10. Almost Gone
10
Almost Gone
C HAPTER TEN
Rosalind
I blinked open my eyes to a dimly lit room, the storm outside raging like a furious beast. My head throbbed, a reminder of the fall I’d taken earlier.
“Hey there, Sleeping Beauty,” Daniel’s voice cut through the haze in my mind, filled with a touch of honey that softened his sometimes grumpy exterior.
“Daniel?” I croaked, squinting against the light to see him sitting by my side, concern etched on his face. He held my hand gently, a surprising gesture from the often reserved doctor.
“Here, take a drink.” He held a straw to my lips, and I sipped the water to ease my throat. Then he set the cup and straw back on the floor within my reach. “It’s here if you need it again.”
I tried to nod, but felt a stab of pain in my head. “Thanks.” I replied instead.
“Lie still, you shouldn’t move around any more than you have to. It’s good to see you awake, you had us all worried there for a while,” he said. His tone laced with a bit of humor, trying to lighten the mood in the room.
“It seems you’re not the only one who has a talent for causing a stir,” I joked, managing a small smile despite the throbbing ache in my head. His presence was comforting, and I reveled in it.
“One of our many talents,” Daniel chuckled softly, his eyes holding a warmth that contradicted his now serious demeanor. “You gave us quite a scare, Roz. Whatever made you go out alone like that? No, nevermind. Just don’t ever do that again, OK?”
I couldn’t help but marvel at the way his concern seeped through his tough exterior. But I pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the present moment and the man sitting by my side.
“We needed more wood, and I didn’t want to wake you. It’s not like I haven’t done it a thousand times before. I’m not sure what happened this time.” I sighed and closed my eyes against the throbbing in my head.
“Well, next time, wake me up.” He insisted.
“OK. Where’s Grandpa?” I asked, taking another look, but not seeing him or Mack in the room.
“I made him go lay down. He was so worried, I thought I might end up with two patients if I didn’t insist.” Daniel shook his head. I could only imagine what it would be like to spend a blizzard in a stranger’s house with everyone injured except you. Definitely not good for building a positive reputation.
“And he listened? He’s not the best at taking directions from others. Or is it just me he won’t listen to?” I added.
“No, I can be firm when I need to be. It kind of comes with the title, you know? And Mack helped. That’s one smart dog. He wouldn’t stop barking until Joseph laid down. He’s very intuitive. I think your grandfather did it only so Mack wouldn’t wake you up. Maybe I should borrow Mack and take him to the hospital sometime.”
Although I knew he was teasing, the talk of him returning to the hospital made my heart drop. I tried to ignore the throbbing ache in my head and focus on the man in this moment, without worrying about the future. It wasn’t an easy task.
“Thanks for being here, Daniel,” I managed, my voice soft, grateful for his presence despite the whirlwind of conflicting emotions inside me.
“Where else would I be? I’m snowed in, remember?” Daniel replied, his tone casual, yet with a sense of humor that made my heart flutter. From a grump to a comedian. Who would’ve figured?
“I guess we’re back to me owing you again,” I joked weakly, attempting to hide the electric current running through my body at the sound of his voice, or the touch of his hand.
He chuckled softly, his eyes crinkling at the corners with a hint of amusement. “Just try not to make it a habit, okay?”
I couldn’t help but smile at his attempt at humor, the ease of his presence melting away the tension. Yet, beneath the lighthearted exchange, an unspoken understanding lingered, heavy with the weight of our unvoiced feelings.
When Daniel realized he was still holding my hand, his touch gentle and warm, he quickly released it. A flicker of some emotion passed across his face before he masked it with his reassuring doctor smile.
“Rest up, Roz. We’ll have you back on your feet in no time,” he said, standing up to put some distance between us.
As Daniel withdrew his hand, an ache blossomed where his warmth had been, amplifying the throbbing in my head. I lay there, the storm outside only a backdrop to the storm within. Each beat of my heart echoed my doubts and fears, making the ceiling above feel like a vast expanse of uncertainty.
“Thank you, Daniel,” I whispered, watching him go, my heart heavy with hidden truths and the weight of emotions that lay just beneath the surface. But who was I kidding? This was probably all in my head.
I lay there, my head throbbing, staring at the ceiling as I tried to push out the doubts skulking in the corners of my mind.
“Are you feeling any better, Roz?” Daniel’s voice cut through the sound of the throbbing, his tone laced with concern.
I turned my head to see him sitting beside me again, his eyes searching mine for any sign of discomfort. For a moment, I was too disoriented to say anything. Where had he come from?
