“He’s recovering. He’s got some paralysis on one side, and his speech is slurred, but it could have been a lot worse. He’s lucky to be alive.”
Caroline nodded as she brought a glass of water over to Hope, along with some aspirin. “He’s going to need extensive rehabilitation, but he can answer questions, knows the date, knows who the current prime minister is, so his prognosis is good.”
Hope waved away the medication, but Caroline was firm. “Take it. You’ve been through hell, and if you don’t mind me saying so, you look it. The doctor said you need to keep your fluids up. Even if you won’t take his pain medication, at least take the aspirin.”
The pain medication she’d been given the previous day had wiped her out, and Hope was very careful when it came to taking medication to help one “cope”—she’d learned the hard way how addictive those darling little pills could be. Now she tended to shy away from painkillers, and truthfully, the pain in her ribs wasn’t as bad as the night she’d been knocked overboard. She was already healing. She could handle this discomfort.
Rick smiled. “Nurse Caroline. Don’t you wish you’d stayed in hospital, now?”
Hope laughed, then winced and straightened up. They were all fussing needlessly. A couple of cracked ribs. Considering what they’d endured, cracked ribs were nothing.
“Uh, how’s Oliver?” she asked, hiding her curiosity by taking the tablet and glass from Caroline. She hadn’t seen him since that press conference. Heroes needed to rest, too. And no matter what their last words to each other were, Hope really did see Oliver as a hero. He’d risked his life to save hers, and she would be forever grateful. She shivered, thinking of what could have happened. Last night she’d had a nightmare. She’d dreamt she was drowning, and it had felt so real. Her hand fluttered at her neck, recalling the sensation of her throat closing over … She’d woken up gasping, as though she’d been holding her breath in her sleep.
She didn’t want to remember the moments when she’d called out Oliver’s name, but in the dream he hadn’t saved her, and she’d gone down for a third time, swallowed up by the dark, stormy waters. She tightened her grip on the glass. She needed to make sure Oliver was well.
“He’s okay,” Rick said, closing his folder. “A little dehydrated, like you, and he’s got a few scratches, a sore foot, but he’s in pretty good condition.” He gazed at his sister. “You are both so lucky. I almost died when I saw you go overboard.” The lines around his mouth were deep with worry, and Hope realized he’d gone through quite an ordeal himself. She held out her hand and he reached over to clasp it.
“I’m so glad you’re all right,” he whispered, blinking back the sheen of unshed tears in his eyes. “I didn’t know how to tell Mom that you were lost at sea.”
Hope grimaced. “Yes, I think I would have preferred to be stuck on a deserted island than to face that particular conversation. It must have been rough.” She squeezed his hand.
“Don’t worry about me,” her brother chuckled. “She’s flying down as we speak. She knows you’ve been located, but she’s coming to see for herself.”
Hope sagged against the cushions. She hated causing such a fuss and worrying so many people. She’d been shocked by the amount of boats out looking for them. And now there was a media storm brewing—one that would explode when Brooke Logan arrived.
“I thank God you’re alive,” Rick said quietly. He looked over at his fiancée. “That we’re all alive.”
Hope nodded. “I need to thank Oliver,” she murmured, remembering the last time she’d tried to thank him.
Caroline lowered herself to the lounge, and Hope shifted her feet to make room. “We all do. I thought I was going to have a heart attack—” She held up a hand. “Sorry, poor choice of words. I was so terrified when I saw you go overboard—but then for Oliver to dive in straight after you …” Caroline shook her head in amazement.
“That man risked his life to save yours, without a thought for his own wellbeing. He just dived right in. Whatever happened between you, I hope you guys can sort it out, because it’s obvious that he loves you.” She nodded sagely. “He’s a keeper,” she said, then grinned. “Just like your brother,” she added, looking at Rick. “You’d jump in and save me if I was drowning, wouldn’t you, babe?”
Rick cocked his head to the side, gazing at her for a moment. “I think I would.”
