26. Chapter 26
July 2, 2011
10:30 am
Hailey studied her reflection in the mirror, distressed by what she saw. Her cheeks were blotchy from crying and stained with makeup she had yet to wash off. Her eyes were red and puffy- much like her lips- and her hair desperately needed to be brushed.
Every time she closed her eyes, her mind replayed that horrific night at Bobby’s. The gunshots, Trey collapsing to the ground, blood seeping from his abdomen and all over her hands as she tried to save him. She had heard screaming and later realized it was her own cries of terror.
And then Bobby had gone down in a huff, bleeding from his chest, vacant eyes staring into her soul.
She physically shivered and rushed to the toilet where she dry heaved, her body trying to rid her of the horrific memories that haunted her.
She would never forget seeing Trey slip away, his eyes slowly closing as she watched him slip from consciousness.
Hailey sobbed into her hand. There was so much left to say, and she hadn’t said it. They were getting a second chance to love each other…
A voice on the other side of the bathroom door drew Hailey from her thoughts. She rubbed water on her face and wiped it with a paper towel, put her hair into a clip that Sara had brought, and walked out of the bathroom.
The nurse was checking Trey’s vitals and Hailey smiled at her. “Do we have an update?”
She shook her head, black curls bouncing as she did. “Not yet. We’re just waiting for him to wake up. His vitals have been stable so it should be any day now.”
“Hasn’t it been too long, though? Don’t people usually wake up quickly after surgery?” Hailey pleaded. She wanted to pretend she wasn’t scared, but the nurse saw through her facade. They both knew Hailey was terrified of losing the love of her life.
Trey’s surgery had been hours long. And though the surgeon was able to remove the bullet, they hadn’t been completely out of the woods until early this morning. And now it was simply a waiting game, something Hailey wasn’t good at.
The nurse looked at her sympathetically. “Mrs. Harbor, please don’t worry yourself just yet. His body is recovering from a serious trauma. If the doctor isn’t worried, you don’t need to be either. Why don’t you go get breakfast in the cafeteria?”
Hailey almost protested the name but stopped herself. It somehow brought her comfort that the nurse assumed she was Trey’s wife.
She knew one thing for certain, if and when Trey woke up, she was marrying him. No doubt about it. She knew she needed to spend the rest of her life with him.
“No, I'm fine. I want to be here when he wakes up,” Hailey said.
The nurse nodded simply to appease Hailey and left the room. Hailey sighed and stood in front of the chair she had been sitting in since Trey got out of surgery. She had pulled it up to his bedside so she could hold his hand. She would lay her head on his arm, hoping to get some sleep, but sleep never came. All she could do was worry.
Not to mention the nightmares that plagued her.
She could still hear the explosion of the gunshots that had pierced her ears. Trey had collapsed and it was only a moment later that blood had pooled around him, staining the pavement. Somehow, in all the panic, she had been able to apply pressure to his wound. Then he had passed out, sending her into near hysteria as she called out for him over and over, trying to wake him.
Her cries of grief had echoed into the night sky as they collided with the sirens that wailed in the distance, her very own lullaby of anguish. Even the animals and crickets had stopped their song, allowing for Hailey’s to be the only one heard.
She had laid across his body, begging him to come back to her but he hadn’t. He had remained lifeless and all she could do was think about the second chance they never got, and the father Trinity would no longer have.
Her heart had shattered, pain tearing through her body as tears had fallen to the ground, mixing with his blood. Her heart was trying to die along with him. Even her lungs had refused to gather breath. Her body didn’t want to live if he was no longer in this world.
The paramedics had jumped out of the ambulance, one of them dragging her away from his body as she shrieked and fought against him. She had hated that they were taking her away from Trey. All she had wanted to do was be with the love of her life. To hold him and kiss him one last time, even if he was no longer there to feel her touch.
An EMT had held her upright as her knees buckled. She had gasped for air and clung to the man, terrified she may die right alongside Trey. Part of her wished she did.
“I’ve got a pulse! It’s faint, but it’s there,” someone had yelled.
Hailey’s heart had nearly stopped. “What did she say?”
Then everything blurred together. She had ended up at the hospital and was now standing by his bedside after surgery, praying he woke up.
Hailey studied his face as she caressed his cheek, a lump forming in her throat. She gently kissed him and sat down, taking his hand as she laid her head on his arm. Her shoulders shook with each muffled cry.
