by Lane, Terri
“I’m almost certain it’s a sprain,” Rose commented while setting another pillow under the first. “And this should help with the pain.”
“Thank you, Rose. Can you get Harvey some tea?” Samantha asked.
“Yes, ma’am,” Rose replied. “What kind would you like, sir?”
Harvey raised his eyebrows.
“Do you have peppermint?” he asked.
“Yes, sir,” she replied.
“I’ll have a cup of that,” he said.
“Hot or cold, sir?” she asked.
“Hot, please,” he replied.
Rose nodded and left the room, leaving the two to silently listen to the banter coming from the news anchors of Sierra, Illinois. There were a few reports of police cases, a brief synopsis of a hall meeting, and some more broad political news involving the state of America. Harvey honed in on different pieces that interested him, retaining them for later reflection.
“Don’t you think it’s strange?” Samantha asked.
“What’s that?” Harvey asked in response.
“The whole sex scandal thing with the Leon Walten family. You would think they would have dropped everything by now,” she replied.
“It’s pop culture news, especially since he cheated on his wife,” he said.
“I get that. I just don’t think it’s newsworthy. There are more important things to worry about,” she went on.
“Like what?” he asked.
She raised an eyebrow.
“Well, like famine and disease, for example,” she said. “I donate to charity every year that helps develop new ways to prevent HIV, the spread of disease, and the horrible famines that happen overseas.”
Harvey nodded.
“Those are noble causes,” he commented.
“Exactly. So, why is the news so worried about sex affairs? That’s just human nature,” she said.
“I guess it’s also human nature to be curious,” he said.
Samantha scoffed and rolled her eyes.
“People are weird,” she said. “I don’t get it.”
Harvey shrugged. Before he could say anything else, a knock came from the door and he stood to answer it. A female doctor smiled warmly and nodded.
“I’m Dr. Renald. How are you doing?” she asked.
“I’m doing very well. I’m Harvey,” he replied.
“It’s lovely to meet you, Harvey. How’s Samantha doing?” Dr. Renald asked while entering the room.
She walked straight to the bed and looked immediately at the ankle that was up on the pillows. Samantha set the television on mute and winked at Harvey who smiled.
“Looks like it’s just a sprain,” Dr. Renald said. “It’s just swollen at the moment. You should definitely ice it for a bit and apply some heat later. I’m afraid you’ll also need to avoid your favorite hobby.”
Samantha sighed.
“I can’t dance,” she said in a defeated tone.
“No, ma’am. Harvey mentioned you fell on your right side. How’s your shoulder?” Dr. Renald asked.
She patted Samantha’s shoulder to check the area.
“It’s a little painful, but fine,” Samantha replied.
“It doesn’t feel like anything is out of place. I’d recommend a lot of rest today, plenty of fluids, and a balanced lunch,” Dr. Renald said.
She turned to Harvey.
“Make sure she eats those greens, tiger,” Dr. Renald teased.
Harvey laughed.
“I wouldn’t dare force Samantha to do anything she didn’t want,” he replied.
Samantha smiled and crossed her arms.
“See? He’s already trained,” she joked.
Dr. Renald chuckled lightly.
“I can tell,” she said. “Alright, Sammy. Get some rest and let me know if anything changes. I’m going to prescribe something for the pain which Mr. Harvey can pick up later.”
“Thank you, Dr. Renald,” Samantha said.
“You’re welcome, dear. Have a great day,” Dr. Renald said.
She left the room and Harvey looked down at his watch instinctively even though he didn’t have anywhere to be. He stood up.
“Let me get you a pack of ice,” he offered.
“Oh, no. We can call Rose to get it,” Samantha said.
“It’s alright. I was going to check on my tea anyway,” he said.
Samantha smiled politely and nodded, mindlessly turning her attention back to the television. She looked like she was hungry. Harvey made a note to pick up a snack for Samantha as well. The doctor had informed him that she was refusing food at home due to her post-traumatic stress and he wanted to make sure she had a full stomach at least once during the day. It was important for her to have her strength as well.
As Harvey walked down to the kitchen, he reflected on how Samantha had reacted to him carrying her to the bed. She seemed almost fearless for someone who was still suffering with nightmares. He knew because he heard her gasping in the middle of the night and she would inform him the next day. But she had seemed so trusting in that moment.
I must be mistaken, he thought with the shake of his head.
In the kitchen, he stopped Rose from proceeding to the elevator with the cart and offered to take it himself, telling her to take a brief break before doing any other chores. Rose thanked him and he disappeared to the elevator where he patiently rode up to the second floor. He wheeled the cart down the hall and into Samantha’s room where he found her looking through an appointment book that she kept next to her bed.
“Oh, what a lovely surprise,” she said while setting her book aside.
“I got some ice, too,” he said while lifting up a cold bag. “May I?”
Samantha motioned to her ankle.
“Yes, please,” she replied.
Harvey walked to the bed and gently placed the ice over her ankle, being careful not to touch her skin. He accidentally brushed the bottom of her foot and she giggled, retracting her foot instinctively which caused her to hiss in pain.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“It’s alright. It just tickled,” she said quickly while extending her leg again.
