29. Chapter 29
Charlie
M orning light filtered weakly through the hospital blinds.
Outside the room, she could hear the clanking of trays, telling her the nurses would be here soon.
Charlie sat in the armchair beside Lorenz’s bed, her legs curled underneath her. At night, Val had brought her a blanket. She’d known Charlie wasn’t leaving.
Val and Beau had sat with her most of the night, refusing to leave her alone for an instant. About an hour ago, Charlie had finally convinced them to go home, even if it was just to shower and see their daughter before she went off to school.
Since then, Charlie had been staring at Lorenz, willing him to keep breathing.
It didn’t matter how many times Val had explained that he was stable, and that he was going to be okay—seeing him so pale and still, and that swelling near his temple, which looked worse in daylight … it was impossible not to be scared.
Charlie rubbed tiredly at her eyes. She hadn’t gotten much sleep, maybe because every time she closed her eyes she was back up in the snow. She could still hear the gun. Still feel the way Lorenz’s big body had tackled her, taking the bullet that had been meant for her.
Lorenz shifted slightly.
Charlie straightened instantly.
His eyes opened slowly, unfocused at first, then more aware as they settled on her.
“Hey.” His voice was gritty.
“Hey,” she replied.
His gaze moved over her carefully, as if he were checking her for injuries.
“Are you okay?”
He’d asked the same question last night, when he’d woken up for an instant. Then his eyes had closed. But this time, his eyes remained open, intent on her answer.
“Much better now that you’re awake,” she admitted softly.
“Good.” His eyes drifted towards the armchair and the blanket. “You slept here?” He didn’t seem happy about it.
“Yes. It’s quite comfortable, actually,” she defended.
“The guys should have taken you home.”
“They offered,” she said quickly. Kat had also offered her a room to sleep in. But there was no way Charlie would have left Lorenz here alone.
Suddenly, Lorenz frowned.
“Are you in pain?”
“What?”
“Should I call a nurse?”
“What day is it?” he asked, not answering her question.
“Thursday.” Crazy how the field trip felt like it’d happened a lifetime ago, rather than just yesterday. She reached for her hand. “What’s going on, Lorenz?”
“I need to tell you something,” he said, suddenly looking completely alert.
“What is it?”
Before he could answer, the door burst open.
“Honestly, the signs in this hospital are terrible—“
Charlie froze.
Her mouth fell open.
“ Terry? ”
Her sister walked into the room, dragging a small rolling trolley in one hand, a garment bag in the other.
Behind her stood Carmen, looking vaguely entertained.
“Good. You’re alive,” her sister said, looking at Lorenz.
Good?
Charlie launched herself into her sister’s arms. For a hug, because dammit she’d missed her—and maybe also to reassure herself that she was real. That she was really here.
“Terry? What are you doing here?”
Terry blinked.
“What am I doing here? What are you both doing in the hospital?”
“I don’t understand. Where are the kids? Where’s Jeff? Is everything okay?”
“Everything’s fine. Jeff’s at home with the kids.”
Charlie waved her hand. “So … what are you doing here exactly, Terry?”
Her sister locked eyes with Lorenz. Some silent communication passed between them. Finally, Terry nodded.
“Lorenz called me.”
Charlie turned slowly toward Lorenz. He looked suspiciously unrepentant. “I was going to tell you,” he said.
“Tell me what?” Charlie turned from Lorenz towards her sister. The garment bag still in her hand caught her attention. “You don’t like dresses. Why are you carrying a dress?”
Terry pointed at Lorenz. “This is all his fault.”
“In Spanish we refer to this as throwing someone to the lions, Lorenz,” Carmen laughed, speaking for the first time. “I think it comes from the days of gladiators.”
“It’s under a bus for us,” Charlie muttered. “So. Who’s going to explain what’s going on?”
“I called Terry,” Lorenz finally admitted.
“What?”
There went that word, again.
“I wanted your sister here.”
