Breathing even hurt.
Rachel tried to open her eyes again, slowly this time, and focused on the soft soothing voice that spoke to her. The room spun a little but began to settle as Eli moved into the center of her vision, bent over her bed. A hospital bed. Oh, this couldn’t be good. In confusion, she looked at him, as he settled carefully on the edge of the bed where she could see him.
He spoke softly, which helped with the pounding in her head. “I’ve never been so happy to see those gorgeous blue eyes of yours, Rachel. We were all so worried about you.”
Eli looked like he hadn’t slept in days and his eyes were very bloodshot.
Had he been crying? What in the hell had happened? How long had she been in the hospital?
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He evidently saw the confusion in her eyes and softly began to fill her in. “You were involved in a car accident two days ago. It’s Thursday morning. Two deer and another vehicle. Ace Webster was driving the other vehicle and called 911. He helped control your bleeding until EMS got there.”
Two days? Ace? Did she see Ace? In a flash, she saw the deer and remembered a screeching sound. The other vehicle. Ace? The longer Eli talked, the worse she felt. She must be in bad shape.
The other voices came closer and entered her room as Eli stood and moved to the foot of the bed where it was easier for her to see him. Her mom and dad and a man she didn’t know came in, all with eyes on her. Her parents looked tired but relieved. Gingerly, she reached with her right hand, and her mom took it, rubbing it on her cheek and kissing her knuckles.
Rachel smiled at her, trying to not pull at the bandage over her cheekbone.
She looked at her dad and pointed at her throat.
He nodded and said, “No talking for a little while, honey. That needs time to heal.”
She motioned with her fingers, and he reached into her night table for a pad and pencil.
Eli caressed the top of her foot and said, “Angel, I’ll give you a few minutes while I go get something to eat real quick. I’ll be back soon.”
Showing she was a trooper, she smiled and winked at him, blowing a little air kiss. He teared up and mouthed, “I love you, ” before exiting. Her heart lurched a little at the vulnerability in his eyes, and tears welled in her eyes, too.
* * * *
Utterly exhausted, Eli leaned against the wall out in the hallway, uncaring that someone might see him in such an emotional state. He put his head in his hand for a moment before pushing off and going once again to the little chapel down the hall. Prayers of praise came from his lips, tears slipping from his eyes as he remembered her winking at him, such a simple little thing, yet so powerful. That feeling of peace and comfort overtook him, and he knew they would get through whatever came next. His angel
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would be all right, but she was in some very real pain, so he prayed for her to feel better.
By the time he returned, the doctor was gone, and her parents remained only long enough to thank him for the tender loving care he gave their daughter. Humbled, he thanked them both and returned the hug that Mrs.
Lopez gave him and shook Rachel’s dad’s hand. After they left, a nurse brought in another large fresh flower arrangement then checked her vitals.
The nurse injected a pain reliever into the port of her IV line.
“She’s going to get sleepy soon, but she should feel better within a minute or so, Eli. You need anything?” she asked as she walked to the door.
“No, thanks, Eva, I appreciate it.” He smiled at the nurse that had gone to great lengths to make his stay in the hospital over the last two nights as comfortable as possible. He looked over at Rachel in time to catch the irritated scowl she cast at the door. He put his hands on his hips and raised an eyebrow at her. She tried to scowl at him and even raised a weak fist at the door before smiling sheepishly at him.
“Jealous much?” He came to sit down in the chair and held her right hand. “You have nothing to worry about, angel. My eyes see only you. She made my stay more comfortable here by finding me a folding cot, blanket, and pillow, that’s all. How do you feel now?”
She scribbled on her pad then showed him. Better, but sleepy now.
“Good, the more rest you get the better. Are you thirsty?”
No, Mom helped me earlier. It hurt, but it was wonderful, too. My throat was very dry. Getting woozy. She dropped the pencil and looked at him with a dreamy serene smile on her face.
“Good drugs?” He chuckled, watching her eyelids slide closed as she nodded happily then conked out. He tucked the blanket around her, kissed her forehead, and settled back in the chair.
To see her in so much pain earlier had torn him up. Almost as much as seeing her when they unloaded her, unconscious and helpless, from the ambulance, drenched in her own blood. They had waited anxiously for the last day and a half until she regained consciousness. He had tortured himself in those hours spent waiting, especially when he had tried to sleep, with a contrasting image of the two of them making love, the wild ecstasy that had turned to sweet tenderness on a dime. What if last time had been the last time?