You can tell him to stop sulking and let him come up.” She returned my now impish smile. Seeing a man of Emmett’s stature sulking around like a toddler had put everyone on edge. It did not matter that even though he had been virtually invisible, hardly moving from the chair and table he had claimed in the lobby, he still had a menacing presence about him.

The previous day I had sneaked out of my room to risk a glance at the magnificent mountain of a man occupying the lobby. Emmett had been sitting in a lone chair at a small table tucked away in a corner. There were no books or signs of food or drink in his vicinity. The look on his face was very serious. His eyes wandered in my direction causing me to duck behind the door I was peaking around.

I was as ready as I could be for him as he hesitantly entered my room. He lightly rapped on the door. “Hello, Carrots. May I enter?” I inclined my head in answer.

I was sitting up in bed with the blankets covering my legs. Emmett pulled the chair he had previously sat in as close to me as he could. “How are you feeling?” His eyes lingered on my throat, the once dark purple imprint of Nathaniel’s hands had begun to fade into a yellow outline.

I put my hand under his chin to bring his gaze to mine. “I am feeling better. Just sore now.” My physical injuries were on their way to mending, but the ones I held in my head were still very raw and festering. My eyes must have given me away.

“You’re lying.” Emmett could read me like a book. It was his job to know when someone was telling the truth.

“I cannot stop thinking about what I walked in to with you and Brooke in your office.” He went to make an argument.

“I,” he began. I threw my hand up to cut him off before he could continue.

“I can’t handle this right now. All I have been picturing is you and her together and it is killing me inside. I cannot unsee her legs wrapped around you. And I really cannot hear your excuses right now. Nothing you say to me right now can take away these feelings.”

Tears started rolling down my face. “I know you saved me. I owe my life to you, but I can’t get past this. Every time I look at you, I am reminded of how you have made me feel.”

Emmett grabbed my hands in his and started frantically kissing the back of my hands. “Tell me what I have to do to fix this. I will do anything you ask of me.” The quiet pleading in his eyes made my next words near impossible to say.

“This.” I gestured between the two of us, “We can’t be fixed. The damage is too far gone.” Emmett’s thumbs were wiping away my tears as his own were falling from his sorrowful eyes.

“I am so sorry for all of this Lottie.” I nodded my head in understanding, not able to form any words. “Would it be alright if I drove you to your uncle’s house?” There was desperation in his voice that I never wanted to hear again. “Please allow me that much.”

“Okay.” I said, much to Emmett’s relief. I would let him win this last battle of the war he was losing.

The doctor came in shortly after with my discharge instructions. I still had no idea what the story was that Emmett had given the hospital staff when I arrived. I got the courage up to ask once we were in the car headed to Uncle Lon’s house.

“I was wondering, what did you tell everyone about what happened to me?” He was somber as he kept his eyes straight ahead.

“I told them that you had been mugged. That you had left to run an errand and never returned home so I went looking for you. I found you like that in the alleyway downtown.” The car was silent as I absorbed the information. “They wouldn’t let anyone in the room that wasn’t family. I lied and said we were married so I could be with you.” His fingers tightened around the steering wheel with the last sentence.

“And my Uncle Lon?” I could only imagine what story they had told him. He never came to the hospital at all, not that I was surprised.

“Cameron took care of him. I am not sure what he told him, but he never once stopped by or called the hospital.” The distain dripped from Emmett’s words regarding my uncle. I doubted Uncle Lon had even informed my family of my being in the hospital.

“What about Nathaniel? Does Uncle Lon know about him?” I am not sure what set Emmett off, but my line of questioning had him yelling.

“I don’t know Lottie. I have no clue what everyone else was doing or what they know. I have spent the last three days inside that fucking musty hospital, not leaving once. I just sat there, waiting for you.” His face was getting red with anger. “You made it clear that you want nothing more to do with me. All I wanted was to spend my last few minutes with you, take you in as much as I can, and all you can talk about is subject matter that I don’t want to hear.”

I turned my face to the passenger side window so Emmett couldn’t see the tears freely flowing down my face. The car came to a sudden halt, throwing me forward slightly. Emmett threw the car into park as he turned to me. I refused to look at him.

“Lottie I’m sorry. I am so frustrated with all that is going on and you are the last person I should be taking it out on. I have fucked up at every turn when it comes to you. That’s my fault, that’s on me. I wish I could blame you for not wanting to be around me, but honestly, I don’t want to be around me either at the moment.”

