"I'm her fiancé." He lied without shame. He wanted it, wished for it, and if she got better, he'd make it true.
"Please fill these in for us." She handed him a clipboard stacked with forms. "You can wait over there. The doctors will be with you as soon as they can."
He filled in blanks and waited. The nurse brought him some coffee, told him the doctor attended Christine and would update him soon. Charlie thought about calling her children but wanted news first. She'd seemed so fragile, so broken. He didn't want to upset them. Oh God, who could have done this? And why?
"Mr. Jergens?"
He jumped to his feet. "Doctor, how is she? When can I see her? What is her condition?"
"I'm Doctor Bell." The white coated man with gray hair held out his hand. "We have your fiancée stabilized and have sent her to radiology for x-rays. Can you tell me what happened?"
It took forever for Charlie to explain how he left for a jog and found her minutes later on the ground. The Doctor nodded several times, his face searching Charlie's as he told of Christine's injuries and answered his questions. Then the police arrived to interview Charlie, take a statement, and tell him they were working to find her attacker.
Finally, hours later, he was able to see Christine. He sat beside her bed and took her swollen hand between his own. The machines monitoring her beeped and hummed. She had a concussion so bandages were wrapped around her head and hair, her dislocated shoulder tucked in a sling. Her face. He'd kill her attacker alone for her bruised and swollen eye, the puffy discoloration of her cheek, and deep cuts along her neck. But she lived and would recover. Thank God.
Charlie brushed a soft kiss across her lips and laid his head beside hers. Her breath stirred against his cheek. Mine. I love you. I'm so sorry I didn't protect you. But I will. I swear from now on I will. And the person who did this will pay.
Chapter Twelve
Christine heard someone whisper her name over and over, but blessed quiet and the feeling of being wrapped safe and secure in a warm blanket filled her. Nothing mattered except staying in the blanket. "Christine," the voice pleaded, soothing as hot tea on a sore throat. "Please, Ku`u Lei, wake. Christine."
"What do you want?" She tried to say, but a grunt left her throat. As the last folds of the blanket peeled away, pain took its place. So much pain she cried in broken, hoarse sobs. Not a single spot didn't hurt, especially her face. She pried her left eye open as though it weighed a hundred pounds.
"Shh, Ko`u Aloha, I'm here." Charlie's face appeared in front of her. "Christine?"
Swallowing hard twice then three times, she croaked out the first thing she thought. "You look tired." She tried to touch him, but he held her hand. Her right eye wouldn't open. What had happened? Then she remembered. Her face hurt because she slammed into the house. He had hurt her. No, no, no.
"We were so worried about you." Charlie laid his forehead on hers. "Thank God you finally woke. Welcome back, Ku'uipo, Ku'u 'I'ini. Let me get the nurse."
"Don't leave." This time the words ripped from her throat. "He'll come. Safe with you. Don't go."
"Shh, my Gem. You're safe. I promise he'll never come near you again." Charlie gripped her hand, relaxing his hold a bit when she moaned, and wiped his face with his other hand. "You're in the hospital. You're safe. I'll never leave you again."
She felt him press something beside her. "Safe?"
"Safe." He held a cup for her to sip water through a straw. Her mouth and throat felt like someone stuffed them with cotton.
"Ms. Howell?" A new voice, fresh and cheery, bubbled in the room. "I'm Eva, your nurse. Mind if I call you Christine?"
Christine wanted to smack such cheerfulness. She shook her head and moaned in pain. Don't move the head and all is well. "N-nurse?"
"Yes, hun. I'm Eva." Soft fingers touched Christine's wrist. "Can you move your fingers?" Nurse? More like beach bunny, all tanned and glowing. Christine moved her fingers, one by one and noticed the IV in her right arm above Charlie's fingers. He watched her, his gaze taking in every movement she made.
"You need a manicure, but we can arrange one later when you can fully appreciate it. Nothing makes you feel better than having someone fix your nails." Eva bustled about reading the machines Christine could hear beeping. She pulled out a stethoscope. "Can you please try to take a deep breath for me?"
Christine tried to draw air deep into her lungs, but it hurt, everything hurt. She felt the tube in her nose and realized she had oxygen. Why couldn't she open her right eye? She wanted to reach up, but she wanted Charlie's fingers around hers more.
"Easy, yes, I know it hurts." Eva marked something on the thin tablet she held. "Just take it slow, hun, no need to rush. What can I get for you?"