by BJ Hyman
Charlie found that her nerves were actually being put at ease by the little technician’s corny jokes. She chuckled. “I’ve been better, but I hope what you find will make things better for me.”
Denise sat on the edge of the bed and patted the spot beside her, inviting Charlie to follow suit. “What’s going on?” Charlie sat down being careful of the wires.
“Long version or short version?”
She smiled. “Well, I do have to get you to sleep at some point, so how about somewhere in the middle?”
And when it started flowing out of Charlie, it seemed to have no end. She told her about her sleep problem, her stalker problem, her relationship problem, her business problem, and finally ended with a helpless flop of her hands. As she spoke, Denise’s face went from happy-go-lucky to serious to stunned and finally to having a hand over her shocked mouth. Charlie stared at her quietly for a moment once she finished. “Well?”
She leaned forward and patted Charlie’s leg. “I don’t know how much a sleep study can help all of that, but you’ll at least have a safe night’s rest. You’re really under the gun, huh? You want a hug?” Her earnest face was full of worry.
Charlie laughed at the unexpected offer and it soon became mixed emotion tears. “You know what? Sure! I think that would be wonderful.” She stood up and put her arms out. Denise wasn’t much shorter than she was, and they put their heads on each other’s shoulders. It was so comforting to just be held. She made her nose stop up from the tears. Her voice was all sinuses and gunk. “Thank you. I needed this.”
When Charlie pulled away, Denise instantly went to grab the tissues. “Can’t have you stopped up when we put you to bed.”
By the time they had finished getting Charlie able to breathe freely again and had her settled down in bed for the study, a full hour had passed, and they had become fast friends. Denise left her with well wishes for a good night’s sleep before turning out the light and closing the door.
◆◆◆
Dean was asleep next to her on the couch. They had spent the lazy Saturday afternoon reading with their legs intertwined and heads on the opposite arms of the sofa. She looked at his sleep-softened face and was overwhelmed with how much love she felt. He had a small mole next to his left eyebrow that she had hated when they first started dating. Now that three years had passed, that mole was one more thing about him that made him…well, him. His book had fallen to the floor and she knew he would be upset that he’d lost his place when he’d dozed off and it fell from his hands. She loved the feeling of his strong thigh trapping her calf against the sofa and the toes of their opposite legs just barely touching. Even the smallest bit of skin contact caused a pleasurable tingle at the point of touch.
It had only been a year since he encouraged her to go out on her own and start her own business. She had been working very hard for someone else’s design firm and was seeing very little return on her efforts. He told her that he would fill any gaps in her income while she was starting, but he couldn’t see her wasting her talents for someone else. He’s the whole reason she had Vintage Rebel Designs.
Because he believed in her.
He saw her talents as unique and rare and something that she should share but get full credit for. She had harbored a secret desire for just the thing that he suggested: to own her own business making beautiful and unusual things. To live her life as an artist. Even Kellie didn’t know the quiet yearnings of her heart to make a living creating her “fancy-pants stuff,” as Kellie liked to call it.
And within six months, she was in her own shop. It was still tough going, but a friend from the old design firm had followed her and was her only employee…Craig. It was like that moment in Jerry Maguire when Renee Zellweger followed Tom Cruise after he got fired because he published his “memo” cum “Mission Statement.” Less dramatic and there were no fish involved, but just as much faith. Maybe it was kind of like Pam following Michael Scott when he left to make his own paper company in The Office. Either way…they both took a leap.
And it was beginning to pay off. She owed it all to the beautiful man sleeping on the other side of that couch and his love for her.
◆◆◆
Charlie smiled in her sleep so broadly that Denise had to wonder what the dream could possibly be. She was glad to see her have a moment of joy after everything she had suffered lately. Maybe in her dream, things are the way they were meant to be. She made a quick note in the log.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FIVE
Visitors
When Charlie woke, she was surprised at the level of calm and relaxation she felt. Due to her sleep troubles, the hospital wanted her to sleep until she naturally awoke with no outside interference. It was the first time in years that Charlie had experienced the indulgence. Being a business owner still building her clientele kept her from such luxuries.
She stretched and glanced around the room. Soon a knock came at the door. She answered with a sleep-muddled voice. “Yes?”
Colin poked his head in the door. “Can I come in?”
She shifted under the covers and began to push herself up. “Yeah, yeah…come on.”
“How are you feeling? Or are you one of those that it takes an hour or so to fully get awake enough to be human?” He smiled at her.
“I feel amazingly well. Best I’ve felt in a while. How long did I sleep? I was expecting Denise.”
