Chapter 3
Harlow’s exhausted mind struggled to cut through the fog of painkillers and grogginess. She lay perfectly still. Noises. She was confused about where she was. And then she remembered.
After a battery of tests, the nurse who overheard her conversation with Robert offered her a sedative to which she’d gratefully accepted.
Every muscle, from the top of her head to the tips of her toes, ached. Not an “I bumped my big toe” pain but deep-down-in-her-muscles pain.
Maybe if she went back to sleep, she would wake up and find it had all been a bad dream. The car crash. Robert insisting he wasn’t equipped to care for her. Having a lucrative movie deal go right down the drain. All because she’d been careless and reached for her cell phone, had taken her eyes off the road for a split second.
There was a voice…a familiar voice. She was being enveloped in a warm hug.
Harlow’s eyes flew open. It took a few seconds for her to focus. It was Eryn. Eryn Marquette, the one person who had stuck by her through thick and thin since childhood.
Eryn, who wasn’t starstruck, who called it like she saw it, who didn’t sugarcoat her opinion and was always willing to tell the Harlow Wynn the truth. And she was here, just like she’d promised.
“Eryn.” Harlow’s voice cracked. A hot tear trickled out of the corner of her eye and down the side of her face. Another hot tear fell…one right after another, at the sight of her friend.
“You’re finally awake. I was beginning to think you were ignoring me.” Eryn released her grip. Soft brown eyes met Harlow’s, through the same black glasses her friend had worn for years. “Girl, you are one hot mess.”
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Harlow laughed out loud. She winced at the jolt of pain that shot through her.
“Oh my gosh. I’m sure you feel like crap. I’m sorry.” Eryn pressed on the center of her glasses, making her eyes appear even bigger behind the thick lenses.
“No worries. I’m getting used to it…like breathing.”
Eryn grimaced. “But it’s only temporary until you heal.”
“I believe so. The doctor seems to think I’ll need physical therapy.”
“What about Robert?”
“We have a lot going on. He’ll be busy. He’s going to help me find a live-in caregiver. ”
Eryn blew air through thinned lips, and Harlow was certain her friend was itching to go off on him. She couldn’t blame her. Robert was all but abandoning her. She briefly wondered if Jillian would fill her husband’s free time. Voluptuous young Jillian who wasn’t an invalid.
“That’s a bunch of baloney. Where is he right now?”
Harlow looked away. “I’m not sure.”
“Seriously, where is he?”
“Probably moving out.”
“Moving out?” Eryn gasped. “He’s abandoning you?”
“I’m joking. He…he’ll be home, although not directly involved in caring for me.” Harlow leaned back and closed her eyes. Her head throbbed. Her eyes hurt. Her jaw hurt. Eryn had nailed it. She was the epitome of a hot mess. “It’s probably better for him not to be around. He’s not the nurturing type. ”
“We’re going to get you the best care possible,” Eryn promised. “A therapist who will get you back on your feet so you can divorce that piece of garbage.”
“I know you’re upset. I’m not too happy about how he plans to handle my accident either, but I’m not divorcing my husband.” Harlow lifted her head. “You don’t understand Robert. He needs time to process what happened. He’ll come around.”
Eryn arched her eyebrow. “When? After you’re back on your feet and inking new billion dollar deals to keep him in Rolexes and designer duds?”
“You make him sound like a terrible person. He has his good qualities.”
“Such as?”
“He knows how to wheel and deal. Robert has excellent taste. We’ve made some sound financial investments thanks to him. ”
“That’s all fine and dandy. I want to hear about the important qualities, the qualities that actually matter.”
Harlow grew quiet. Her friend was right. Deep down, she knew her husband was shallow. As shallow as a mud puddle, but they also shared some great memories. Skiing the Swiss Alps. Cruising the French Riviera. Exploring the Giza pyramids. So many wonderful memories and trips, enjoying each other’s company. Partners in business and in life.
“My head hurts,” Harlow finally whispered, unable to bear the thought of a man she loved, and who she thought loved her, abandoning her when she needed him most.
“I’m sorry.” Eryn pressed a light hand to her friend’s bruised arm. “You know me. I barrel in like a bulldozer on rocket fuel. I’m going to run down and grab a latte. Will they let me bring you something? Maybe a grilled cheese and some chicken noodle soup? ”
Harlow offered her a shaky smile. “I’m not hungry, but I think I will take another nap.”
Eryn gave her a gentle hug and whispered in her ear, “I love you, my friend.”
Harlow’s lower lip trembled. “I love you too. Thank you for flying to California.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way. Get some rest. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
“Thanks, Eryn.” Her friend had barely made it to the door when Harlow closed her eyes again. Sleep. A blissful escape, where her body didn’t hurt…and her heart wasn’t breaking over her absent husband.
*****
Harlow had no idea how long she’d napped. When she opened her eyes, Eryn was by her bedside, cell phone in hand, and a serious expression on her face as she tapped the screen. “Are you writing a press release for me? ”
Eryn promptly set the phone in her lap. “I can if you want me to.”
“Thanks. I might take you up on it.”
“You had a nice nap.”
“How long was I out?”
Her friend glanced at her watch. “An hour and forty-seven minutes.”
“Is that all?” Harlow grinned. “I feel much more rested.”
“Actually, your color looks better.” Eryn explained the doctor had come by, along with the nurse. She glanced over her shoulder and lowered her voice. “You have your own nurse. I think her name is Melanie. I secretly nicknamed her Mellowly.”