“Why?”
Lorenz looked directly at her.
“I wanted her here when I asked you to marry me.”
Charlie stared at him, not sure if she’d heard him wrong, or if he’d lost his mind.
The concussion.
He’d been hurt.
“I’m serious,” he said. And he did look serious. Still pale and bruised, but as serious as she’d ever seen him.
“I can see you’re serious, but—”
“Marry me.”
Behind her, Terry and Carmen made small sniffling sounds.
“I should get down on one knee,” Lorenz muttered, pushing off with his arms to raise his torso off the bed. A grimace crossed his features.
“Stay down. Don’t even think about moving.”
“I can manage—”
“I’m serious, Lorenz. I’ll call someone. I’ll find a pair of handcuffs.”
Carmen made a small oohing sound. “That sounds interesting.”
Charlie turned to glare at her friend. “You knew about this, didn’t you?”
“Me?” Carmen laughed. “Maybe. But don’t blame me; all I did was pick Terry up at the airport.”
Lorenz settled back against the pillows. He reached out for her hand. Charlie couldn’t help it if her legs led her right back to his side.
“Look, Charlie,” he began quietly. “We’ve already been married once.”
Her throat tightened. She remembered their wedding. She’d worn a beautiful sleeveless gown—white and puffy, with tiny colorful flowers sewn onto the bodice.
“But we’ll do it better this time,” he said, his voice gritty.
Tears burned behind her eyes.
“The wedding,” he continued, “we can do however you want. Big. Small. Whatever you want. I called your sister here because I wanted her to be here when I asked you to marry me.”
“Forget the wedding,” Charlie said. “You’re talking about marriage .”
Which we failed at once before.
Lorenz licked chapped lips. “Yes. We’ll do it better this time. I’ll do it better. I promise I’ll protect you.”
Those damned tears started falling. He had protected her. Her and Théo. It’d almost cost him his life.
“I’ll cherish you,” he continued. “I can’t promise life with me will be easy, but I know … I don’t want to do this without you.”
This .
“Life,” he clarified. “I want to do it together. No running away when things get hard. No deciding things alone.”
Charlie pressed a trembling hand to her mouth. More tears fell before she could stop them.
God, she loved him.
She loved him.
She’d tried without him, but the two of them were stronger together.
“Mmm,” she finally said.
“Is that a yes?” he asked.
“Yes. I’ll marry you.”
Relief crossed his face. Had he doubted her answer?
Then Charlie narrowed her eyes. “But not today.”
“Absolutely not today,” Val agreed. This morning, the doctor’s red hair was tied back in a loose knot, held together with a pen. Charlie hadn’t heard her walk in, but clearly the doctor had heard everything. “You’re not going anywhere today, Lorenz.”
Lorenz laughed, a husky sound she didn’t hear often enough.
“Soon, though.”
“After I’ve had a chance to take a shower and wash my hair.”
“If you’ve sorted things out, I’d like a shower too,” Terry declared, dropping the garment bag onto a nearby chair. She threw her arms around Charlie. “I’m glad I brought the dress.”
Charlie laughed helplessly into her sister’s shoulder.
“I’m going to need a new dress as well,” Carmen said. “And maybe a hot date to go with it.”
“Carmen …”
“What?” Carmen’s eyebrows arched high. “We can’t all wait for a knight in shining armor to sweep us off our feet.”
“So. Can I go tell my husband?” Val asked. She lowered her voice. “Beau actually loves weddings. He cried like a baby at the last one.”
Like a baby?
He didn’t seem the type to Charlie, but you never knew with people.
“Please do,” Lorenz said. “And tell them it’s going to happen soon.”
“Good,” Terry said. “Because I only have a few days before I need to get back. I left Jeff alone with the children, so he’ll be holding on for dear life.”
Charlie looked at Lorenz and held on to the moment. Because this right here— this was a moment she wanted to remember for the rest of her life.