Chapter Fourteen #2
She felt hopeful that they would bring her a giant cheeseburger, but knew better.
She would be lucky if they brought her some broth and ice chips.
Torren stood and made his way out to the hallway.
Tana watched as he quietly talked to a pretty nurse.
On his way back into the room, he smiled and winked at Tana.
“They are going to get you a little something to eat,” he promised. Tana looked around the hospital room and noticed the balloons and flowers that lined some of the cabinets along the wall. “Who are all of those from?” she questioned.
“Well, some are from the girls’ dance class mothers, and others are from the library.
Those—” He pointed at a large bouquet with two pink balloons attached.
“Are from me and the girls. Everyone’s been by to see you, worried about you, except the twins.
Your mom and I thought it best that they not see you hooked up to so many machines.
They’ve already been through enough.” Torren whispered his last words.
Tana’s brain was groggy; she was still trying to find her way out of the fog.
“How long was I out?” she questioned. Torren cleared his throat
“Almost ten days.” Tana gasped. “Ten days?” She coughed, trying to shout, and Torren gave her a cup of water.
“We almost lost you, Tana. The doctor had to remove your spleen, and you lost so much blood.” Torren sat on the side of her bed but didn’t touch her.
It was almost like he was scared that he’d break her.
She leaned into his body. “You can touch me, Tor. I won’t crack—I’m not made of glass.” He hesitated and then wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer.
“I don’t know what I would have done if you didn’t make it, honey.
The girls have missed you so much.” Torren’s voice cracked and tugged at her heart.
She thought back to that day when she walked away from Torren, telling him that it was over.
At the time, she felt that it was the only way to keep him safe.
“I’m sorry, Tor—for everything. I didn’t mean what I said that day.
I just wanted you to be safe, and I knew that you wouldn’t let them operate if you knew that I was going after Beth.
I was so afraid that I was going to lose you both.
I knew that if you were safe and alive, I’d be able to face anything.
” Torren growled, “You shouldn’t have gone through that alone, Tana.
We are a team—or we were, and you just walked away from that, from everything that we built together.
” He shook his head, and she wanted to take it all back, every word she said that day, every stupid mistake—she wanted to take them all back and start over.
“So, that’s it? I messed up and made the biggest mistake of my life, and we aren’t a team anymore?” Tana couldn’t help her sob—the thought of them both fighting to get back to each other, only to have Torren leave, gutted her.
“You are the most stubborn woman that I’ve ever met.
We aren’t even fucking close to being done.
I’m in love with you, and if you say that you feel the same way about me, then we need to set a few ground rules.
” Tana blinked up at Torren, not sure that she was following.
Her brain still seemed a little slow. Did she hear him correctly?
He was still in love with her even after she chose to walk away from him.
“Wait, what?” she stuttered, needing to make sure that she wasn’t still asleep and dreaming all of this. “You’re in love with me? But how? I walked away from you, Tor. I chose my daughter over you, and you still want me?”
Torren wiped a tear from her cheek and gently kissed her lips.
“Baby, I’m in love with you because you chose your daughter over me.
That’s what a mother should do, and it’s what my mother would have done.
As for leaving me, Tag pointed out that you did that for my own good.
He came here that day, just after he found you, and the ambulance brought you in.
My brother likes to tell me when I’m wrong, and he sure had a good time doing it.
He told me what you’d said after you were shot—that I was worth sticking around for.
He dared me to prove that you were right, and, well, the next day I moved in here with you.
At first, they were against me staying in your room, but after I was released, they kind of just let me stick around.
” Tana felt a little guilty. Here she was, so wrapped up in her little world that she forgot that Torren had been shot, too.
“Oh God, Torren, I forgot that you were shot. Are you all right?” Torren laughed as her hands fumbled around his body as if making sure he was in one piece.
“Yeah, I’ll live. I just get a little sore, and I’m stiff from sleeping in that damn chair.” Tana groaned, feeling guilty for causing him discomfort. “It’s all good, honey. I’m not leaving you, so a few aches and pains are worth making sure that you are okay.”
“Well, how about from now on you share my bed?” Torren’s gaze heated at her words, and she couldn’t help her giggle.
“I don’t think I’m going to be up for that for a while now.
” Torren pulled her down against his body, stretching out beside her so they could both settle comfortably into her hospital bed.
She felt safe and protected in Torren’s arms, knowing that she was finally free from her painful past. Torren saved her heart from lonely despair and made her happier than she ever thought possible.
“So, Tana Cahoon, what do you say to us changing that last name of yours? I think that Tana Harrison suits you better.” Torren kissed the top of her head, and she melted into his arms. The thought of becoming his wife made her heart feel like it was full enough to burst.
“I think that Tana Harrison sounds near perfect,” she whispered. Torren nodded his head in agreement.
“I’d also like to adopt the girls if that’s all right with you.
” Torren seemed unsure about asking her to adopt the twins.
But Tana couldn’t think of a better husband or father than Torren.
He became her and the girls’ whole world in such a short amount of time.
She wanted nothing more than to make their little family legal.
“I won’t speak for the twins, but I’m pretty sure that they would both be the happiest little girls on earth to call you their daddy.” Torren swallowed as if trying to hold his emotions at bay.
“Thank you for that, baby. I’d love to be their dad; I feel like they are already mine. It will be nice to have a piece of paper that says that, though.” Torren’s voice was almost a whisper, and she could hear every ounce of love that he had for her daughters.
“You know, I hate to turn into that wife that likes to tell her husband that she was right, but—” Torren moaned and rolled to face her.
“Go ahead, let's have it. What were you right about, honey?” he asked.
She smiled at him, framing his beautiful face with her hands. She couldn’t imagine not waking up to find him next to her. She was so thankful that Torren gave her another chance and never gave up on her. She would spend the rest of her life making sure that he never regretted his decision.
“I was right about you, Torren. You are worth sticking around for.” Torren gifted her with another brilliant smile and gently pulled her against his body for a consuming kiss that left her breathless and looking forward to a quick recovery.
“Right back at you, baby,” Torren growled.