19. Chapter 19
Charlie
“You’re sure she’s fine?” Lorenz asked, again.
Val rolled her eyes at him and smiled at Charlie. “Lorenz, how many times do I have to tell you?”
“I told him I was fine,” Charlie said. “I told him I didn’t need to come to the hospital. I certainly didn’t mean to drag you away from the party.”
“Beau called me. Don’t worry. It’s actually good that you came.
” Val removed the blood pressure cuff from Charlie’s arm, her touch efficient and gentle.
“At this time of year, the water is still very cold. Your body’s been through a shock.
You may feel fine now, but your body’s still flooded with adrenaline. ”
“I’m not—“ Charlie started, then stopped as another shiver ran through her.
Damn.
Val pushed back a strand of red hair away from her face. “Time and rest. That’s what you need,” she declared. “You weren’t fully hypothermic, but close enough that we don’t want to take any chances.”
Lorenz stood on the other side of the bed—out of Val’s way, but still close to Charlie.
Charlie’s gaze drifted beyond the curtain to the corridor outside.
“Is the boy still here?”
Val’s expression softened immediately. “He’s been moved to the pediatric floor.”
“He’s not okay?” Charlie asked—remembering how pale he’d been.
“He was mildly hypothermic, but nothing alarming. He’s spending the night here as a precaution, because of his age. Considering the amount of time he was in the water, he’s very lucky. His parents are with him now.” She paused for a second. “What you did was very brave. ”
Charlie closed her eyes briefly. The image of the boy—and of how easily he could have gone under—was hard to get rid of. She had to remind herself he was fine.
“You did exactly what you had to do,” Val added. “Both of you.” She picked up the report in front of her. “Your lab work looks good, Charlie. Medically speaking, I’m satisfied. Make sure to stay warm for the next several hours,” Val went on. “Dry clothes. Some hot food would be ideal.”
“I’ll make sure she gets that,” Lorenz said. “And I’ll bring her back if there’s any change.”
Val huffed out a breath that was almost a laugh. “You took the words right out of my mouth.” She turned to Charlie. “Let him take care of you tonight, okay?”
Charlie nodded. She wasn’t about to argue when everything in her body wanted to go to Lorenz and stay with him. When Lorenz’s embrace was the only place she could think of where she’d feel safe.
Val gave a final nod, satisfied. “I’m off, then. I’ll leave your discharge papers with the nurse. And remember, call me, day or night, if you need anything.”
Charlie pulled her legs out, over the side of the bed, sitting upright. Her abs—her abs, of all things—protested loudly.
Lorenz’s hand came to her arm immediately, steadying her. “I’ve got you.”
“I know.”
Her feet touched the ground. A shiver ran through her, but Lorenz was already on his knees beside her, a pair of socks in his hand. He helped her pull one on—the gesture strangely intimate—then the next one. They were too big.
“Where did those come from?” she asked.
“Kat’s locker. I didn’t think mine would fit you.”
Charlie laughed. “I hope you didn’t bring me Kat’s jeans. I don’t think I can fit in those.”
Lorenz pushed to his feet and picked up a paper bag from the corner. “Leggings. Might be short on you. A pair of Crocs. And a sweatshirt. That one’s mine.”
“Leave it all here,” Charlie said. “I can dress myself.” She didn’t feel like flashing him with the open-back gown.
Lorenz hesitated. He swallowed hard. “Please let me help,” he said stiffly.
It struck her, then, that he’d been scared as well. Maybe not of the ice, but scared … of losing her and the boy.
And maybe he needed to be here now, maybe he needed to help her.
That mattered more than any lingering embarrassment about having him on his knees in front of her.
He offered her a hand, pulling her gently to her feet, careful to hold on until he was sure she was steady.
Charlie pulled off the offending gown, shivering in her bra and panties for an instant before Lorenz enveloped her in his enormous sweatshirt.
It smelled clean, as if it had been recently laundered, but she wanted to think she could smell him as well.
She pulled the leggings up quickly. The fabric stretched over her hips before—thankfully—settling into place. Then Lorenz helped her with the Crocs.
“Not my most fashionable moment,” she said.