“I didn’t realize being called Mrs. Harbor would be so bad you’d cry about it, Princess,” Trey croaked.
Hailey’s head shot up. It took her a moment to realize Trey was awake and talking to her. She laughed through her tears when she realized what he’d said. Then she kissed him, his fingers wiping her tears away.
She said, “I thought I lost you. I can’t imagine my life without you.”
He gave her a side smile and kissed her head. “That’s the trauma talking. You’ll be back to being pissed at me as soon as we leave the hospital.”
She laid her head on his chest and listened to his heartbeat; a melody she’d never take for granted again. He hugged her tight, wincing as he did.
She said, “Probably, but it’s what we do.”
Hailey got up to get the nurse when he grabbed her hand. “Don’t get the nurse yet. I just want to hold you for a little longer.”
She smiled, climbed into the bed with him, and put her head back onto his chest. Then, she quietly said, “I thought you were dead.”
Trey pulled her close. “Me too. I tried to jump in front of you to protect you, but I couldn’t move. And then there was this darkness I just couldn’t fight anymore…”
Her eyes filled with tears again, but she blinked them away, grateful to finally hear his voice. “The ambulance happened to be a mile out and thankfully they were able to life-flight you or you wouldn’t have made it.”
He said, “Did they find who did it?”
Hailey shook her head. “No. They have no idea who it was. They found a shell casing along the tree line so they're running ballistics, but it’ll be a while before they have anything conclusive.”
“How’s Bobby?”
Hailey’s face contorted. “He was shot after he called 911. He didn’t make it.” Hailey started sobbing uncontrollably, his lifeless green eyes still haunting her. She wished she could have done something more, but she knew he was dead as soon as his body hit the ground. She needed to stay with Trey and stop the bleeding. So, she did.
And now Bobby was dead.
He wiped at the tears that were streaming down her face. “I hate that you're crying.”
“Some maniac is trying to kill us, and no one knows who he is! He’s not going to stop until he finishes the job.”
“That won’t happen, I promise.”
She wanted to oppose him but was interrupted. “Chief Harbor,” the nurse said, “I’m so glad to see you're awake.”
Hailey got up as the nurse began taking Trey’s vitals and asking him questions about pain and potential side effects. As she did, Hailey called Sara to bring Trinity in from the waiting room.
The nurse continued to assess Trey’s wounds, causing him to wince. She finally left the room, telling them the doctor would be in shortly.
A few minutes later, Sara and Trinity walked in, followed by Gavin and Carter. As much as Hailey didn't want Trinity to see Trey like this, she knew it was the right thing to do.
Trinity ran to his side and threw herself into his arms. “I just got you. I don’t want to lose you, Dad.”
Hailey teared up again and she noticed her sister’s eyes trained on her as Sara studied Hailey, worry etched on her face. She was clutching Gavin's hand and then quickly brushed it away when she realized Hailey had noticed. Gavin smiled, amused by Sara’s charade.
“Damn, Harbor, you look like death,” Carter said.
“Yeah,” Gavin said, “I don’t know who you pissed off, but tell them to knock it off. I’m trying to work on my love life, and you keep interrupting.”
Sara gasped and smacked the back of her hand into his abdomen. Gavin huffed out air and laughed. He then kissed her temple, and she gave him a look that could kill.
Brave man. Hailey arched a brow at Sara and smiled.
Carter beamed with happiness for his friend. “I’m just glad she can keep you in line.”
“I’ll be sure to let them know,” Trey replied with a chuckle. He pushed himself to sit up and flinched, trying not to let anyone see his discomfort. “On a serious note, though, I need you and Carter to keep an eye on the girls for me. We have no idea who the shooter is, which means he could go after Hailey or even Sara.”
“We assumed as much,” Gavin said.
Trey took Hailey’s hand. “Listen, Princess, you and Trinity are staying at my place until we figure out what the hell is going on.”
Hailey nodded. “Okay, but where are we staying while you’re in the hospital?" She looked at Sara. “What about you? Where are you going to stay?”
Sara smirked. “No one knows where I am, remember? Plus, I can take care of myself.” She pointed to her side where her scars laid beneath her t-shirt.
“Why don’t you stay with Sara?” Carter said. “Like she said, no one knows where she’s staying.”
