Rescue Me(50)
“Better than I thought, actually. She tries to be so damn strong Shayne, but I finally told her today she doesn’t have to be strong all the time. God, I feel so fucking helpless right now! That’s the love of my life lying in there right now, and I can’t do a damn thing to help her!”
“Don’t say that. You’re the best thing that has happened to her. She is so in love with you. You have made her believe in herself again. Don’t beat yourself up over this.”
When I tilt my head and look at my cousin she has tears in her eyes. With everything that she has been through herself over the last several years, and despite the fact that she is pregnant, here she sits with me in the middle of the night.
“I need to get back in there with her, okay?” I stand up and help Shayne do the same. “How was Sierra tonight?”
“She is fine. She thinks Erin fell down the stairs. We have prepared her so she knows her mom will have some bruises on her face. Kids are a lot more resilient to things like this, so don’t worry about her. She will be fine.”
I lug my cousin into my arms and kiss the top of her head.
“Get your butt home and get some rest. Thank you for coming. The doctor said Erin will be able to go home in the morning since nothing was broken, so can you bring Sierra home after school?”
“Of course we will,” she says as she pulls away and picks up her purse.
“Adam?”
“Yeah?”
“They will find him, you know.”
I nod and wait until Shayne gets on the elevator before I return to Erin’s room. I lay back down and inhale her sweet scent, finally allowing my body to succumb to sleep.
“Good morning,” Erin rasps, repressing a yawn.
“Morning,” I return. “How are you feeling?”
“My throat doesn’t hurt as much.”
She sits up in bed and the sleeve of the hospital gown falls down her shoulder, exposing her creamy white skin. She goes to pull it back up and I step in and pull it back down. She gives me a look as I lean down and gently kiss her uncovered skin. When I reach the spot at the side of her neck that is bruised and shows Joel’s fingerprints, I lightly kiss her there, too. I want to erase every trace of him from her mind and let her know that no matter what, she will always be the most exquisite woman in the world to me. However, before I can tell her anything, in walks a new nurse followed by a male and a female police officer. I glance up at the clock on the wall and see it’s only seven thirty in the morning.
“Good morning, Erin. My name is Lori and I will be your nurse until your release this morning. And you must be Adam?” She directs her attention at me.
“Good morning,” Erin and I say in unison.
“The police would like to talk to you about what happened, are you up for that, Erin?” Lori questions.
“I am, however I need a few minutes if you don’t mind?” Erin states calmly to the police.
“Sure thing, Ms. McIntyre. We will be waiting outside, just take your time.”
They swiftly exit and Lori turns to Erin.
“I just want to check all your vitals again, honey.”
I excuse myself to go to the bathroom while the nurse finishes up with Erin and when I walk back into the room Lori is helping Erin out of the bed.
“I can help her,” I say, immediately stepping to her side.
“I can walk just fine, Adam. I just need to use the bathroom.”
She steadies herself as she stands and enters the bathroom a little wobbly.
“Her vitals all checked out fine. And she seems to be holding up very well considering everything that has happened to her,” Lori says compassionately.
“Yes, she is. I just hope those cops have some good news for her.”
I sigh because I have a suspicion they haven’t found him, because if they did, I know Luke or Antonio would have called me no matter what time it was.
“I do too, son. Now I will go get those discharge papers started and the doctor will be in as soon as the police leave. I also asked if she wanted any breakfast and she said she wasn’t hungry. I do request that you encourage her to eat, especially while she is taking the pain meds the doctor will prescribe for her.”
“Yes, ma’am. I will make sure she eats. You have my word on it.”
“She’s very lucky to have you, Adam. Take good care of her,” she says as she closes the door behind her.
Suddenly I hear a scream from the bathroom. I rush inside to find Erin standing in front of the sink with tears streaming down her face. She is shaking wildly as she stands there and looks at herself in the mirror. Damn it, why didn’t I think about her reaction to seeing herself for the first time? I am behind her in an instant and turn her body so she is facing me. She lays her head onto my chest and I just stand there stroking her long, silky hair.