Caroline gaped, then threw a cushion at him. “Think? You think? Oh, just you wait, mister.”
Hope laughed as more cushions flew across the room. Her brother slid from his chair, his arms protecting his head as he crawled across the floor and grabbed his wife’s wrist, halting the attack.
“As if you need to ask,” he said softly, and kissed her. He pulled back and stared into her eyes, and Hope averted her gaze from the intimacy. “You were amazing on that boat, Caroline. You were so brave,” he shook his head as he brushed a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. “I would follow you through the fires of hell, if need be.”
“Oh, babe, that’s so romantic,” Caroline breathed, and kissed him again.
Hope nudged him with her foot. “Get your own room, brother dear.”
Rick pulled away from Caroline and turned his gaze at his sister. Hope saw the love and genuine affection he held for her, and it warmed her.
“No, I’ll stay here,” he told her.
“What, and watch me snore?” She shook her head. “You did enough of that yesterday. No, Rick. Go.” She patted him on the arm. “It’s okay. I’m fine.”
She could see his reluctance, and she thought she understood. With everything that had happened, all the embarrassing and painful things their family had done over the years, she and Rick had always relied on each other. She squeezed his arm.
“I’m okay,” she reassured him.
He gazed at her for a moment, before finally nodding. “Fine, but call if you need me.”
“I will.”
He rose and gathered his folder as Caroline leaned in. “You know,” she began tentatively, “I screwed up royally with your brother, with all those stunts I tried to pull on Maya when she was dating him—and I regret that, I regret how I behaved. But Rick’s giving me another chance, and we are both so very happy.”
Hope’s brow furrowed. She wasn’t sure why Caroline was talking to her like this.
Caroline looked down at the cushion she gripped in her hands. “I wouldn’t be this happy, I wouldn’t be feeling all of this joy—and neither would your brother—if he hadn’t decided to forgive me and give us a second chance.” Caroline shrugged as she rose from the lounge. “Just saying.”
“Just saying what?” Rick turned in the doorway, where he was waiting for his wife to join him.
“I’m just saying, you are so going to have to take me on a holiday after all this,” Caroline said cheerily. “I’m thinking Paris.”
Hope watched as Rick and Caroline left, smiling at the very obvious affection between the two. She was so happy her brother had found a woman who loved him unreservedly—and Caroline was definitely unreserved.
Hope swung her legs to the floor and leaned as far forward as her strapped chest would allow. Her thoughts turned back to Oliver. He hadn’t been far from her mind since they’d been rescued. She’d had plenty of time to consider his words.
If you can move on, so can I. She toyed with the fringe on a cushion. She should be happy that Oliver was moving on. She didn’t want him to pine for her, she wanted him to be happy, to be fulfilled. Her fingers clenched. She hadn’t really thought beyond that altruistic wish. Suddenly she was faced with the idea of Oliver being with another woman, sharing confidences with another woman, being the same warm, wonderful companion he’d been with her—with another woman.
She’d dated other guys, heck, she’d even gotten married … Hope grimaced, and sighed. She’d come on this trip in an effort to get some distance from Liam and Wyatt, to give herself a chance to think, to breathe, to sort out the mess that was her personal li
fe—and she’d only succeeded in screwing it up even more.
Was Oliver right? Had she lost sight of her identity, her self-worth, in her relationship with Liam?
She knew that moment on the balcony during her graduation party had been an unintended interlude. Her mother had thought she was making love with her husband, and Oliver had believed the woman who had approached him, wearing the necklace he’d given her, had been Hope. She understood that, and she believed them. There had been no denying the genuine horror and regret both had felt when they’d realized their mistake. Hope pursed her lips. A sad and sorry case of mistaken identity—and the perfect reason not to hold a masquerade party ever again.
It had taken her a while to accept their explanations, though, and she still struggled with what had happened. Still, Oliver was right. She had forgiven her mother, even while her mother still tended to make spectacular errors in judgment. She hadn’t afforded Oliver that same leeway, though.
Did Caroline have a point? Could she really forgive him?
