Hot Seal Next Door_A Bad Boy Second Chance Romance

by Tia Wylder

  Chapter Seven

  Despite wanting to spend the next day searching for Tiffany, Daniel knew his obligations lie with his job and his young clients. He kissed his little girl on the forehead before bidding her goodbye, thanking Melody for allowing him to stay the night. She still considered him with a familiar disdain, but there was also a rather haunted expression in her eyes. It seemed she was rather put off by Tiffany’s disappearance as well. Daniel’s heart ached at the thought of the curvy woman, and how she managed to make everyone fall in love with her. Specifically, his heart ached at the way she had managed to make him fall for her charms. He started the ignition of his car, driving to the private pediatric clinic he worked for. The drive was a long and lonely one. The fact that there would be no one waiting for him at home really troubled him. He had let down his daughter, he had even managed to disappoint his ex-wife one last time. More than anything, however, he had pushed away the one woman who could salvage his broken heart. He would begin searching for her as soon as his shift was over. Maybe if he was lucky, his boss would even allow him to take off early. He had checked his schedule, and if he recalled correctly, he didn't have too many patients today. However, even one patient seemed one patient too many.

  The day passed in something of a haze. He was unable to keep up a cheerful facade for long, and his young patients noticed the change in attitude. When his boss called Daniel to his office, he could only wonder if he would be fired for his lapse in ability. However, when he stepped into the office, the expression his boss bore was much grimmer than he might have expected. He parted his lips to speak, but before he could, his boss held out a hand and reached over to the office answering machine. He pressed the play button on the most recent message left on their emergency line.

  “Yes, hello? We’re looking for a Dr. Daniel Brookes. His girlfriend, Tiffany Aegis has been in an awful car accident, and we need him to come to the Westside Hospital as soon as possible. Again, if you could pass the message to Dr. Daniel Brookes--” the message continued, but that was the last Daniel heard of it as he sprinted out of his boss’s office and towards the parking lot. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he thought to himself how this couldn’t be happening. Tiffany had been fine the night before, upset, but not injured. However, during his drive to the hospital, desperate tears obscured his vision. His breath caught in his throat, and more than once he was certain he would crash and burn as well. He could only wonder if that was what the woman he loved had felt after hearing such cruel words from him. That only fueled his despair, but somehow, he managed to make it to the hospital. He parked quickly, bursting in the doors of the emergency room. The waiting room was packed full, but he paid little mind to the other families as he lurched towards the front desk.

  “I’m here to see Tiffany Aegis. She’s my girlfriend. I received a call at work,” he requested with emotion-choked voice. The woman at the desk considered him bleakly for a moment before giving him a name tag and allowing him into the emergency department. He had barely made out the words that Tiffany was in room E504 in his desperate haze, but he managed to find the room. Doctors and nurses surrounded the bed, and they were busying themselves with the various tubes hooked up to the curvy woman. She had a large gash across the side of her temple, and her eyes were closed peacefully. The doctors and nurses muttered amongst themselves, and for a moment, Daniel thought he might have been too late. Then, he saw the subtle rise and fall of his love’s chest. “Is she okay?” He blurted, feeling ridiculous immediately after. The scornful look of the doctors made him feel no better. “I mean… what’s her status?” he corrected himself.

  “I take it you’re Doctor Brookes?” One of the nurses inquired softly, reaching out to touch him on the arm. “I’m the one who called you. Ms. Aegis is in stable condition now. The paramedics found her in an upturned car, suffering massive blood loss,” she murmured. He drew away from her, stepping towards the bed.

  “Is she just resting?” He inquired softly, though his feelings suggested the absolute opposite was true. The nurse offered him a kind smile, and the doctors slipped out of the room once Tiffany was hooked to what seemed dozens of tubes. Daniel noted the feeding tube going down her nose, as well as the oxygen mask that seemed necessary to help her breathe.