I turned to look at him. He was pouring his heart out to me, the least I could do was give him my attention. He did save my life after all. His face was also wet from tears. “You have made me a better person, Lottie. You have given me a new lease on life I had no clue existed before. All I want is for you to be happy, even if that happiness isn’t with me.” Emmett’s hand softly caressed the back of my head, his thumb softly rubbing the space in front of my ear.

“I love you, Lottie. I have since the moment I met you. It took me almost losing you to come to that realization.” Emmett leaned in and gently placed a kiss on my lips. “I don’t say anything.” His words barely above a whisper. I took his hand and sat back in my seat. We continued the drive to my uncle’s house holding hands in the silence.

Emmett drove the car up the driveway. “Thank you, for saving me.” I said as I opened my door. Emmett kept his eyes fixed forward.

“You saved yourself, Carrots.” His forward-facing gaze unwavering.

“I love you too, Emmett. I always will.” My car door shutting was followed by the tires as they screeched out of the driveway.

The last week had drained every bit of energy I possessed out of me. I trudged into the house not knowing what to expect. Every inch of this house had soured in my mind. Every last inch covered in memories I wished to forget. I no sooner walked through the door before Uncle Lon was shouting my name from the study.

The last time I was in the study I had caught Cameron and Maggie on the desk and then threw my ring into the roaring fire of the fireplace. As I entered the room, I noticed Cameron was sitting in one of the green sitting chairs. Uncle Lon was sitting behind his desk. I wondered if he knew what activities had taken place there. It made me smile thinking he had no idea someone’s bare ass had been all over his papers.

“Listen here,” Uncle Lon started his long-winded speech. I was not in the mood to hear anything that was going to leave his big dumb mouth.

“No, you listen here” I pointed my finger at his as I continued. “I have been to hell and back and I refuse to take any more shit from you.” Uncle Lon was up and out of his seat as my words kept spilling with venom from my tongue. “You think you own everyone and everything and you don’t even know what’s going on under your own roof, under your own nose.”

I was now standing toe to toe with my red-faced uncle, his fists balled up at his side. “You will watch your tone with me, girl, or” All he had was empty threats. I had already been through the worst-case scenario.

“Or what? You’ll kill me? Good. Go for it you pompous prick. See how well that works out for you. Ask Nathaniel how well that worked out for him.” I could see Cameron’s eyes get big as saucers as he leaped from his chair.

“If you know where Nathaniel is and you don’t tell me,” Uncle Lon was so close his spit was hitting my face as he bellowed.

“He’s in hell, where he belongs.” Uncle Lon took a swing at me. He was so large and cumbersome I was able to see it coming from a mile away. I ducked down causing his swing to propel himself forward, almost falling on his face. My quick movements may have saved me from his punch, but my sore body rang out in pain.

Cameron ran to my side reading the pain on my face. “Are you alright?” I just nodded as I took in a deep breath trying to let the pain pass. Cameron turned his attention to my uncle. “If you ever raise a hand to her again I will make sure your body is never found.” I thought it was ironic that the man who had left bruises on me a month ago was now threatening to kill another man for potentially hitting me.

Uncle Lon was stumbling for words to hurl back at Cameron when I spoke again. “I am going back to my family’s farm in Wisconsin in a car provided by you. Once I leave this house you will never contact me or my family ever again. If you attempt in any way to break the rules I have just set before you, I promise you, you will not like the results.”

I highly doubt anyone had ever talked back to my Uncle Lon like Cameron and I had just done. We left him red faced and still sputtering incomprehensible words. Cameron followed me out of the study and up the stairs to my bedroom.

I was going to pack enough to get me home. I started gathering my things as Cameron stood in the doorway watching. “You’re really leaving?” He asked me as he leaned in the doorway.

“Absolutely. This town is toxic. I just want my old life back.” I could tell he wanted to say something but didn’t know how to say it. “Don’t hold back now, say whatever it is that’s on your mind.”

He moved into the room and in three steps was sitting on my bed. “What about Holden?” He was quick to correct himself. “Er Emmett?”

I continued to gather my things as I replied, “What do you mean?” Trying to act as nonchalant about Emmett as I could while my heart was racing.

“I’m not stupid Charlotte. I know you have feelings for him.” He waited a moment for me to answer and when I didn’t, he continued, “And I know he loves you.” His words had me stopped in my tracks. My hand on the hanger was unmoving. “That man doesn’t care about anyone but himself and that is something my father had a hand in. That was, until you.”

I took my hand off the hanger as I listened to Cameron go on. “He was ready to burn the city down to find you, Charlotte. For a man like Emmett, that doesn’t happen. He never allows anyone close to him for business reasons.” I knew what he meant when he emphasized ‘business’. Emmett was an enforcer and didn’t want anyone else tangled up in his lifestyle. Loving someone meant that they would be in danger.