She shifted in her seat. With her ribcage strapped she couldn’t recline in a slump, like she wanted to. She had to sit with her back straight. She shuffled back on the lounge until she could lean against the backrest.
An emotional affair. She’d never really seen Liam’s association with Steffy in that way, and it was interesting to consider it now. Liam had proposed to Hope first, and Steffy had pursued him like a panther on the hunt—just as she’d once tried to pursue Oliver. Except Oliver had resisted, and Steffy had resorted to blackmail before he would agree to pose as her boyfriend. Oliver had only ever acquiesced in an effort to protect Hope. Liam, however, could claim no such defense.
Hope rose from the settee and paced over to the doors that opened onto her own private deck, framing the view of Whitsunday Passage. Liam had married Steffy twice, and he wasn’t the type to make that commitment lightly. Each time he’d had real feelings for his wife. Hope brushed her arms to warm herself against the balmy night air. She was well aware of how conflicted Liam was—his sincere feelings for Steffy were something Hope had felt she had to live with.
She blinked. Several years ago, she wouldn’t have accepted being made second string in a relationship. She wouldn’t have accepted her man being married to another woman. Heck, she hadn’t even accepted Oliver’s clearly accidental one-time fall from grace. Tears spilled down her cheeks. She’d always held herself in such high esteem, she’d always respected her body, her mind, refusing to be cast in the same light as her infamous mother. And yet, here she was, caught in a love triangle with a man who had married, and still had feelings for, another woman.
Just like her mother.
She wiped away her tears. Oliver was right. She’d somehow lost sight of herself, of her sense of worth.
She turned and walked across her suite, and picked up her keys. She needed to talk to Oliver. She needed to see him, hear his familiar voice. She needed to talk with him, to see if she could possibly salvage their relationship.
She hopped into one of the golf carts that were used to get around the resort and drove it over to Oliver’s pavilion. She parked it in a space behind some tropical plants, and had started to get out when the door to Oliver’s pavilion opened. She paused, craning her neck to see. She was about to call out when she realized it wasn’t Oliver who stood on the little forecourt in front of his door.
Jasmine stood on the step, talking to Oliver in the doorway. Hope couldn’t hear what they were saying. Jasmine laughed and reached out to touch Oliver on the arm, her touch lingering as she spoke softly to him. Oliver smiled, then leaned down and kissed her on the cheek.
Jasmine smiled, then stepped back with a little wave. Hope watched as the pretty young woman walked over to her golf cart and drove off.
Oliver stood gazing after her for a while, then shook his head and stepped back, slowly closing the door.
Hope stood in the encroaching darkness, too stunned for a moment to realize she was crying.
She was too late.
Chapter Thirteen
Oliver stared at the back of Hope’s head as the hotel lift ascended, her tawny hair cascading down her back. Rick, Thomas, Caroline and Hope were on their way back to their rooms after yet another long day in the Sydney office. Another long day where Hope had frozen him out.
Sure, she was polite and cordial in front of others, but there was a definite cooling in her demeanor whenever she was forced to deal with him—and forced was the best word for it. She no longer sought him out, no longer laughed with him over a shared joke. It had been several days since their ordeal on the island, but other than their press conference, and another one upon their arrival in Sydney, they hadn’t really spent much time together.
“Okay, so everything is set for the launch,” Caroline addressed the group. “Tomorrow morning we’ll go to the venue and take care of any last-minute details.” She turned to Hope. “Except for you. You need your rest if you’re going to be strutting your stuff on the catwalk.”
Oliver already knew he wasn’t required for the day. All the images had been selected, and he’d worked with the graphic design team on the many silk banners Caroline had insisted were necessary for the show.
“I still can’t believe we’re launching HFTF at the Sydney Opera House,” Thomas murmured in disbelief. Rick had arranged for the event to take place in the Concert Reception Hall, and Oliver had spent the day there setting up the screens and scenery shots.
