by Joan Davis
“Hey you two, what are you doing here?” Gabriel asked softly.
“It was time,” Mama Leone said. “Lela needed to come. We’ve been talking, and she misses Honor, and she wants to help try to wake her.”
Lela stood silent as she stared at Honor. “She’s still sleeping?” she asked.
“I’m afraid so honey,” Gabriel said.
Leaving Mama Leone’s side, Lela walked over to stand next to Gabriel. “Maybe if you kiss her like the prince kissed Sleeping Beauty, she might wake up.”
Gabriel’s throat tightened as he looked down at the hope in Lela’s eyes. He didn’t know how to tell her that fairy tales weren’t real. He looked up at Mama Leone and she just raised her brow. Clearing his throat, he said, “That’s a great idea, baby, but maybe we should both give her a kiss to double our chances. What do you think?”
Nodding eagerly, Lela held her arms up so Gabriel could lift her. Together, they leaned over Honor’s bed. “I love you, Honor. Please wake up ‘cause Uncle Gabriel really misses you, and he’s so sad,” Lela whispered, before kissing Honor’s cheek.
“I love you, Honor. Please come back to us. Lela and I miss you so much,” Gabriel said and kissed her other cheek. He stood up with Lela still in his arms and watched Honor, hoping for sign of any change but after a few minutes, Lela laid her head on his shoulder and said, “It didn’t work.”
“It was still a great idea. I guess she just needs a little more time, baby,” Gabriel said softly. He hated to admit to himself how much he had wanted it to work.
For the next hour, all three of them took turns reading and talking to Honor. As Mama Leone prepared to leave, she hugged Gabriel close and whispered in his ear, “Don’t lose faith. She’s strong, and I know she’s fighting to get back to you.”
Gabriel could only nod, too choked up to speak. He laced his fingers with Honor’s as he watched Mama Leone usher Lela towards the door. Just then, he felt Honor’s fingers tightened around his. At first, he didn’t realize what she’d done, but when she squeezed his fingers again, he gasped in shock. “Wait!”
Mama Leone and Lela spun around to see Gabriel leaning down near Honor.
“Honor can you hear me? If you can, squeeze my hand again. Come on, baby,” Gabriel coaxed urgently. When her fingers once again tightened around his, he couldn’t help yelling, “That’s it, baby!”
“Uncle Gabriel?” Lela called out, trying to understand what was happening.
Gabriel looked up and smiled at his niece. “I think our kisses worked, baby! I think she’s trying to wake up.”
Lela raced over to the bed, even as Mama Leone raced out of the room, calling over her shoulder, “I’ll get the nurse!”
Honor could hear Gabriel calling her again. She had tried over and over to reach out to him. Then she had heard Lela calling to her as well. For days she had tried to move, or at least open her eyes, but then everything would fade away and she seemed to drift away, until once again Gabriel would call out to her. Her eyelids felt weighted down, but she now forced them open. At first everything was blurry and so bright that she shied away from it. When her eyes finally focused, she met the gaze of the most beautiful green eyes she had ever seen. She tried to speak but couldn’t, and then realized something was in her throat and she panicked.
Seeing this, Gabriel quickly leaned over and said, “Shhh, baby. You’re in the hospital. Don’t try to talk yet. Just relax. We’re getting the doctor now. Just hold on for me.”
Honor slowly relaxed and nodded her understanding.
Minutes later, the room filled with doctors and nurses. Gabriel and Lela had to wait outside with Mama Leone while they examined Honor and ran several tests. The doctor in charge of Honor’s case finally came out and told them that as far as he could tell she was fine. They had removed the feeding tube and would remove they rest of the equipment as she grew stronger. He warned them that because she had been in a coma for the last several weeks, she would tire easily, and they needed to keep her stress level at a minimum.
“I wouldn’t normally allow this, but our patient is pretty adamant. She wants to see you and this little girl, if your name is Lela,” the doctor said, but cautioned, “Please try to keep visit as short as possible. She is going to need her rest. I’ll be back in an hour to check on her.”