Harvey adjusted the ice pack, fixed the pillows, and then sat down in the love seat next to the bedside table. Samantha picked up her appointment book and scribbled into it.
“I have to call Rodney,” she said out loud.
“Pardon?” Harvey asked.
Without looking up, Samantha said, “Sorry. Speaking out loud helps me organize my thoughts.”
Harvey nodded.
“You can change the channel,” she said as she reached for the phone. “There are other things to watch that aren’t the news.”
“Does that mean you want to watch something else?” he asked while standing to grab the remote.
She smiled while pressing the buttons of the phone.
“Absolutely.”
Chapter 7
Frantically, Samantha tossed a number of clothes into a suitcase and flipped the top of it closed. Behind her was the sound of the television talking about one of the hottest pop tours in the country—hers. She raised her hand to her lips and tapped her cupid’s bow, forgetting that she had lipstick decorating her mouth. She looked at her stained finger and rolled her eyes, turning to walk to the bathroom for a tissue.
“I’m a mess,” she said to no one in particular.
Harvey was next door packing his suitcase as well. He would likely be done soon while Samantha was still trying to pin down the basics. It wasn’t like she hadn’t had time to get things together. It was just her nerves. She was shaking as she reached for her toothbrush and paste, watching herself move timidly in the mirror.
What a mess, she thought. I can’t even stop shaking.
Heading back to her bed, she heard a knock at the door. It was the same coded knock that Harvey had taught her was him so she wouldn’t have to peek through the peephole.
“Come in,” she called while shoving her toothbrush an
d paste in her bag.
Harvey appeared with a satchel over his shoulder.
“The car is pulling up soon. Are you ready?” he asked.
“Mostly,” she replied.
She turned and shut off the television, sitting in an almost defeated manner on the edge of the bed.
“It doesn’t matter how many times I tour. I always forget something,” she said. “It’s remarkably unlike me. I am so organized, you know?”
Harvey smiled and sat on the couch next to the window.
“I keep a list of needed items that way I can check them off before I leave,” he said.
“That just sounds like too much,” she said while shaking her head. “I don’t know. Maybe I should keep a list. It’s always something small, but really important.”
“Like what?” he asked.
“Like my favorite lip balm,” she replied.
He chuckled.
“It’s no laughing matter,” she joked. “Sometimes, I get really uncomfortable without my lip balm.”
“No, I’m laughing because I understand,” he insisted.
He procured a small tube of lip balm from his pocket and held it up.
“I keep mine on me at all times,” he said.
“No way,” she said.
“Oh, yes,” he insisted. “I can’t stand chapped lips.”
“Maybe I should just hand mine to you so I don’t keep losing it,” she said.
“That might not be a bad idea,” he said.
Another knock came from the door, interrupting their friendly banter.
“Ma’am?” called Rose. “The car is here.”
“I’ll be right there,” Samantha replied.
She looked at Harvey, raised her eyebrows, and then stood from the bed to lift her suitcase. While trying to set it down on the ground, Harvey took it from her with ease, his muscles flexing under his button-down shirt. She smiled.
“Oh, thank you,” she said.
“Of course,” he said.
They headed out the door and then down the stairs, Samantha worrying that him carrying both of their bags might be too much for him. She turned slightly to check and he seemed to be fine. The black limo was waiting for them out front and they piled in after Harvey had set their bags in the trunk.
She rolled down her window a bit. The air was fresh with the smell of flowers and it put her at ease for a moment, watching the swirls of color pass as they pulled away. The car picked up a regular speed on the highway and then took the exit for the airport which they weren’t too far from. She propped her chin up in her hand.
“Are you alright?” Harvey asked after a few minutes of silence.
“Yes, I’m fine,” she replied without looking.
She could hear him breathing in the silence of the limo. Each breath was confident and smooth, seeming to indicate that he had everything under control in his body and his surroundings. This would surely be a test of his skills as a guard. They were quickly approaching the air strip and a group of fans were gathered near the plane. Airport security seemed to have the situation handled, but it made a knot form in Samantha’s throat. She swallowed hard.
The limo parked a couple hundred yards away from the crowd and one of the airport security guards opened the door. Harvey stepped out first and then turned to take Samantha’s hand as she timidly stepped out of the vehicle. She studied the crowd with a feigned smile, something she had practiced over the years for interviews to hide her true emotions.
As they walked forward, she felt light-headed and tried to focus on the door of the airplane through her shades.
Almost there, she thought with each step.
People cried from the crowd and held up signs of affection, tossing flowers and chanting her name. It made her smile wider. She waved to a few fans and then walked up the steps of the plane, not realizing she was gripping Harvey’s hand the entire time. She released it immediately and chose her usual seat in the back where she collapsed into the cushions. A waiter dressed in black approached.
“Hello, Miss Miles. Would you like anything to drink this afternoon?” he asked.
Harvey scooted past the waiter and sat in the chair opposite hers on the other side of the aisle.
“A glass of champagne, please,” she replied.