“If you are leaving because you want to, fine. But don’t run away from him Charlotte.” Cameron had gotten up from the bed and was standing at my back. His warm breath was brushing the back of my neck. “I was a fool for ever treating you with anything other than the utmost respect. You deserve better than me and that’s Emmett, as much as I never wanted to admit that, it’s the truth.”

“I can’t.” A sob escaped my throat. “I can’t.” The damn was broken once again and the tears flowed freely. Cameron gathered me in his arms as I cried.

“Shhh. It’s okay, Charlotte.” Cameron’s soothing voice echoed in my ears. He kept me wrapped in his arms as he led me to my bed, moving all the clothes and toiletries I had placed on the bed, on the ground. He curled up behind me and just held me as I cried myself to sleep.

I woke up hours later feeling more rested than I had in a long time. The weight of Cameron’s arms still wrapped around me. I snuggled deeper into his warmth. His snoring stopped for a moment as he pulled me in closer.

The smell of cedar flooded my nostrils. Cedar? My eyes shot open as I bolted upright. The twisting along with the pop-up sitting had my side aching. The man I was staring at wasn’t Cameron. The warm comforting arms I had woke up in belonged to Emmett.

“Carrots!” His arms snaked around my waist as he sat up alongside me.

“What the fuck are you doing in my bed?” I demanded. I placed my hand on my side trying to mitigate the pain shooting through it. Emmett placed his hand gently over mine on my side.

“If you want me to leave, I will.” The room was dark except for the light coming in from outside. I didn’t want him to leave. I didn’t want to say it out loud though. When I no longer protested his presence, his words came out soft and slow.

“I came back, after I dropped you off. I couldn’t leave the way we parted be. If you love me and I love you, what’s stopping us from being together? Our wires have been crossed for so long, that now we are on the same page, why shouldn’t we give us a chance? A real chance.” The moonlight shone through my bedroom window illuminating Emmett’s sharp features. Even in the shadows of the moonlight I could see how handsome he was.

The beam of moonlight danced in his eyes. “I marched in, ready to fight any argument you had. I saw Lon in the study and demanded to know where you were. He told me you went to your bedroom with Cameron and pointed at the stairs.” He let out a soft laugh. “I came running up. Hoping to stop whatever activities were happening.”

“It hurts to breathe let alone participate in any activities.” He let out a belly laugh this time. Wrapping his arms around me again, he carefully pulled me down onto my side. We were laying face to face, just a few inches apart. This felt more intimate than when we had sex.

“I came charging in your room prepared to beat Cameron when I had seen you two laying in the bed.” There was a quick flicker of jealousy in his eye that was gone just as quickly as it had appeared. “A floorboard squeaked when I took a step forward catching Cameron’s attention. He motioned for me to be quiet as he pulled away from you.” I felt Emmett’s arms tighten around me in an unconscious possessive move.

“He motioned for me to follow him into the hall and told me what you said to your uncle. Just when I think you can’t impress me or surprise me anymore Carrots, you do.” I could see the pride beaming off his face, even in the dark. I never had anyone proud of me before. I knew my parents were, but they never told me as much.

“You should have seen his face. I thought he was going to keel over from a stroke.” We both laughed. It felt good to laugh despite the aching it brought to my injuries.

“That’s my girl.” The laughter fading from his voice as he stared into my eyes. There was shift in the air ramping up the heat between the two of us. Emmett intertwined his legs with mine. “Is this, okay?” I gave my head a slight nod in response. He used his legs to pull me even closer to him.

“I never got to properly thank you, earlier.” Emmett pulled his head back slightly, our eyes met. “Thank you for saving my life. More than once.” I could see the corners of his mouth turn up.

“I would do anything for you, Carrots.” The truth in his words sent a shiver down my spine. He’s proven he would do anything for me.

“I know you would. You already have.” I leaned in slightly, fumbling around a little in the dark searching for his lips making Emmett chuckle. My mouth found his, quieting his laugh. Our tongues met in the middle. We had never kissed this slowly before. The other times we had kissed it had been frenzied and wanting. This time was slow and passionate.

Emmett pulled away leaving both of us breathless. He placed one final closed mouth kiss on my lips. “Let’s get some sleep, Carrots. Tomorrow is going to be a long day.” I snuggled in closer to Emmett as our breathing synched. I fell asleep to the sound of his breathing and the smell that was distinctly his.