Second Chances (27 page)

Karina wasn't happy with his reasoning, particularly as he didn't say anything specifically about not wanting her to leave. Unfortunately, he was also right—she had to go back to the house in order to move forward.

But that was later, not right now. Right now she could enjoy being safe in his arms. And try to forget all the parts of her body that were hurting. And there were so many.

"Now isn't that cute. You should have told me and I would've brought two cups of coffee." The nurse was standing behind them, holding both coffee and juice.

"You've been tripping over me all night, so it's not like you didn't know I was here." Brian smiled at the pleasant-faced woman. "Besides, that's probably not much of a coffee if it came from the cafeteria."

"I'll have you know this came specially from the nurses' station and is exceptional coffee. How was I to know that you were awake? You've growled at anyone coming in to look at this poor girl all night, as it is. We were all relieved when you finally fell asleep."

She carefully set the drinks down on the little movable table and swung it closer to Karina. "Are you sure you want to be so close to this bear, Karina? He looks like he needs a couple of pots of coffee before he's safe to live with."

Karina just smiled at the two of them.

"It's all right. I know what he's like to wake up to. Of course, he's usually much more fun than this," she said with a grin.

Brian flushed a ruddy color, right on cue. Karina chuckled, choosing to ignore his glare.

"When can she go home?" he asked.

"Not until the doctor says so. He won't be here for his rounds until ten, so both of you relax. It will still be a little while yet."

She walked out, promising to return with more coffee.

Karina wasn't feeling quite so good anymore. Aches and pains were surfacing everywhere, especially in her swollen feet. They burned as though they were on fire. She moved her legs restlessly, trying to get comfortable.

She thought of the beach outside of Brian's house. Sitting on the sand, smelling the fresh ocean air, watching the waves roll in would be perfect. What she wouldn't give to be able to soak her feet in the cool water. And there were so many other good things about Brian's home. She'd just need a day or two to get over the memories. Put it all behind her. As she healed physically, she could work on her emotional healing as well.

"Are you all right for a few minutes? I want to make a quick trip down the hall."

"I'm fine. You go ahead. "

The nurse walked in with a steaming paper cup just as Brian walked out.

"You mean he actually left you alone? Wow." The nurse smiled down at her in envy.

"He does leave me alone occasionally," Karina smiled. "But it's nice having him around."

"It's a wonderful thing to have someone like that in your life, for sure. Now, do you want to wash up a little? We can't let you have a shower but I can bring some warm water and help you freshen up."

"Thank you. That would be wonderful!" Karina smiled happily at the suggestion.

The nurse bustled about, making her preparations. "We're all talking about your man down at the nurses' station." She looked over at Karina. "We're all jealous, you know. None of us has a man willing to sit protectively over us. It's very romantic."

"He also feels very guilty." Karina said dryly, accepting the bowl and washcloth. Not long after, she felt renewed and refreshed. Thankfully, Brian had brought her a change of clothes including her yoga pants a sleeveless blouse that wouldn't interfere with her bandages.

"How thoughtful of him."

"Isn't it amazing what a little feminine armor can do for you?" The nurse chuckled. "Now you look better. All ready for his return. The clothes will help. The ones you arrived in aren't fit to wear home."

The nurse helped her get dressed, taking advantage of Karina's upright position to check out her wounds. "You look great. You'll definitely be sore for a while but if you don't try to wrestle with anyone else, it should heal fine."

Karina grimaced. "I'll be happy to never wrestle again, especially with a nutcase like Ian."

Brian's hard voice arrived before he did. "You'll never have to deal with him again." He appeared around the closed curtain just as Karina finished dressing. The subject matter twisted his face in anger. "Ian is gone. I watched the police escort him out, myself."

Karina shifted in her bed until she was next to him. A wave of gentleness washed over his face.

"I trust you. I believe in you. I know you will keep me safe," she whispered, reaching out her hand to grasp one of his. She looked directly into his eyes. "I love you."

He bent down, carefully wrapping his arms around her, and gave her a hug. When she whimpered, he immediately loosened his hold. "Sorry," he murmured.

She smiled. "Don't be. I'm fine." Held carefully within his embrace, Karina thought she'd never been closer to anyone in her life. Her heart swelled, because for the first time, she knew what it was to be connected like this to another human being. To be so close in heart, mind and soul, to know how the other thought, when they were hurting and when they needed to be loved.

She could feel Brian convulsively swallowing, obviously choked with emotion. She knew exactly how he felt.

The doctor's arrival shattered the moment.

"Well, it's nice to see you awake, young lady. Sit up on the bed and let me check my handiwork."

Several painful minutes later, the doctor said, "You're a lucky lady, this could have been much worse. The shoulder is going to ache for weeks to come. Under no circumstances are you to rip these. Take it easy for a while. Start using the arm a little bit when it feels better. Other than that, be gentle with yourself. You need time to heal."

He handed her a prescription, saying to Brian, "Take her to her doctor next week or earlier if you're concerned. A nurse will show you how to change the dressing and clean the wounds, which you'll need to do every day. Above all, treat her gently." With that, he left.

A nurse joined them, quickly outlining the steps Brian needed to take for wound care, before leaving the room.

Brian waited for her to stand, holding a sling the nurse had given him.

"No sling." She was adamant.

"No sling," he answered her calmly, "no home."

"That's not fair," she said with a gasp.

