Chapter 7
ALEK
Present Day
What was I thinking?
Hope looks so small and helpless on the stretcher. Nothing like the fiery, talented woman I've watched owning the crowd at the Market all these months. Nothing like the beautiful, confident woman I've been so reluctant to approach.
"Her name is Hope Kristiansen. She's my wife. She’s on my insurance."
The words just flew out of my mouth. No filter. No second thoughts. In the moment, it felt like the only solution to get her the help she needed, fast.
The EMTs didn't question it, they were too busy trying to stabilize her. I even sat beside her in the ambulance holding her hand as we zipped toward the hospital.
Once we arrived and hit a stonewall of "family only" on the way to the examination room, I doubled down on the husband bit. They let me through, and I've remained beside her for hours with my fingers threaded between hers as she rests.
My heart races like crazy, though. I've made a promise to Hope that everything will be okay. Any minute I'll need to sign off on her paperwork, the thought causing the gravity of what I've done to sink in.
We're not married. She's not on my insurance. How in the hell will I pull this off?
I've got to figure it out. Luckily, her care team arrives, giving me the chance to step out and phone a friend.
"Dude, I need you to do me a solid," I blurt out when Jamie answers my call.
After I recount the afternoon's events, he gives me good advice. "Call HR. Hungry Llama might cover her, but you need to get on top of it before she racks up hundreds of thousands of dollars in charges."
Shit. I didn't think about the ramifications of my impulsiveness. Now it makes sense why she wanted me to send the ambulance away. I can't imagine not having health insurance.
No wonder she was so freaked out.
An hour later, I’m fighting the urge to nod off when Hope wakes up, confused and vulnerable.
"You're here?" she rasps when she sees me sitting beside her. "I don’t even know you. Why would you say you're my husband?"
Man, how do I even start? The truth, I guess. There's no turning back now.
"I'm Alek. I've watched you perform at the Market at lunchtime for the past few months and always wanted to...I don't know, connect with you somehow? I'm crap at social stuff. Today, when you mentioned you'd be playing another set, I came back and gave you a tip under the guise of asking you for coffee. You were in a hurry, though, so I aborted the mission. On my way back to work, I saw some sketchy guy follow you and I couldn't just do nothing. I felt compelled to protect you."
Her eyes widen. Almost like she doesn't believe me. Or maybe she's not used to people going out of their way for her. Either way, she's clearly trying to figure out if I'm for real. "You didn't have to do what you did. This could come back and bite us in the ass."
"I know. Honestly, though? I'd do it all over again if it helps you.”
Somehow, my words flow effortlessly today. "I called work, and there's a way…but it’s out there. Probably too weird…"
Hope cracks a small smile, and it's like a ray of sunshine breaking through clouds. She reaches for my hand, her grip surprisingly strong. "Thank you for everything. Tell me how we'll get through this."
I fill her in on the plan and, shockingly, she seems to be on board.
How did my lie turn into the most real thing I've ever felt?
This will be one heck of a story for our grandkids if we ever get there...
Whoa.