  "I'm sorry honey. She hasn't woken since last night. The doctors aren't sure if she'll wake up. Her brain activity is relatively normal, so we're assuming she's not braindead… yet," she paused, fidgeting uncomfortable. "However, since she has no family, it’s been decided that the decision to keep her on life support will be left in your hands. I know this is a big decision, and I know you don’t want her to suffer--,” the nurse began, but Daniel was quick to cut her off.

  “We’re not taking her off life support! She’ll pull through this! I’m sure of it,” he choked out desperately, falling to his knees beside Tiffany’s bed. The heart monitor beeped steadily, and the nurse considered him for a long moment before nodding her head and slipping away.

  “Very well. Her insurance will only cover so much, however, so eventually--,” she tried, but was once again cut off.

  “I’ll cover the costs. I’ll cover everything. Just… tell the doctors to keep trying. Please,” Daniel urged, tears spilling down his cheeks. The nurse nodded solemnly before slipping out of the room. Daniel gripped Tiffany’s limp hand in his own, marveling at how warm she felt yet how lifeless she appeared. The gash on her head was stitched up and cleaned, but it was obvious that it had been a rather nasty wound when she was first admitted. He dreaded to even consider the other wounds she may have had, internal or otherwise. He drew her hand towards his lips, tenderly kissing the back of her knuckles. “Tiffany… if you can hear me, I’m so sorry. I won’t let them let you go. I’m going to take care of everything until you’re ready to wake up. And when you do wake up… I have so much to tell you...I will pay for the best care and doctors to help bring you back… Just please… please, Tiff. Try to pull through this,” he wept, shivering uncontrollably. As expected, he received no response. However, his expectations did nothing to dull the striking pain in his heart at her lack of response. Though he was a doctor himself, he cursed himself for lacking the ability to help the woman he loved in his time of need. All he could do was pay for her care, and… well, pray. He wasn’t the praying sort, but he supposed he would make an exception. Just this once.

  The following days found Daniel remaining close to Tiffany’s bedside, refusing to leave unless it was to use the restroom. Rarely, he would eat, but it was usually trays brought by sympathetic hospital workers. He knew he would have to leave the woman’s side eventually, to return to work at the very least. But the thought of leaving her alone in the hospital sent unwelcome shivers through his body. He spoke to her often, rambling tangents that made little sense.

  When Amanda and Melody came to the hospital to visit the two, it was obvious that Mandy was crushed by the sight. She all but crumpled, deep and anguished wails spilling past her lips. Melody drew her close, and it was obvious that the woman was wondering if she had made a mistake. Daniel stood from the chair at Tiffany’s bedside, for the first time all day. He stepped up to his daughter, gathering her in his arms and allowing her to bury her face in his chest. She wept inconsolably, and Daniel exchanged a glance with Melody. The slender woman’s face was tense, her jaw clenched as she looked between Daniel and the comatose woman.

  “Daddy, is… is Miss Tiffany gonna die?” Amanda wept, drawing away from her father to look him in the eye. He hesitated, his heart nearly crumbling when he realized he could not say for sure one way or another.

  “She’ll… she’ll be fine, honey. Tiffany will wake up, and things will go back to normal. Everything will be okay,” he murmured. She continued to weep, staring at the still form of her new best friend. Fortunately, Tiffany’s few injuries were bandaged extremely well, and the only sign that she was injured was her unconscious state.

  “You said things would be fine with mommy, too. But you two
still got a divorce,” the young girl cooed, and Daniel felt as if he had been stabbed in the heart. He drew away from his daughter, looking her in the eye. A single tear spilled down his cheek, and he chuckled bitterly as he sat Amanda in the chair he had previously inhabited.

  “You’re right. Daddy’s been making my share of mistakes,” he admitted, looking to Melody. The slender woman met his gaze, eyes surprisingly soft. He had half expected her to lay into him, but she simply crossed her arms over her chest, watching with sadness in her eyes as their daughter gingerly touched Tiffany’s arm.

