“Don’t you die, Harvey. Don’t you dare. I can’t lose you, too. I need you.”
I paused and looked down to his hands held within mine.
“I love you too much,” I said.
The three little words that had been on the tip of my tongue, ready to be said at the right time, slipped out. And I was so distracted in my own thoughts, my own despair and panic, that it took me a minute before I realised the light pressure of Harvey’s fingers on mine. I looked up from our hands and stared at him with wide eyes. He stared back at me with a smug look on his face. The corners of his lips tilted, and his mouth moved as it formed a few words.
“I love you too, sweetheart.”
I smiled as he lifted our linked hands to his mouth, pressing a chaste kiss on my palm before he brought it to the centre of his heart. From where I stood, I could see a faint line of bruises and other battered spots marring his beautiful skin.
“Don’t you ever do that to me again,” I whispered. “I was so scared.”
“I know, baby.” He tried to smile but could only wince, and I could tell he was struggling to stay awake.
“Careful,” I warned. “Rest, go back to sleep, I’ll be here when you wake up. We can talk then.”
As soon as his breathing evened out and his eyes were closed, I untangled our hands and snuck out of the room to find a nurse or doctor who could tell me more.
“What happened? What’s wrong with him? Is he going to be OK?” I asked at the nurse’s station.
“The paramedics told us he was hit by a speeding car at a junction. He ran in front of it to push a kid out the way, but there’s not too much damage. He’s a survivor and a hero. He’s got a mild concussion, a broken wrist and a few broken ribs on his right side, but they should heal nicely—all clean breaks. Other than that, he’s fine.”
I nodded, “When can he leave?”
“We’re monitoring the head injury, and we’d like to keep him overnight at least, but he should be good to go in a day or so as long as the doctor gives the all-clear.”
My shoulders dropped in relief, and I went back to Harvey’s room and spent the rest of the day watching over him.
“I think it’s best if you stay with me at my house, Harvey. Even Sadie thinks so,” I said.
He peered at me, “You just want to take advantage of me in my injured state… play nurse.” He winked. I waved the suggestion away with a laugh, but I wouldn’t mind giving him a sponge bath or two, I thought wickedly.
“I won’t take no for an answer. Either that or Humbug and I will come stay with you at your place. It’s my turn to look after you. So decide, mine or yours?”
“You’ve got better things to do than stay home and baby me.”
“It’s OK, I’ve got a lenient boss; she won’t mind me taking the time off. And anyway, this is just a small way for me to give back to you after you helped me out so much.”
“No, babe,” he shook his head in a jerky manner. “You’re my responsibility. I like looking after you. Not the other way around.”
“Hey, hey,” I tutted, “we look after each other, all right? I already told you, anyway, I’m not taking no for an answer.”
He pulled me to him, though I knew it pained him to do so.
“You win this round…” he said, giving in. I grinned at him, his mouth so close to mine. After he’d awoken, we both skirted around the elephant in the room. Our love had been declared, and that was all that mattered, but it still felt like we needed to have that conversation about what we were to each other, what the next step was going to be.
“Harvey?”
“Yes?” he said, his eyes pinned to my mouth.
“Are we really doing this?”
His lips moved forward and brushed mine, slowly, gently. His tongue wetted my bottom lip and I moaned.
“Does that answer your question?”
I giggled, “I guess so.”
Suddenly his face fell, and he turned sombre, the same look he’d the night before the accident.
“Tell me,” I whispered. “You can trust me. Whatever it is, we can handle it together. Trust me, Harvey.”
He looked away for a moment, and I thought he was going to clam up again or try to flee, but my arms were wrapped around his neck, and I wasn’t about to let him go anywhere.
His eyes met mine. “You might not want me after I tell you, though.”
I shook my head, and pressed my forehead to his. “I’ll never stop wanting you.”
He sighed. I leaned back and watched as his Adam’s apple bobbed at his throat. “I can’t have kids, Sara…” His eyes glistened, and I held my breath. “I can never give you another baby. Or be a father.”