"The only reason you are going home now is because I promised the doctor I'd do everything I could to make sure you heal properly and quickly. The sling is part of that." He waited, standing in front of her. "Besides, it makes me feel better."

Her heart softened. "Fine," she said. "But it won't help any."

The one nurse who'd come in to start cleaning up the room smiled, but stayed silent as she walked past them. When they walked down the hall and past the nurse's station, the nurses were grinning at them.

"She looks good in a sling, doesn't she?" Brian commented.

She glared at them all, feeling both embarrassed and pampered. Apparently, that was what love did to a person. By the time they'd made it out to the car, she realized that the stupid thing was helping. That really pissed her off. Disgusted with him, herself and the sling, she shot him a dirty look.

He grinned. "Admit it, it helps, doesn't it?"

She wouldn't deign to answer.

Oh, he loved that. He didn't laugh aloud, but couldn't stop the grin from spreading over his face as he helped her gently into the low-slung car.

"Did you call Susan?"

"Many times. They're coming to the house for a short visit later today."

As he fired the car up and pulled out of the parking lot, he suggested she just close her eyes and sleep.

Still irritated over the sling, she fired back, "I'm not tired."

She was out before they hit the main street.

K
arina was still sleeping when they arrived at home, waking only as Brian opened her car door. She blinked owlishly at him for several moments, trying to clear the wooliness from her mind.

"Let me get out on my own." She eased her sore body up and out. Using his arm to steady herself, she stood, her legs shaky. In the daylight, the whole area looked innocent and fresh. Nothing appeared menacing, or even held evidence that terrible things had happened there. Maybe the horrific memories would only come after darkness had fallen. She hoped not.

Karina groaned as she moved stiffly towards the front entrance. Everything hurt. Her wrists were light green with bruises where Ian had grabbed her, and she knew there was a big, multi-hued mark on her forehead where she'd made contact with the gravel when she'd collapsed. She couldn't even remember getting the other bruises, which was probably just as well. Her feet screamed with every step she took. There'd be no running barefoot for her for a long time.

She hesitated, shuffling uneasily from foot to foot at the front door. She really wasn't looking forward to this. Brian seemed to understand, waiting silently and patiently at her side. With a deep breath for courage, Karina pushed the door open.

The hallway was bursting with fresh-cut flowers. There were bouquets of roses, geraniums, carnations and so many more. Dazed, Karina walked through the house, twisting and turning to see each new bouquet. Even the kitchen was covered with a rainbow of mad, fragrant color.

Tears formed and ran in rivers from her eyes. Brian had done this for her.

Overwhelmed, Karina turned to face him. He was watching her intently. Carefully, she opened her arms, embracing him tightly. As she rested against his heart, his male scent mingled with that of the fresh flowers to soften and blur the horrible memories sitting in the background.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"You're welcome." Careful of her injuries, Brian rubbed her back, cuddling her close.

Twenty minutes later, Karina was curled up on the back patio, covered with a cotton blanket. The smell of fresh-brewed coffee tantalized her. Contentedly, she inhaled the salty air. The pills she'd taken a short while ago left a lingering drowsiness that combined with her surroundings to give her soul a sense of peace.

It was finally over. The stresses of the last few weeks were gone. Ian was out of the picture, and she could finally look toward the future. Cozy and warm, it wasn't long before sleep overcame her.

The ring of the doorbell jerked her awake, sending pain lancing through her. She froze, willing the sharp agony to fade. Slowly, the trembling subsided enough that she could look around. The sun had moved significantly in the sky, so it appeared she'd slept for an hour or two. She glanced toward the house and spotted Brian speaking with Susan and Paul in the kitchen.

"I'm awake now. You don't have to stay in there," she called out.

"Hi there. How are you?" Susan bent over to give her a gentle hug. She lifted a lock of hair, looking critically at the blossoming color on Karina's forehead. "That's quite a bruise you've got there."

Karina chuckled. "I'll have fun color-coordinating clothes with it, won't I?"

"A perfect excuse to go buy new ones." Susan grinned at her.

"As if you ladies need any excuse to do more shopping." Paul strolled out to join them. He pulled up a couple extra chairs and sat down with them. "Karina, how are you doing?"

"I'm fine." She smiled reassuringly." Still a little tired and sore, but I'm on the mend. I'm just glad it's all over."

"I still can't believe that Ian actually snapped like that," Susan said. Her red, puffy eyes hinted at long hours of worry.

"Be glad that you didn't see him that night. He was scary in his insanity. I don't even want to think about it."

"So don't. It's over, so let's leave it alone." Brian was delivering fresh coffee and muffins.

Carefully, Karina tried to reposition herself, grimacing at the pain erupting from such a simple movement.

"Susan, are you going to be okay for a few days at the shop?" She turned to her friend. "I was supposed to work yesterday, wasn't I?"

"You were," she answered, her voice cheerful. "And don't you worry about it. We were fine. Kathryn, Sandra's part time clerk, came in to help out and is available this week so you take as much time as you need to heal. When you're feeling better come in for a half day and see how it goes." She motioned to the patio and view around them. "This is what you need, though. What a place to recuperate."

"Why don't we wait and see what the doctor says in a week," said Brian.

"Remember, though, Brian—if I don't work, then Susan has to carry my load." Karina reached a hand over to her friend. "And the store is also my income. I can't afford to be off work. Yes, I can give it a week, but then I'll be back in the store doing what I can."