  “We’ve both made our share of mistakes,” she quietly admitted, and Daniel looked at her with surprise in his eyes. “I shouldn’t have been so cruel, not to you nor Tiffany. I know… I know I haven’t been the best mother, these past few years,” she continued. Amanda glanced over her shoulder, looking as if she would protest, but Melody simply held a hand up. “Honey, you don’t have to protect mommy. It’s mommy’s job to protect you. Not the other way around,” Melody murmured with the faintest of smiles. Their daughter exhaled a sad sigh, lacing her fingers with those of the unconscious woman. Daniel watched with sadness radiating from his being, jolted from his reverie as Melody rested a hand on his shoulder.

  “All I’ve done lately is screwed up. This entire situation is my fault. I shouldn’t have let her leave,” he muttered, rubbing the tears away from his eyes.

  “You can’t blame yourself for this, Daniel. I’ve… finally come to terms with the fact that our marriage dissolving wasn’t entirely your fault. As I said, I’ve not been the best mother since then. I was thinking…,” she paused, glancing away. Daniel waited patiently for her to continue, idly listening as Amanda whispered to the unconscious woman. “We should settle this custody battle out of the courtroom. To take it that far is ridiculous. We should be able to remain friends, at the very least. I realize I don’t have the same ability to take care of Amanda as you do,” she confessed, tears pricking at her own eyes.

  “Melody, I would never make it so you could never see our daughter again. I just… I just want to be able to see that she is taken care of,” Daniel maintained a steady eye contact, drawing his ex-wife into his arms. She stiffened in his grip, but slowly relaxed, resting her face against his shoulder.

  “See, Miss Tiffany. You’ve made things so much better in the time you’ve been a part of my life…,” Amanda whispered softly, rubbing her own teary eyes. Daniel drew away from Melody, who seemed somewhat relieved by the broken contact. She remained near the door of the room as Daniel crossed the distance to the bedside chair. He gathered their young daughter in his arms, holding her in a gentle hug.

  “Tiffany will get through this, buttercup. She’s strong. Stronger than myself, even,” he murmured. She hesitated, looking uncertain as to whether she believed her father.

  “Your father is right. Tell Miss Tiffany goodbye. We’ll come back to visit… soon,” Melody winced, pain lacing her voice. Daniel could only wonder if she intended for their goodbyes to be the final ones exchanged with the comatose woman. Amanda leaned in to press a kiss to Tiffany’s pudgy cheek, smiling tearfully as she drew away.

  “I love you, Miss Tiffany,” she murmured. “I’ll be back to see you real soon, and you better be awake next time,” the young girl continued, trying to sound cheerful. Melody forced a laugh, stepping towards the bed and hesitating before resting her hand atop Tiffany’s limp one.

  “Until next time, Tiffany,” Melody softly staring down at Tiffany with an air of finality that did not go unnoticed by Daniel. His chest tightened in pain, and he struggled to maintain an air of composure as his daughter embraced him. Melody joined the embrace, pressing a gentle kiss to Daniel’s cheek before drawing away. She took Amanda by the arm, guiding her out of the hospital room. Daniel watched them go with a sense of trepidation, waiting until his daughter was out of sight to fall apart altogether. He collapsed into the bedside chair, hunching over the hospital bed and choking out a sob. He gripped her hand as tightly as he could without hurting her. Hell, at any rate, he couldn’t know if he was hurting her or not. He hesitated, a choking sob spilling past his lips as he tried to put together what he wanted to say to the woman. He knew it was most likely that if he didn’t confess his feelings now, he would never get the chance.

  “Tiffany… Everyone seems to think you’ve given up. I haven’t given up on you, but… if you’re ready to let go, I suppose I have no choice but to accept it,” he began, voice trembling. She didn’t respond, but he knew it shouldn’t come as a surprise. He hesitated, rubbing his thumb to the back of Tiffany’s still hand. Her skin was warm, so warm that it felt as if she would wake at any given moment. “I wanted you to know… I just wanted you to know. After all this is over, I want to end this charade. I don’t want to pretend anymore. I want to be together for real, I want to do it right,” he rambled, squeezing his eyes closed against another onslaught of tears. Her chest rose and fell steadily, but there was otherwise no movement from her still form.