Gavin added, “Yeah, it would be best to keep everyone together as much as possible. And we can post outside.”
Trey nodded. “Stay there until I’m released and then you and Trinity can stay with me. I’m hoping they’ll release me in the next day or two.”
Hailey gave a soft smile. “You just got shot, Trey. A day or two doesn’t seem long enough.”
“There’s a killer on the loose who's hunting me and my family. I don’t have time to stay here.” Trey frowned as he looked at Gavin and Carter. “Keep your guard up. This guy shot me from yards away. He’s not an excellent marksman, but he’s very good.”
Hailey’s heart dropped as unwanted memories flooded her again.
Trey pointed at Gavin. “Don’t let them out of your sight. Do you hear me, Gavin? If anything happens to my girls or Sara, I will kill you myself.”
Gavin bowed up slightly. “I know you remember me as the asshole who broke Hailey’s heart, but that’s not who I am anymore. I will protect them with my life. Count on it.”
Carter added, “I’ve survived things that make nightmares look like daydreams. Your family will be safe with us.”
Trey nodded, a silent understanding between the three men.
Then Trey looked at Sara. “This is going to be a weird, and potentially embarrassing, question and I want you to answer me honestly…”
Sara eyed him suspiciously.
“Were you with Lucious Williams’ son when you were a teenager?”
Her cheeks turned bright pink as she looked at Gavin then looked at the floor. “Um, yes. I was fifteen.”
“Was it consensual?”
Her head snapped up. “Yes. We were at a party. It was the only time it happened with him. Why?”
Trey chose his words carefully, not wanting to reveal too much information, “I have reason to believe David used it as blackmail against Lucious Williams and I needed to confirm if it was true or not.”
Sara tossed her head back and cursed. But before she could respond, the doctor came in, indicating that everyone needed to leave. Trinity put up a fight at first, but ultimately understood her father needed to rest. She reluctantly followed her aunt out the door. Hailey stayed behind, wanting to spend time with Trey so Carter offered to pick her up when she was comfortable leaving Trey alone.
When the doctor left, Trey asked for his phone, so Hailey grabbed the bag of belongings off the extra chair but dropped it, its contents spilling out. She cursed as she began putting the items back into the bag as Trey chuckled at her.
Then, her eyes rounded and she froze. She slowly picked up a small box that had tumbled out of the bag, her eyes locking with Trey’s. He held her gaze, but she couldn’t mistake the worry in his eyes.
“What is this, Trey?”
“Why don’t you open it?”
She knew what it was but wasn’t ready to say it out loud. Her mind was swimming with so many emotions. Fear, happiness, nervousness, worry…
“No, I…When did you get this? Why do you have it?”
He looked away from her. “I’ve had it for years, since before you left. It’s been in a drawer this whole time but…” He shrugged. “I’ve been carrying it around the last few days. I don’t know what I was planning to do with it, but I felt like it didn’t belong in a drawer anymore.” Trey looked at her. “I love you, Hailey. I don’t want you to feel pressured to say anything or do anything. You weren’t supposed to see it until the time was right. Just know I love you.”
She didn’t respond. Instead, she opened the velvet box. Hailey hadn’t meant to gasp, but she did. The small diamond was embedded on a gold band with three smaller diamonds on either side. The ring was breathtaking.
“I had saved up all my money to buy it. I planned to give it to you a few weeks after you gave me the locket. Then your father talked to me and…well, you know the rest. So, I kept it in a drawer. Until now. That night with Trinity, when you gave me back the locket, I got the ring out of the drawer, and I’ve kept it on me.
“I think I was hoping there’d be some magical moment or maybe I just thought it could be good luck…I don’t know. But this isn’t me asking. This isn’t me pressuring you into anything. I know we have a lot to work through and I’m okay with that.”
Hailey was crying again, and she let out an irritated grunt. She was so tired of crying. But she was glad they were finally happy tears.
Trey immediately put his hands up. “I didn't realize it would upset you so much. I’m sorry.”
Hailey laughed through her tears. “That’s not why I'm crying. I’m running on fumes, and it’s been an emotional last few days and that's the most romantic thing I've ever heard.”
And, just as she’d done under the covering of the moon and stars all those years ago, she layed in Trey’s arms as they made plans of wedded bliss.