The waiter nodded and headed to the back where a pseudo kitchen was set up for meals and drinks.
“That was quite a crowd,” Harvey commented.
“Yes, it was,” she sighed.
The intercom beeped and the pilot of the plane spoke eloquently through the speaker.
“Good afternoon, Miss Miles, and welcome to Charity Air. We’ve got clear skies up above and a smooth ride ahead, so buckle up and prepare for lift off.”
Samantha smiled. She felt much calmer sitting in her seat, but her hand wouldn’t stop shaking. When the waiter returned, she quickly took her drink and thanked him, sitting back in her seat and steadying herself with a few deep breaths.
After the plane took off, the seat belt sign turned off and she turned to Harvey who was looking pensively out the window.
“Hey,” she said. “You don’t have to sit over there.”
When he turned, she patted the seat next to her. He smiled.
“I figured I would give you your space,” he said while standing.
He sat in the seat next to her, the sound of air escaping the cushions as he settled in. She focused on her glass of champagne and then took a sip, smiling as it settled in her gut.
“Would you like a glass?” she asked.
“No, thank you. I don’t drink during the day,” he replied.
Samantha shrugged.
“It’s helping to take the edge off,” she said.
“I could tell it was a bit nerve-racking for you to walk through that crowd,” he said.
She nodded.
“I haven’t been around a crowd since...” she trailed off.
Gently, Harvey took her hand and gave it a quick squeeze. It caused her stomach to flip and she stared with wide eyes at their interlocked fingers.
“It’ll be alright soon. You just need to get used to your routine again,” he assured her.
When he released her hand, a shy smiled crossed her lips and she looked at his profile. His trimmed brown hair was slicked back and his cheek bones were prominent, leading down into a strong chin which he nonchalantly scratched. Those bright, blue eyes were focused on something ahead of him, unaware she was studying his profile.
Or maybe he knew and hadn’t said anything yet.
“Would you like to watch something?” Samantha asked.
She felt like she asked that question a lot whenever they were silent, but it made her feel like their interactions were normal. The more time she spent around him, the more nervous she seemed to grow.
Harvey shrugged.
“You know I’m not picky,” he replied.
Samantha picked up the remote and tried to focus on the buttons, her hand still shaking from the crowd encounter earlier.
“Comedies always calm me down,” she commented.
“I like Other Than the Obvious,” Harvey said.
She giggled.
“That’s one of my favorites!” she said. “How do you feel about Mr. Holiday’s Vacation?”
“It could have been better. Roger Hallman wasn’t his best,” he replied.
Samantha gave him a quizzical look.
“No way!” she said. “I thought he was fantastic.”
She flipped through some movie channels and settled on a romantic comedy called Hello Beautiful Fields which she had loved for many years.
“This is a good one,” she said while setting down the remote.
“I was never into romance movies unless they’re from the 50’s,” he said.
“Why’s that?” Samantha asked.
“The cinematic value seems richer in black and white. Color is amazing, but there’s something about a vintage film that feels far more romantic,” he replied.
“That’s interesting,” she said.
“You must think I’m strange,” he said with a chuckle.
He looked over at her and their eyes locked. It was so sudden that she couldn’t pull away, getting lost in the swirl of blues and hints of green at the center of his eye. They were waves washing over her or stars of light bursting on the fourth of July.
Frightened, she broke away and looked forward at the screen that was already playing halfway through the film. A shiver went up her spine.
Why had he looked at me like that? She thought to herself.
It was as if he was looking deep into her mind, trying to find pieces of her that weren’t readily available on the surface. But it was silly to think such a thing. He was her bodyguard and she was his client. There couldn’t possibly be anything else there.
If there was, it would be inappropriate, she thought. He’s my guard. I wouldn’t dare breach that bridge of professionalism, even if there was a chance.
She bit her lower lip.
But maybe I would consider it.
Chapter 8
The crowd was roaring beyond the stage while Harvey remained on the steps leading up to it. He watched Samantha waving excitedly, her sparkling outfit glittering in the lights coming from above. A smile crossed his lips. Their tour had been going well and hadn’t proven to be dangerous by any means. They had a few false alarms, but that was to be expected when tensions were high.
Being on constant alert occasionally led to him follow a false lead, but it always proved to be worth checking. Being proven wrong was better than discovering a late plan to harm Samantha. He had grown extra protective of her, checking her hotel rooms before she entered in order to make sure they were safe. It was part of his job to be vigilant, but he was starting to feel more strongly about her safety.
As she sauntered over to the side of the stage, he held out his hand to help her down the steps and she smiled while accepting it. At the bottom, she turned around and then led Harvey down the hall to her dressing room. Fans erupted into a frenzy up ahead and Harvey quickly stepped forward to block them in the small hallway. As soon as tour security had a handle on the girls, they allowed Samantha passage.
To his surprise, she stopped and started speaking to the crowd in a calm voice, winning them over immediately. She signed hands and notebooks almost instantly, and proceeded to take pictures with each of the eight girls in attendance. He admired how she handled them with ease without rushing them and even gave them hugs in addition to inspirational words.