  Reaching into his pocket, he gently brushed his fingertips to the velvet box contained within. He laughed almost hysterically, withdrawing the box from his pocket. He popped it open, considering the contents of the box. The ring shone a brilliant shade of gold, with the diamond at the apex of the ring shimmering beautifully. He was all too aware of the tears rapidly flooding down his cheeks, but was helpless to stop them. The ring was a bittersweet thing, something he had bought on a whim when he was still debating his feelings for the other woman. He should have known right then that what he was feeling could have been nothing but love. He was so foolish. Plucking the ring from the box, he grabbed her by the hand and dropped to one knee beside the bed. The beeping of the heart monitor was steady, a small comfort in the relative silence of the room. It would have driven most men mad, but for Daniel, it was a reminder that the woman he loved still had a chance. A small chance, a minute chance, but a chance all the same.

  "Tiffany… when Melody and I divorced, I was convinced that I would never love again. I thought that if I could screw up something with a woman who had seemed so perfect for me, there was no chance I could make it work with anyone else," he paused, wiping a tear away. "I hated myself for the longest time. I masked the feelings as a loathing for my ex wife, but deep down… I only ever had myself to blame. I gave up on ever loving again because it seemed so certain that no one would ever love me. Then… you came," he smiled faintly, bringing her hand to his lips. The beeping of the heart monitor continued steadily, and Daniel breathed in a shaking breath.

  “When I met you, I thought you were cute from the start. I guess the feeling was mutual. Cockiness aside, women did tend to have a thing for their child’s supposedly charming doctor. I’d never shown an interest in anyone before you. I was afraid. When I first saw you, I was still afraid.

  Then we met at the zoo. We’d been talking for a while, and I’d found myself growing enamored with the woman I was getting to know. When you suggested the entire act, I was baffled as to why someone would put themselves out like that. I tried to reason that you did it selfishly, because you wouldn’t have a place to stay. I know now, however, that all you ever wanted was to help me. That’s the sort of person you are. You’re kind, intelligent… beautiful.

  I don't know when I realized I was in love with you. I'll admit I fought the revelation as much as I could. I was afraid, not just of hurting you, but being hurt myself. We made love, and it was the most soul-shaking experience I could ever hope to have. You told me you loved me when you fell asleep. Though I was afraid to say it, fought against it, I knew even then. I knew I loved you too.

  Now… I guess that’s what brought us here. A fool in love, but too afraid to admit it. A woman who was too kind, and who ended up suffering for it. Most of all, it leaves me here, hoping that you can hear me. I’m certain you can’t, but on the off chance you can,” he paused, taking her hand and slipping the ring on the appropriate finger.

  “I love you, Tiffany. A
s much as I fought it, it only made the feelings even more intense. I can’t imagine my life without you.

  He admired the way the ring shone on her finger for a long moment, placing her limp arm back on the hospital bed where it would perhaps be more comfortable. He glanced at the various tubes and monitors, inhaling a shaky breath. He could only hope she would find a way to pull through. He leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to her temple.

  “I hope you decide to continue fighting. I’ll be here as often as I’m able. I have a secret that I never told anyone about… that is, my father wants me to inherit his billion-dollar investment firm but my passion has always been working as a pediatrician…however, I don’t think my current salary can cover all the cost to help you so I will follow his wish in exchange to gain access to the funds… to get you the best doctor and medical care I can… I’m not willing to give up yet. I hope you’re not either” he trailed off, slipping towards the door and glancing over his shoulder towards her. He quirked his lips in a sad smile, a sense of grim finality washing over him for reasons he dare not try to reason. Allowing himself to be soothed a moment longer by the steady beep of the heart monitor, he steeled himself and slipped out of the hospital room.

  The nurses watched him with no small measure of sympathy as he slipped down the halls. Daniel vaguely wondered if the dark cloud that loomed over him was as visible to everyone else as it was to him. One of the nurses approached him to gently grab him by the arm. He paused, turning teary eyes upon the kind woman. She looked hesitant, as if there was something troubling her.

  “Doctor Brookes,” she began, drawing her hands back to herself and clasping them carefully in front of her chest.