“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.”
I exhaled, not expecting that, but I looked into his sad, blue eyes, determined to make him see that my words were true: I’d always want him. “Do you remember what you said to me? That you’d always be there for me, no matter what?” I said and squeezed his hand.
“I do…”
“Well, I want you to know I feel the same. I’ll be by your side no matter what.” I took a breath. “I’m not going to lie to you and pretend that it doesn’t upset me that one day we can’t have a baby together, but Harvey, my love, can’t you see, you can and will be a father?” I said as I moved his hand onto my belly, the little bump that had started to show around my middle.
“I didn’t want to presume…” he said, shaking his head and looking in wonder as he stroked the bump.
“We both need you,” I said.
“Then I’ll spend the rest of my life looking after the both of you.”
“That sounds like an oath.”
“It is,” he confirmed.
21
Sara
“Ready to go home?”
Harvey nodded from the wheelchair, and I grabbed a duffel bag filled with his belongings Sadie had kindly brought. I swung the strap around my shoulder, not minding the hefty weight as I steered him from the hospital room.
“You sure you can carry that?” Harvey asked.
I nodded and flashed him a reassuring smile. “Yeah, I’m good. Stop worrying.”
“But you’re pregnant,” he scowled up at me. “You’re not supposed to carry anything heavy.”
“Well, it’s not that heavy.”
“Fine,” he grumbled. It was killing him being in the wheelchair, helpless, but the hospital’s bureaucratic rules dictated that he remain there till we were outside.
I rolled him past a group of doctors and nurses who waved at us, asking a few questions here and there before we walked out. The heavy scent of bleach and antiseptic faded as we stepped out of the building. Harvey sprang up as soon as the main entrance door swooshed closed.
“Finally!” he said and grabbed the duffel off my shoulders.
“Careful, your wrist.”
We found our way to my car and got in. Harvey’s hand sneakily found its way onto my thigh as we drove. I still couldn’t believe it: my stepbrother and I were actually going to do it, be together, raise a child. It was insane.
I pulled the car to a stop at a traffic light and turned my head to the side to see Harvey staring at me, an intense emotion flaring in the depths of his blue eyes.
“What?” I asked. “Do I have something on my face?” I pulled down the driver’s mirror to check and reached out to touch my face, convinced I had a spot on my chin.
He shook his head. “Nope, you’re fine.”
“Then why are you looking at me like that?” I pressed.
He smiled; his mouth looked soft and inviting. “Because you’re a beautiful woman. And I’m never going to get used to you being mine.”
My fingers caressed his whiskered cheek; the pad of my thumb grazed along his jawline.
“I want you with me always,” he said. His expression turned sober, his mouth losing its smile as he regarded me seriously.
“I’m here, aren’t I?” I said.
“No,” he uttered, “I want you always with me. No matter what happens, Sara, I want you with me. For the rest of our lives. Forever.”
His sweet words set off a stinging feeling at the back of my eyes. “Forever seems an awfully long time,” I said, teasing.
He shrugged, “I don’t take no for an answer, babe.”
“In that case, it looks like I have no choice. Oh, well,” I joked.
“Good.”
“By the way. What was it that you wanted to tell me? Back in the office, I mean,” I said, my forefinger stroking his hand on top of my thigh.
“Oh, that. I’d totally forgotten. Good thing you reminded me.” He chuckled softly, then his voice turned serious. “Eric never meant to leave you, Sara.”
“What do you mean?” I asked and quickly found a place to pull over.
“He didn’t kill himself. The mechanic who took a closer look at the car, the second one, told me that there was a fault with the brake line. So it was an accident. And I’d already contacted the insurance company that morning. I threatened to take legal action, because I found out that Bluelife has a bit of a history of not investigating cases thoroughly. Anyway, they’ve agreed to pay the life insurance.”