Evan
Evan
H e hadn’t let go of Carrie’s hand the entire ride to the hospital, even when the paramedics asked him to release her hand, he refused. “You know, I’m not going anywhere,” she assured.
“I don’t want to take any chances. Watching you walk away earlier today was enough for me. I don’t want to let go of you,” he breathed.
“I’m so sorry that I blew up like that, Evan,” she insisted. The ambulance pulled up to the ER and they quickly unloaded Evan and wheeled him into triage with Carrie by his side the whole time. She kept up her side of the bargain and didn’t leave his side while the nurses assessed him.
“We’re going to admit you, Mr. Kingston,” a nurse said. “We’re going to call in a plastic surgeon to look at your skull and we’ll need to have some X-rays done and probably an MRI.”
“Can I stay with him?” Carrie asked.
“You can, just not for the tests,” the nurse said. “We’ll take you up now,” she offered. It was one of the quickest trips in and out of the ER that Evan could remember, but he had a feeling that had to do with the fact that he arrived in an ambulance.
The nurse told Carrie to wait in a room on the third floor and took him down to have some x-rays done. Every time he moved his head, it felt like he was getting hit by a baseball bat all over again. By the time they wheeled him into his room, all he wanted to do was sleep, but the nurse told him that it wasn’t allowed and charged Carrie with making sure that he stayed awake.
“No problem,” Carrie said, seeming to take some joy in making him stay awake until a technician could read the x-ray. “This will give us time to talk,” she said. Carrie sat on the side of his bed, and he was sure that she was going to start crying all over again.
“All this stress can’t be good for the baby. Maybe we should have you both checked out while we’re here,” he said.
“How about we worry about you first, and then, we’ll figure out me. You could have been killed,” she breathed.
“But I wasn’t,” he assured. “Besides, he wanted you and I was just a means to an end.”
“He only came after you because he wanted me,” she said, “I hate that I put you in danger.”
“I’m just happy that you weren’t there. If you hadn’t walked away from me, you would have gone back to my place, and he would have taken you from me.” She pulled his hand into her own and he loved that she seemed to need the contact as much as he did.
“I was an idiot for telling you that I needed time. I don’t need any time, Evan. I was angry at Alex, and I took it out on you. I guess my hormones got the best of me, and I was trying to look good in front of my father. I’m so sorry that I did that to you.”
“Honey, if you still need time, you can take it,” he offered. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“I don’t need time to know that I love you, Evan. I know that it all seems so sudden, and maybe that’s what scared me so much, but I know that I’m not using you. I can take care of myself and my baby,” she assured.
“I know that you can, honey,” he agreed. “I just want to take care of you both. How about we figure out a middle ground?” he asked.
The doctor walked into the room before he could come up with what the middle ground might be. “Mr. Kingston,” he said.
“Yes,” Evan said, not bothering to sit up because he knew how much it would hurt his head.
“I’ve reviewed your x-rays and I’m afraid that you have a concussion. The good news is that you don’t seem to have any internal bleeding or broken bone in your skull.”
“That is good news,” Carrie agreed.
“Can I go home?” Evan asked.
“No,” the doctor said, “you will need to stay here with us for a day or two so that we can monitor you.”
“Can I stay with him?” she asked.
“No, I want you to go home and get some rest. You and the baby both need it,” Evan insisted.
“I don’t want to leave you,” she said. “Can’t I stay here and sleep in that chair?” She nodded over to the most uncomfortable-looking chair he’d ever seen.
“I think I can do better than that chair,” the doctor said. “We’re a bit short-staffed and Mr. Kingston will need to be woken every hour to make sure that he’s okay.”
“I can do that,” she offered. “I’m good at waking people up.” Evan chuckled and moaned at the pain that shot through his head.
“We’ll get you something for the pain,” the doctor offered. “In the meantime, I’m going to have maintenance bring up a bed for you, Miss.”
“Miss McTavish,” she said, “and I really appreciate that. It’s settled then. I’ll call Alex and Rod to let them know that they will be keeping you tonight and to make sure that my dad is okay with staying at Alex’s place for a few nights.”
“And after we get out of here, he can move in with us,” Evan said. The doctor promised to be right back and left the room, leaving the two of them alone again.
“You want me to move back in with you?” she asked.
“I do,” he admitted. “I’d also like for your father to stay with us for as long as you both would like. I’m sure he’ll want to meet his new grandchild when he or she gets here.”
“You would do that for us?” she asked.
“Of course,” he agreed, “but, there’s more.”
“More?” she squeaked.
“I’d like for you to marry me, Carrie,” he said. “I know that I don’t have a ring or anything like that, and I promise to ask you properly when I get out of here.”
“I like the way you just asked me, Evan,” she whispered. “And I’d love to marry you—but are you sure? I mean, I’m pregnant with another man’s baby.”
“None of that matters to me,” he promised. “I told your father and I’ll tell you the same. When I saw the baby on the sonogram, I couldn’t imagine my life without either of you. I know that sounds crazy, but it’s how I feel even still. I want you both, Carrie. I know that you’re a package deal. The real question is, will you have me?” Evan felt as though he was holding his breath waiting for her to give her answer. And when she finally nodded, he let himself exhale. “Really?” he asked.
“I’ll gladly have you, Evan. I love you and I know that this baby will love you too. You’re the best man I’ve ever known. I’m so lucky that I found you.”
“I’m the lucky one,” Evan insisted, pulling her down into his side. Carrie snuggled into his body, and she felt right being there. She was giving him the family that he’d always wanted. He had finally found the woman of his dreams, all wrapped up in his bossy assistant, and that made him the luckiest man in the world.
The End