Chapter 58
When I came to, it felt as though I had been asleep for a century. There were voices everywhere, and I couldn’t move, but the greatest fear that registered in my heart was one thing. It was the last thing I had thought about just before the accident, and now that I was miraculously awake, it was all I could think about.
“My baby,” I tried to speak, but no sound came out. I had found out two weeks earlier, and I had been unable to say a word. Everywhere I turned, I was the enemy for dating him, and now I was pregnant? I had never been so confused, but I had thought I”d have time to figure it out, to build my courage.
Who would have thought… tears filled my eyes and slid down my face. Suddenly, I felt a small pressure on my hand and turned to see the most beautiful pair of blue eyes I was too weak to appreciate till today.
I had never seen him look this distraught. His hair was a mess, his eyes reddened and swollen, and a shadow around his chin. Something made me smile then, even if it was painful, and it was the knowledge that he would normally never have been caught dead looking this way.
At my smile, he seemed to go into shock, and then I remembered that I hadn’t told him. Instantly, the smile left my face.
We stared at each other, and yet neither of us knew what to say to the other. Eventually, though, he spoke.
“You know, I love you, right?”
I knew. The way he treated me every second, I knew. However, it was too good to believe, so I had played it down… refused to believe.
He respects me…I had told myself. He likes me. That”s good enough for now.
“And you?” he asked.
I was well aware that I was in love with him but too terrified to say it out loud. In that last moment when I”d thought that I would never see him again, he had flashed into my eyes, and all my heart could whisper were two words. “My love.” And so now, before he could speak, when my courage was still high, I immediately spoke.
“I love you,” I said, but I was sure he didn’t hear. I couldn’t hear. However, when he suddenly went still, I realized that maybe he did.
He smiled then and leaned over to kiss me. I could barely feel it on my numb lips, but the sweetest warmth filled my heart.
“I heard you”re pregnant with our baby,” he said, and once again, I was in shock.
“Yeah,” I replied.
“When did you find out?” he asked. “You didn’t know?”
I couldn’t lie to him, even though I knew he was going to be mad.
My lips parted to speak, and once again, he leaned forward to kiss me, giving me the strength I needed.
“I was building courage,” I told him, and a little sadness came over his face.
He kissed me once again, and I understood.
“Thank you,” I replied, and he nodded. Then he began to give me updates.
“We involved the police, but my men were faster.”
At first, I was a bit confused about what he was saying, but soon it all made sense.
“It was done on purpose?” I asked slowly, surprised at just how weak I sounded. He nodded.
I was afraid to ask the next question, but he told me.
“Sandra?”
“Needless to say, she”s fired, but that”s just the beginning of it.”
All over again, I felt inexplicable sadness.
“She broke during interrogation,” he said. “She was in love with me… it wasn’t fair…”
He shut his eyes then and released a heavy breath. Truly, it felt like forever had passed.
“How long was I out for?” I asked.
“This is the third day.”
I was shocked, and then he retrieved something from his jacket. I looked, and when he opened up the ring box and I saw the most gorgeous heart-shaped diamond in there, my blood pressure dropped dangerously.
He looked in worry toward the machine, but soon enough, I shut my eyes and reveled.
“I”m fine,” I said, amused even though my heart was very clearly picking up for all the world to see. “I”m fine.”
He pulled out the ring from the box and slipped it onto my finger. He stared at it, and then he said the most magical words to me.
“I love you,” he said. “Like I”ve never… I never knew it would be possible for me to be this in love with anyone. But you’re… you”re everything to me, Hannah. Please, marry me?”
Tears poured down my cheeks at his words, and once again, I was embarrassed by my monitor. Just then, I heard voices coming down the hallway and saw my mother and Mandy appear before the door, cups of coffee in hand.
“Oh God, she’s awake!” my mom”s hand went to her chest.
“Yes,” I told him before our special moment was interrupted. “With all my heart, yes.”
Mandy noticed the ring then and screamed. I shut my eyes and tried my very best to hold back tears as well.
However, I didn”t let go of his hand. Never.