After thanking the doctor, Gabriel ushered Lela inside Honor’s room. A nurse smiled as she finished up and left them to their visit.
Gabriel leaned down and looked into Honor’s beautiful amber eyes. “Welcome back, baby.” he said, as he lightly brushed his lips over hers.
Weakly, she reached up and brushed away the path of tears running down Gabriel’s face. “Hey,” she croaked. Her mouth was incredibly dry.
“Hey, yourself. It’s about time, woman,” Gabriel choked out. He poured her a cup of water and lifted her slightly so she could drink. He put the cup down and then leaned over to kiss her gently. “You’re back.”
The bed dipped and Honor slowly turned to find that Lela had crawled up next to her, kneeling by her waist with a big wobbly smile and tears in her eyes. “Oh baby, don’t cry. I’ve got you. Come here,” she said. Lela gently laid down next to Honor and put her head on her shoulder. Honor weakly drew her close and stroked her hair. “I’m here, baby, and I’m not going anywhere, I promise.”
Over the next few days, following the doctor’s order was easier said than done. People poured into Honor’s room from morning to night. Even though she felt overwhelmed at times, she wouldn’t have changed a thing. Buck O’Leary and his wife came by with a big bouquet of wildflowers, and several of the men from her crew stopped by to wish her well. Conner and Mik were almost comical in their relief at her recovery. Honor fell a little in love with them both, as they sought to make her day brighter with their antics. Honor was especially happy to have Mama Leone’s daily visits. Her unconditional love made Honor’s recovery that much easier. Lela’s teacher, Ellie Lassiter, visited with a gift of flowers. Sam and Risa came to visit her as well. She knew how hard it was for Risa to walk into any hospital, so, it meant a lot to her that she had made the effort.
The biggest surprise visitor was Duncan McGregor. Gabriel had warned her beforehand that Duncan had been undercover as Fergus Sinclair, but it was still disconcerting when he walked into her room. But within moments, he had apologized and charmed her with his Scottish brogue and twinkling eyes, and Honor couldn’t imagine how she had ever thought him menacing.
In time, she finally got a few minutes alone with Gabriel. They hadn’t yet had a chance to talk things out, and everyone else seemed to avoid any mention of what happened to her.
Not mincing words, Honor asked, “Is he really dead?”
“Yeah, baby. He’ll never be able to hurt anyone ever again,” Gabriel promised.
Tears filled Honor’s eyes. “Did he really stab me?”
“Yes,” Gabriel confirmed simply. They were sitting up in the hospital bed and Honor’s head rested on his shoulder.
“I remember fighting him, I think, but everything else is so hazy. I’m not sure if what I remember is real or a dream.”
“The doctor said that your memories may get sharper, or you may have lost some of them. He said that’s normal, for someone who went through what you did,” Gabriel explained, secretly hoping that she didn’t remember everything that happened. He didn’t want her to relive Dunn’s vicious attack. Snapping that bastard’s neck had been too quick, Gabriel thought viciously.
“What’s going to happen now?” Honor sighed. It was still strange to think that she no longer had anything or anyone to fear.
“First, you’re going to get your strength back and finish your physical therapy. Second, we’ll get you out of here and back home.”
“I don’t think I can go back there,” Honor said.
Gabriel moved a soothing hand up and down her back. “There’s nothing to worry about. I had someone come in and clean-up and repair everything. You won’t be able to even t
ell anything ever happened. I promise.”
“Thank you for doing that for me, but I still don’t want to go back there. There are too many ghosts there now. I don’t want to live in a house where people were killed, and I don’t want to bring Lela into it, either. Maybe that sounds silly, but it’s the way I feel.”
“I don’t think it’s silly. Your feelings are totally understandable. What do you want to do with the house? Sell it?” he asked.
Nodding, Honor said, “I’ll have to finish upgrading the kitchen and baths and finish the deck out back, but then I’m just going to put it on the market. I am worried though, that no one will be interested in buying it after what happened there.”