“Why Mellowly?”
Eryn flattened her hand and ran it in a straight line. “Because she’s super mellow. She’s also concerned about you. ”
“She’s been very nice.”
A rustling near the door ensued. Melanie appeared. “Good afternoon. How was your nap?”
“Exactly what the doctor ordered.” Harlow stifled a yawn. “I’m feeling a little more human now, although every part of me still hurts except for my hair.”
“And it will for a while.” The nurse tapped the top of her iPad. “What is your pain level?”
“Tolerable, at least for right now. I don’t think I need to take anything too strong.”
“Maybe some Tylenol?” Melanie placed pills in a cup and handed it to Harlow, along with some water.
She promptly popped the pills and thanked her.
“Your friend has been by your side the entire time.”
“Except for grabbing a bite to eat,” Eryn added .
The trio chatted for several moments until the nurse finally left. Eryn’s phone chimed, and she snatched it off her lap.
Harlow craned her neck. “What are you doing?”
“Trying to figure out how many hoops we’ll have to jump through to get you on a plane and back home to Michigan.”
“I’m not…” She began shaking her head.
Eryn interrupted. “We can care for you there, much better than being left with strangers.”
“Robert isn’t a stranger.”
“Let’s be real. He isn’t a part of the plan. In fact, I would be shocked if he shows up here again.”
To be honest, the same thought had crossed Harlow’s mind. He’d made it perfectly clear hospitals and injured people weren’t his scene. Thank God Eryn was there to help her sort it out. But going home to Michigan? Nope. Wasn’t going to happen. “I can’t go back to Mackinac Island. ”
“Why?”
“You know why.”
“You are one stubborn woman,” Eryn sighed in exasperation. “Think about how much more peaceful it would be to heal in familiar surroundings, surrounded by those who care about you, who will protect your privacy while you focus on getting better.”
She had a point. California was a fishbowl, filled with backstabbing people pretending to be friends. When word got out about her release, the paparazzi would arrive in droves, pulling out all the stops to get photos of her. Boy, would they have a field day.
Harlow could almost see the headlines, almost feel the glee of faux friends and colleagues. And when they found out Robert wasn’t the doting husband staying close by Harlow’s side and caring for his injured wife? It would make matters even worse. Poor Harlow…all washed up. Will she ever find another acting gig?
The thought of the rumor mill working overtime made her want to throw up. That and the attacks, the outright lies and fabricated, exaggerated stories.
“I won’t take no for an answer.” Eryn glanced over her shoulder. “I’m not leaving until I talk to the doctor and figure out our next step, how to get you out of here and away from crazy town.”
“You exhaust me,” Harlow groaned.
“But in a good way. I can see you’re coming around to my way of thinking.” Her friend pointedly changed the subject, bringing up stories from their teenage years, when the besties worked at Wynn Harbor Inn, the family’s resort and the Grand Hotel.
Despite not having seen each other for ages, they picked up right where they left off, joking and laughing, lifting Harlow’s spirits.
Finally, the doctor appeared. Harlow promptly gave her consent, allowing Doctor Ashton to discuss her condition and prognosis in front of Eryn.
“I’m confident with rest, some limited physical therapy and your commitment to it, you’ll see encouraging results fairly quickly.” The doctor recommended a therapist, topnotch in his field and one of the best on the West Coast. “I’m sure after meeting with him, you’ll work together to come up with a plan to get you back on your feet.”
“Harlow needs a doctor in Michigan,” Eryn said.
“Michigan?” Ashton’s brows furrowed. “You’ll be convalescing out of state?”
“No.”
“Yes,” Eryn said in unison. “At least if I have my say. Harlow can heal at home, where reporters and the public will have limited access to her.”
“I have to say the press has been quite persistent. ”
Harlow pressed her hand to her chest. “They’re already here?” She should have known.
“Camping out since not long after you were admitted, I’m afraid,” Dr. Ashton said.
“See? You won’t get any rest at all.” Eryn motioned to the doctor. “How long do we have to wait before Harlow can fly?”
The trio discussed the timeline. Basically, she would need a couple of days to confirm there were no internal injuries that hadn’t yet surfaced.
“I have colleagues at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, one of the premier facilities in the country, who can help coordinate based on what part of the state you’ll be recovering in.” He patted his pocket. “I’ll get a list to you before the day is out.”
Harlow thanked the doctor and waited for him to leave. “I don’t want to go back to Michigan.”
“Why not? ”
“Because…you know. I haven’t spoken to my father in years. For all he knows, I could be dead.”
Tink. Harlow snatched her phone off the bedside table. “Robert texted. He should be here in a few minutes.”
“Good. It’s about time.” Eryn placed her hand on her hip, a determined gleam in her eye. “Your father loves you. He misses you. I’m sure he would be thrilled to have you come home and help care for you. In fact, I’m certain of it.”
“Dad would not be thrilled,” Harlow insisted.
“We’ll see about that.” Eryn pulled her phone from her pocket and tapped the top.
Tink. The phone beeped, notifying her she was getting a text. “Why don’t you ask him yourself?”
“Please don’t call him,” Harlow begged.
“It’s too late. ”
Harlow started to say something and abruptly stopped. A man with gray hair and thick, bushy eyebrows appeared in the doorway. “Dad.”