“I’m not broken,” I whispered. He stood instantly and was at my side in two strides.
“Baby, don’t move. Don’t strain yourself.” He leaned over and kissed my forehead. “Get the nurse,” he told Susan.
“I think I’m okay.”
“God, I’m so relieved to see those brown eyes. You are so lucky to be alive.”
“Come here.” I opened my arms. He bent over and gently nuzzled his face in my neck. “How did I get here?”
His head jerked back. “You don’t remember?”
“No.”
The nurse walked in behind Susan. Both came over to the other side of my bed. “You okay, honey?” the nurse asked. She checked my vitals and then propped my bed up so I could sit.
“My head still hurts a bit.”
“That’s to be expected, but you’re doing remarkably well. I’ll let the doctor know you’re up,” she said and then walked out.
Susan smiled down at me. “I’m glad you’re back with us, Kate. I wanted to say sorry about all the confusion at the winery. I wasn’t completely informed and I didn’t want to interfere.”
“It was my fault, I didn’t tell Susan what was going on,” Jamie interrupted.
“Well, I didn’t help matters. I knew something big was happening between you two, but I’m used to protecting Jamie’s privacy.”
“It’s water under the bridge,” I said sincerely.
“I hope so. I’ll let you two have some alone time.”
“Thank you.” We squeezed each other’s hands and then she left.
“Jamie, tell me what happened.” He scooted a chair right next to my bed and sat down, holding my hand in his.
“You were attacked by a man on the subway. He hit you with his gun repeatedly, and the attack caused some swelling in your brain. But you’re going to be okay, the swelling is going down on its own.”
I remembered little bits and pieces about what happened, but it was hard to put it all together. “I must have a really hard head.” I smiled.
One side of his mouth turned up. “Yes, I’m sure of it, and thank God for that hard head of yours. I think you’re going to be fine.”
“I should have worn a scarf that night.” I reached up and ran my fingers down his rough jawline. He grinned into my hand.
“Why didn’t you let him take the necklace?”
“I can’t remember what I was thinking. But wait, how did you know it was over the necklace?”
“Because they found you clutching it, and the transit system has video footage of the assault.” I felt my bare neck and started to panic. “They took it off when you came in. Beth has it, along with the rest of your stuff. It’s safe, angel, but no material object is worth this. That necklace could have been replaced. You can’t be.”
I started getting choked up. “Jamie, I’m sorry.” Tears began streaming from my eyes. My head was pounding again. I moved my hair away from my face and felt the bandage on the side of my head.
“Please don’t cry. I wasn’t mad, I was just scared. I thought I was gonna lose you.”
“I know.” I sniffled. He reached his hands down and wiped the tears away with the pads of his thumbs. I felt for the bandage at the back of my head.
“They had to shave a little of your hair to put the staples in.”
“Staples? Oh my god, I must look like Frankenstein.” I breathed into my hand. “Oh, and my breath is terrible. I feel like I have little sweaters on my teeth, they’re so fuzzy. Can you get me some mouthwash?”
He laughed and went into the little bathroom and came back holding mouthwash and a cup out to me. “You can barely see the staples. Your hair covers that spot. And you don’t look like Frankenstein at all. You’re beautiful, and you will always be beautiful.” I smiled with cheeks full of mouthwash. Are you feeling better?”
I spit the mouthwash into a little cup Jamie held out for me. “Yes. Where was I going on the L that night?”
“You were going home. You were only one stop away when it happened.”
“Going home from where?”
“You’d met Jerry and Beth at a bar. They said you quit the Crier because of the note I sent you.”
“Note?”
“I asked you to marry me. Do you remember that?” At that point he was sitting on the chair next to the bed, staring up at me. He looked boyish for once.
“I don’t remember.” I put my hand to my head, which had begun to pound loudly in the front. I closed my eyes and winced. “I’m sorry, I can’t remember much, just bits and pieces. My head hurts so bad.” Oh my god, he asked me to marry him.