43. Lacy
43
LACY
I hear voices, but I feel like I’m far away, in a tunnel.
“She will be fine. Needs rest. But she has had fluids and an iron transfusion. She will make a full recovery,” I hear Hudson say quietly.
“So what, Melody tried to bleed her dry?” my mom asks, and I hear the pain in her tone.
“Apparently,” Hudson grits out before I moan, trying to talk.
“Lacy?” Hudson asks, his voice panicked. “Lacy baby, do you hear me?” A grip on my hand tightens.
“Hmmmm, where am I?” I croak out, squeezing my eyes shut, my body feeling heavy, no energy to even move.
“You’re in the hospital, sweetheart,” my mom’s voice comes through again, and I feel her squeeze my other hand.
“Mom?” I ask, wanting to know how she is.
“I’m fine, honey. A bit tender and sore, but fine. My surgery went well and was over quickly. ”
I try to pull at my memories—her surgery, hospital, what happened before that. Melody .
“What happened?” I ask as I slowly open my eyes. I see Hudson’s face looking down at me from right above. He is blocking the bright lights, his eyes full of concern. I’ve seen this before. Months ago, after Marie’s Place. We have been in this exact same position, and I try to take a deep breath. His hand cups my face.
“It has been one hell of a day, baby.” He sounds a little choked up, his eyes watering a little.
“I’m okay. We’re okay,” I whisper to him, then another realization hits me with a powerful force as I remember why Melody was so upset. As I remember that Hudson now knows the truth. “The professor?” I ask him quietly, and he nods.
“We got him. I’m sorry I broke my word to you. I’m sorry that I got other people involved in what is your private history, But Lacy, I needed to keep my initial promise to you. I’ve got you, baby. I’ve always got you,” he says, and I tear up and nod shakily, not confident in my voice right now.
“The professor is being questioned by police,” he tells me, and I hear my mom huff.
“I’d like to question him with this walking stick I’ve got here,” she grumbles, and I look at Hudson with widening eyes and a sinking stomach.
“She knows. All our friends and family know now. Victoria, Tanner, and Connor are right outside with Harvey—none of them want to leave here without seeing you today.”
Taking that in, I don’t feel as badly about everyone knowing as I thought I would. It’s more comforting than anything, having support, not having to keep this secret any longer. I swallow and try to sit up a bit. As I do, I see my mom in a wheelchair next to my bed.
“Mom, shouldn’t you be resting?” I ask her. I don’t want her putting her own health at risk for me.
“Tsk. I’m fine. Feel a bit like a pin cushion, but otherwise okay. They found a small bleed. They fixed it and I’m all fine now.”
I look at Hudson, who nods in confirmation.
“Here, take a drink.” Holding a cup of water to my lips, I take a drink, not realizing how parched I was.
“He has admitted to some things. Sawyer and his team are building a case, and they would like a statement from you, if you want to be involved. However, he pretty much admitted to everything on my front doorstep, which was captured all on my security cameras,” Hudson says, and my eyebrows rise.
“He will not be a part of our lives, and neither will his wife or Melody. Melody is looking at losing her freedom too after this.” Hudson says Melody’s name with a bit of a bite and looks at my arm.
“What happened? I remember giving more blood, but I don’t remember anything else,” I say and I see Hudson’s jaw click.
“Melody received a call from her mother just as she was going into surgery. She found out about her father. She thought you were making it all up. That’s what her mom told her on the phone. They weren’t happy that we were dating. They hated you from the moment they knew about you. I think she acted hastily, being so upset. A spur-of-the-moment decision made her hook you up for another donation that wasn’t needed. Your already low iron levels and the few donations you have already given made you weaker than usual. Melody hooked you up to the IV and left you there.” He looks like the words he says taste bitter on his tongue.
“Oh my God,” I say as my stomach clenches. How could someone do something like that? I could have died.
“Jolene found you. Apparently, she wanted to come and see you and check on you. She was also hanging around outside, wanting to apologize, but I sent her home. Told her that once you are better, you can decide if you want to talk with her or not. But she was a help. She’s the one who sounded the alarm so we all came running,” he explains, and my brow furrows. Who would have thought Jolene would ever be my savior, yet here we are.
“If I had just gotten my head out of my ass quicker and come sooner, I could have…” he starts to say, frustrated with himself. Head shaking, his eyes search my face. “I don’t know what I would have done if you weren’t okay.”
“You came. You’re here now. And I’m okay. More than okay with you by my side,” I tell him softly. Even though my strength is almost nonexistent, I grab his hand and squeeze it in mine.
“I’m here, Lacy baby, and I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me if you’ll still have me?” he says, tone full of regret as he locks eyes with me, and I frown.
“I’m yours,” I tell him without an ounce of hesitation, tears pricking my eyes. I can’t believe he could think I wouldn’t want to be his. “I love you. ”
“And I’m yours,” he confirms, placing his lips to my forehead in a tender kiss. “I love you too, baby. So much.”
With those sweet words as my lullaby, I close my eyes and fall back asleep, knowing the two people I love the most are both here with me. And for the first time in a long time, I trust that everything will be okay.