“Don’t worry about that. We’ll fix it up and people won’t care once they see how beautiful it is. The only thing I care about is that you’re happy.”
“I don’t even know what that would look like. Being happy,” Honor said.
“Then I’ll make that my life’s mission. Making you happy,” Gabriel teased.
Honor didn’t laugh. She just held him tighter. “I love you, Gabriel.”
Leaning down, Gabriel kissed her and whispered, “I love you too.”
*****
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS
Lela watched as her Uncle Gabriel showed her how to use the cookie cutter to form the pretty Christmas shapes. She followed his instructions and a cute little snowman shape formed and was then transferred to the cookie sheet. They worked until two cookie sheets were filled with Christmas trees, candy canes and other holiday shapes, then put them in the oven to bake.
As she watched, contentment settled on Honor’s shoulders. In a week they would be in full holiday mode. There was Lela’s birthday, Christmas and then the New Year’s celebration. For now, it was all about preparation- party planning, food, and decorations. Honor was secretly having a wonderful time. She had never been a part of such festivities, at least on this scale. To her, the world seemed full of magic and new possibilities.
“Okay, now we can make the frosting and get out all the sprinkles. That way we’ll be ready to decorate the cookies when they finish baking and have cooled down,” Gabriel said.
“I can make the frosting,” Honor offered from her bar seat at the kitchen island.
Lela smiled sweetly and said, “No, you work so hard. Just relax and let us do it, and then you can enjoy them when they’re done.”
Suspicious, Honor stared at Lela before asking, “Did Uncle Gabriel tell you to say that, if I asked to help in the kitchen?”
Lela ducked her head and looked at Gabriel under her lashes before confessing, “Um, maybe.”
Honor looked at Gabriel with a raised brow.
“Well, you do work hard, and you should relax. What’s so bad about that?”
Honor just continued to stare until Gabriel broke.
“Fine, I didn’t want another conversation with the fire department. It seemed like the lesser of two evils.”
“It was only twice! How was I supposed to know that the water would evaporate while I was simply boiling eggs? That one was just a freak accident,” Honor grumbled and looked at Gabriel with a pout.
He came around the counter and gave her a big sympathetic hug. “I know baby. One day we’ll get you signed up for cooking lessons. Until then, let’s not push our luck. We just got into this house, and I don’t want to move again for a long time.”
“Fine, I will stay out of the kitchen. I don’t know how I’m going to explain to Mama Leone that I still can’t cook. I know she is expecting a big Christmas dinner when she gets here,” Honor said.
Looking a bit uncomfortable, Gabriel said, “Well . . . actually, Mama Leone and I have already decided that she will help out with Christmas dinner. You know she loves doing stuff like that.”
Frowning, Honor pulled back from Gabriel and said, “So let me get this straight. You went behind my back and talked to Mama Leone about my cooking skills?”
Lela decided to take a strategic break. She leaped down from her chair and ran into the living room. Gabriel wished he could escape just as easily. Wincing, and rubbing the tension in his neck, he asked, “Is there anything I can say that will keep me out of the dog house?”
Looking at Gabriel’s pitiful expression, Honor burst out laughing. Kissing him, she said, “I was just yanking your chain. Mama Leone called me first and told me about her plan. You were actually a pathetic pawn. You see, she doesn’t have an issue with telling me to stay out of the kitchen.”
Growling, Gabriel squeezed her tight until she squeaked with laughter, and then he called out to Lela. “Get back in here you little coward. Honor was just teasing us.”
Lela peeked around the corner with a giggle. Honor laughed at how much she looked like Gabriel with that twinkle in her eyes. “Come in here little monkey. You still have cookies to finish.”
Lela ran over and climbed back up on her chair. Honor watched as Gabriel took his niece through the steps for the cookie frosting. She took a deep breath in contentment. It seemed she did that a lot lately. It was as if she realized for the first time that it was okay to breathe. Watching Gabriel with Lela had become her favorite pastime. Anything that had to do with a normal life had become her obsession.