Rick nodded, and turned to grin at Thomas. “Turns out the Sydney Opera House welcomes all forms of art and creativity. They’ve been great to work with.”
Hope turned to look at the group. “This all seems so surreal. I can’t believe that tomorrow night we will be parading HFTF garments in the Sydney Opera House to an international market.”
Her smile faltered when she caught Oliver’s eye, and she looked away almost immediately. Oliver frowned. He knew he’d said some things on the beach, and some of it may have sounded harsh, but he and Hope had always been able to talk, and be brutally honest with each other—until now.
Despite the bonding experience of being lost at sea, and relying on each other for survival, Hope acted like she didn’t want anything to do with him. That hurt. It made him even more certain that he’d made the right decision.
“I don’t know how we can possibly top this in Japan,” Thomas commented.
“Oh, I have some ideas,” Caroline said as the lift dinged and the doors slid open.
“I’m sure you’ll do very well,” Oliver said dryly as they exited the elevator. He started to make his way down the hall to his room, but paused when he felt a hand on his arm. He turned.
“I’m sure you’ll do very well,” Rick said quietly. “And like I said, our door is always open. Hurry back.”
Oliver smiled, nodding. He refrained from comment, though, and continued on to his room. It wasn’t until he was inside, leaning against his closed door, that he let the sadness creep into his expression. He was going to miss Forrester Creations. He was going to miss being involved in the conceptual design of a launch, he was going to miss the vitality and buzz that always simmered in the offices—he might even miss Caroline and her exhausting good cheer and bizarre stunts. Most of all, though, he’d miss Hope. He’d miss that easy rapport they’d had, the quiet moments when they shared their troubles and leaned on each other for support. He’d miss the anticipation of bumping into her in the hall, of seeing that beautiful smile, and hearing her infectious laugh. He’d miss the life that he had hoped for, but would never have.
*
Hope frowned as Oliver’s door clicked shut, then turned to her brother.
“What was that all about? Isn’t he coming on the next leg of the campaign?”
Rick shook his head as Caroline came to stand beside him, and he slung an arm around her shoulders. “No, he’s taking a temporary assignment back in Genoa City.”
Hope’s frown deepened.
“What do you mean
, a temporary assignment?” Thomas asked. “Oliver’s been with us for so long, I naturally associate him with all of our promotional activities, all of our photo shoots. No one seems to capture the Forrester vibe quite like Oliver does.”
Rick sighed. “Yeah, well, he said that his time on the island forced him to re-evaluate his life, and he feels he needs to try something different for a while.”
Caroline frowned. “For how long? He’s one of those photographers who can hit the ground running, and he’s got a knack for getting the right look for our shoots. I hope he comes back soon.”
Rick nodded. “So do I.” He checked his watch. “It’s getting late. Does anyone want to grab a quick dinner with us?”
Caroline shot Thomas and Hope such a fierce look that Hope had to cover her smile by pretending to cough—which reminded her she had sore ribs.
“Uh, no,” Thomas said carefully, eyeing Caroline. “I’m meeting someone in about half an hour, but thanks.”
“I’m a little tired. I’m going to eat in tonight. You know, grab that beauty rest Caroline thinks I need so much of,” Hope teased.
Caroline nodded, unabashed. “Good idea. Looks like it’s just you and me, lover boy.”
Rick grinned as Caroline grasped his hand and dragged him down the hall. “I’ll check in with you sometime tomorrow, then, sis,” he called over his shoulder.
Hope let herself into her room. She dropped her peach satin clutch purse on the chair just inside the door, then jumped, gasping as a shadow detached itself from the curtains by the window.
“That’s hardly any way to greet your mother.” The gentle voice carried across the room, and Brooke Logan shook her head, smiling, as she approached her daughter, arms wide.
“Mom, you scared me,” Hope said with a breathless laugh as she accepted her mother’s hug. “I wasn’t expecting to see you.”
Brooke pulled back, a slight frown marring her beautiful features. “Didn’t Rick tell you I was coming?”
Stormswept: The Bold and the Beautiful Page 11