Realizing I must’ve fallen asleep since I didn’t recall him returning, and once again confused, I replied, “I’m okay, just a throbbing headache.” The smile I mustered was weak, but genuine.
“That’s not a surprise. You took quite a fall out there,” he remarked, his words gentle yet hinting at something I couldn’t quite place. Why did I always feel I was missing some important clue when I was around him? Some nuance to his words I couldn’t grasp.
“Thanks, Daniel. I’m glad you’re here,” I said, grateful for his presence, but conflicted about the growing warmth I felt towards him. He’s not staying, I tried to remind myself, over and over. He’s not staying. Come the New Year, he’ll be gone.
“Of course, Roz. Let me get you something for that headache,” he replied casually, as he rummaged through our first aid kit. But the look he’d just given me held a depth that tugged again at my heart.
As he moved to get up, I felt a pang of sadness at the loss of his proximity. Trying to hide my despondency, I covered it with a friendly smile.
“I’ll be right back with some water so you can take your medicine.” Daniel assured me, his voice soothing yet sounding distant.
Watching him leave, a whirlwind of emotions churned inside me. Despite my attempts to conceal it, the weight of my feelings for Daniel lingered, a secret I carried in my heart. As the storm raged on outside, another storm was raging inside of me.
I couldn’t bring myself to meet Daniel’s concerned gaze when he returned with the water and medicine, so my eyes flickered to the window instead. But from my vantage point on the floor, there wasn’t much to see.
“Roz, you know you can talk to me, right?” Daniel’s voice was soft, a gentle nudge urging me to open up. I could sense the sincerity in his tone, but my walls were up, fortified by fear and uncertainty.
I swallowed the lump in my throat, the words I’d kept locked inside threatening to spill over, until I finally decided they must. “Daniel, I’m scared...” I began, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Scared? Scared of what, Roz?” Daniel’s brows furrowed in concern, his eyes searching mine for answers.
“Of losing you,” I blurted out, the confession hanging heavy in the air between us. “You’re going to leave this island and never come back. I know we barely know each other, but I want to change that, yet I don’t believe we’ll ever have the chance.”
I continued on before he could interrupt. “You have a rich and rewarding life on the mainland that you’re going to return to soon. Then I’ll just be a … vacation memory. I have nothing to offer you that can compete with all you have. And I know I have no right to ask, but I must. Stay, Daniel. Stay here on the island for me.”
His hand found mine, and a jolt of warmth surged through me, mingling with the storm of emotions inside. The sensation was electrifying, making my heart race as if it longed for his touch. I could hardly breathe, lost in the simple yet profound connection of our entwined hands, and waiting for his reply.
“Roz, no matter what, you will never be just a vacation memory,” Daniel admitted. His tone was hesitant, yet sincere. “And I wish we had the time to see where this relationship might lead right now, but I can’t stay. Those responsibilities I mentioned before? I’m going back to deal with them after the new year.”
Startled, but not entirely shocked, I nodded. “I knew you would. A man like you? Your word is your bond, right?”
“You know me well, Roz. But just because I have to leave, that doesn’t mean I’ll never come back.” His voice was resolute, but I thought I saw a fire burning in his eyes, and the smile he returned was bittersweet. “Can you give me a little time to work things out, before you give up on me?”
“Of course,” I replied, trying to keep my tone light despite the whirlwind of emotions inside me.
“Hey, now,” Daniel grinned, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. “Let’s not let these worries ruin the holidays, OK? It’s Christmas morning, in case you forgot.”
I couldn’t help but smile at his attempt to lighten the mood, a rush of gratitude washing over me. Maybe, in time, something beautiful would bloom between us. But he was right for now. Our timing was off.
Before I could agree, his lips met mine in a soft, tender kiss. The world around us faded away, leaving only the warmth of his touch and the promise of hope in our shared future. Wishing this kiss could last forever, it ended too soon.
As he pulled back slightly, a smile tugged at the corners of his lips, and I noticed a glint in his eyes.
“What was that for?” I whispered, still breathless.
“An incentive to wait, maybe?”
Squeezing his hand gently, I said, “I’ll wait for you, Daniel. Thanks for sharing your Christmas with us.”
His gaze met mine, with warmth and a slight mischievous glint. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be, Rosalind.”
The storm raged outside, the wind howling, but here in this moment, only peace lingered between us.
We shared a smile, a silent understanding passing between us, as if the storm outside was only a backdrop to the budding connection we were nurturing.
He sat down beside me. Holding my hand until the warmth of his touch lulled me back to sleep.