Thinking back on the last 6 months, so much had changed. Making the decision to sell her house had not been difficult. She had taken out a home improvement loan, and with the help of Sam and Buck and most of her team at work, she had updated the kitchen and baths in record time. Gabriel hadn’t lied when he said she wouldn’t be able to tell that anything horrible had even happened. The wood floors glowed with a soft cherry stain and the walls were all freshly painted. The final touches they added were a bit of landscaping to the front yard to improve the house’s curb appeal, they finished the deck off of her bedroom and added additional lush landscaping to the back yard. Gabriel had even replaced her bed with an identical model. The moment she put it on the market, it became apparent that no one even cared about the horrible events that happened there. Honor had received multiple offers from buyers, and even came out with a tidy profit after the sale.
The day after the new owners closed on the house Gabriel had surprised her by taking her for a drive. They had ended up in front of a beautiful two-story home that sat on a large piece of property. The landscaping looked like something out of a magazine. It had wrap-around porches on both floors and bright white columns, standing post like soldiers. He took her inside, and as they entered the house, it was as if a warm blanket wrapped around them. It was perfect, so light and airy with beautiful finishes in all the rooms. It held its old-world character, but also had all the modern upgrades.
“I’ve always loved this home, but I thought it was too much for just me and Lela. But if you like it, I think we should make an offer,” Gabriel had said.
Surprised, Honor stared at Gabriel. Her old worries about trust and fear rose up momentarily, but then the reality that she was in love with an amazing man and free from the past overrode those old feelings. “Yes,” she said with a wide grin.
With a whoop of excitement, Gabriel had swept her up in his arms and swung her around. They had moved in within the next two months. The house seemed to welcome them home, and today was a perfect example. They were spending time as a family. What more could Honor wish for in life?
A week later, their new home was filled with friends and loved ones who had come to celebrate Christmas Eve with them. Mama Leone had surpassed herself with a grand dinner of turkey and all the trimmings. They had trimmed the tree and everyone had pitched in to help decorate it. For Honor, it was magical. Everywhere she looked she saw people she now considered family. Even Ellie Lassiter had come to join them. When she had told Honor that she wouldn’t be with family for the holiday, Honor couldn’t resist inviting her. She had become a great friend. Ellie had shown up at the party ready to help. She looked beautiful with her gossamer hair floating like red flames around her face and down her back. A green sweater and bla
ck jeans accented her curvaceously petite figure.
As Honor laughed at one of Conner’s tall tales, she glanced out the big picture window in the living room and gasped with excitement. Bright white snowflakes drifted lazily down outside. Clapping her hands, she ran out to the front porch.
The light dusting of snow seemed to glitter along with the Christmas lights that Gabriel had strung on the house and in the some of the trees. Tears threatened to fall, but Honor quickly dashed them away. Strong arms surrounded her, and she leaned back against Gabriel’s chest. Everyone else followed them out, and Lela even coaxed Conner to carry her down into the yard so she could catch snowflakes in her mouth.
“Please tell me again that this is all real,” Honor whispered.
Nuzzling her neck, he said, “Every single second of it.”
Turning in his arms, Honor snuggled close and smiled as Gabriel’s hand automatically started rubbing up and down her back. Sighing in contentment, she wrapped her arms around the man she loved. “Nothing could make me happier than I am now.”
“Lela wants us each to open up one present tonight,” Gabriel said with an arched brow.
“Okay, so maybe there is something that can make me happier. Come on everyone! We’re going to open some gifts,” Honor called out with a laugh, as she ran inside.
Gabriel followed her. I sure hope so, he thought to himself.
Honor watch with enjoyment as each person opened their gift and showed it off to the crowd. Risa and Sam loved the two beautiful wind chimes for their back porch. Mik looked a little nonplussed over his gift certificate to a day spa, but then grinned and tucked it in his pocket. And Mama Leone choked up a little when they presented her with a beautiful healing quilt from Sam’s grandmother’s stash.