“You look beautiful.” His gaze flicked over her, lingering on the oversized sweatshirt. Then his gaze eased. “And warm. I like you warm.”
Charlie raised an eyebrow. “Really.”
“Come on, let’s get you out of here, Charlie.”
The long hospital corridor stretched out in front of them. Charlie almost made a quip about how far away the exit door to the ER was, but worried Lorenz might send her right back to bed if he realized how weak she was feeling.
Lorenz matched her pace, letting her find her stride. Finally, they reached the door. Lorenz pushed it open and stood by to let Charlie through.
A man approached them as soon as they walked out—he must have been waiting for them.
“Lorenz. Ms. Brooks.”
She recognized him. He was one of the gendarmes who’d come to her house the night of the graffiti.
Salope.
The word still held power over her. Enough to make her shiver, if she allowed it. She would not allow it.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, his tone unerringly polite.
“I’m okay, thank you.”
“What is it, Vincent?” Lorenz asked.
“I wanted to reassure Ms. Brooks that her neighbor doesn’t seem to be involved. When he said he was trying to sleep, he apparently meant he was … entertaining … two young women. The graffiti wasn’t there when they arrived, and they didn’t leave him alone long enough for him to have done this.”
“Two women?” Charlie asked. She and her neighbor had clearly started off on the wrong foot, but she wasn’t sure there could ever be a right foot with him.
“I wouldn’t think twice about him.” Vincent lowered his voice. “It appears he’s just naturally a jerk.”
Lorenz made a hollow sound.
“We found something, though.” He pulled out his phone, angling it towards her. “Do you know this car?”
Charlie didn’t know much about cars. She recognized the small diamond logo on the front—two thirds of the cars in the school parking lot, and she imagined in all of France, carried the same logo—but other than that she couldn’t see anything familiar in the grainy, dark image.
“I don’t recognize it, I’m sorry. How do you know it’s involved?”
Vincent studied her for an instant before putting the phone away. “We don’t. Not for sure. But it was there that evening around the right time, and it doesn’t belong to any of your neighbors.”
“Wow. You cross-checked my neighbors’ cars?”
Vincent looked mildly affronted. “Of course we did.”
“I don’t understand,” Charlie said, looking around at Lorenz. “All this … over some graffiti?”
Vincent squared his stance, exchanging a quick glance with Lorenz, who stood still next to her.
“We take care of our own, mademoiselle.”
Of course. Lorenz was one of their own. And she—she was …
A bubbly voice distracted her from her thoughts. “Charlie! How are you?” She looked up to see Tess fairly launch herself in her direction, only to be caught by Damien.
“Gently, Tess. She’s had a rough night.”
“Sorry!” Tess said. “We were all so worried when we heard.”
Charlie looked around her, only to find most of the people who’d attended the barbecue—was it only just hours earlier—were in the waiting room now.
“What—“
The answer came to her immediately.
I ruined the party.
“I’m sorry.” Charlie could feel tears building up behind her eyes. She shrank back, straight into Lorenz’s chest.
“I’m the one who’s sorry,” Tess said ruefully.
“It’s a bit much, right? We … we were all just so worried about you.
We wanted to make sure you were okay.” She waved around the packed waiting room.
“The ones who aren’t here, it’s because they had to go back to work, or they’re taking care of the kids. ”
Charlie nodded, but her brain was having trouble processing.
“You’re all here … because of me?”
Tess nodded. “Can we get you something? The coffee’s not good, but maybe some warm tea?”
“Let her breathe, Tess,” Damien said. Charlie had the feeling he was used to channeling Tess’s excitement about life.
“We brought some clothes,” Yvette said. “I know we can find you a sweatshirt that fits better.”
Charlie took the chance to look up at Lorenz.
“They’re all here because of you, honey,” Lorenz confirmed, speaking low into her ear. His voice sent a shiver through her body—the first pleasurable shiver of the night. “But you don’t have to talk to anyone. You want to leave?”
Charlie squared her shoulders. “They came all the way here. And they’re right. Your sweatshirt is really not the right size for me.”
“Three minutes,” Lorenz said. “Then I’m taking you home.”