With a chuckle, he shook his head. “You slept longer than any of us expected. You must have needed it. You were out for…” He pulled out a clipboard that Charlie hadn’t noticed yet and glanced down. “Sixteen hours, forty-three minutes, and eleven seconds, to be precise.” He tucked the clipboard back under his arm. He took in the shock on her face. “I know! Impressive…especially given that we had already had you sedated from the night before. Denise had completed her data by the time I came on shift, so I was really just here for when you woke up and to take a few notes. When you’re ready, we can start getting you untangled from the wires and I’ll let you take a shower to get rid of all the paste. Just let me know when you’re up for it. No rush. We don’t need the room again for another five or six hours.” He started from the room, but turned around with a finger up, as if he forgot something. “Your brother came by. He seemed worried that you were never going to wake up.”
Charlie’s brows met in the middle of her forehead. “I only have a sister. No brother.”
Colin flushed. “Oh! I’m sorry. I assumed. She just called you her sister and didn’t indicate...” He stopped, apparently flustered. “She must have a cold. Don’t tell her I thought she could have been a man.” He pulled his shoulders up sheepishly before exiting the room leaving Charlie to wonder how anyone could confuse the very feminine Kellie Ray for a man. Maybe the pink hair had him thrown. There are some cross-dressers that go for a bold hair color to shock. But still…
◆◆◆
Returned to her regular room, Charlie felt so rested that she might never need sleep again. How was she supposed to sit here in the hospital for much longer? Without so much as a warning, Kellie burst into the room with Mitchell in tow. Eli lingered behind like a reluctant shadow. “So, sleeping beauty awakes! How do you feel?” Kellie kissed her sister on the cheek.
Charlie was lying on top of the covers with her ankles crossed. She was clean and fresh after the hot shower that removed the paste from her hair and body. The scrubbing and heat was refreshing. She had been channel surfing in an attempt to abate her boredom. “I feel great. I just want to get out of here.” She could see through the open door that Sabrina, Kyle, and Megan stood in the hall. She had a momentary uncharitable thought as to wonder why Kyle had to be everywhere Sabrina was now. He was wearing his uniform as if he should actually be at work than here at the hospital with a group of relative strangers. She shook off the ire and asked, “Why aren’t they coming in?”
Kellie tossed a look over her shoulder. “They thought it might overwhelm you for us all to be in the room at the
same time. Last time any of us saw you, you were awfully fragile.”
Charlie waved them into the room and they obeyed but stood near the exit so as not to crowd the room. “Where’s Craig? He seems the only one missing from our party.”
Eli was leaning against the wall with his ankles crossed. “He’s minding the store. He wanted to make sure there was nothing for you to worry about.”
Megan laughed. “He’s even doing some crafts! I know you’ve been trying to get him to do more and he knows a lot of patrons like to see the artist at work when they come in. He claims they won’t buy anything he does, but he’ll do it for you and the store.”
Charlie smiled at the thought of him working on projects she knew he had in him. She turned her eyes to Kellie. “So, I hate to tell you this…but the orderly thought you were a man when you showed up to check on me.”
Kellie looked confused. “Check on you? I didn’t check on you. I told them to call me when you were back in your room. I’ve been gone since that guy in purple rolled you out for the study.”
Her eyes clouded over. Colin had already met Kellie, so he couldn’t have been confused about her. Her heart rate picked up a bit on the monitor as she began pushing the button for the nurses’ station. A bored woman’s voice came through the speaker in the side of her hand rail. “Yes?”
“I need to speak to my orderly from yesterday and today. His name is Colin.”
“He’s on another floor right now, I’m sure we could help you with anything you might need.”
Charlie spoke forcefully in her frustration. “I need to talk to Colin. He told me I had a visitor while I was sleeping and he’s the only one who can give me a description.”
“I’ll see what I can do, ma’am.” Irritation colored the woman’s voice.
Charlie looked around at the confused faces. “Did any of you come see me while I slept?” They turned their heads to check other responses as they all indicated that they hadn’t. Eli straightened up off the wall and went to sit beside her in the chair. He leaned forward with his forearms resting on his thighs. “Does anyone have Detective Brooks’ number? I think we need to call him.”
Before she even finished, Kellie had dialed the number. She stood with a finger pressing against her opposite ear to hear the call better. “Detective? This is Kellie Ray. Charlie is awake and someone that we don’t know visited her at her sleep study. We’re trying to get the orderly that saw the person up to the room, so we can talk to him.” She was silent. “I’m not sure. Wait. I’ll ask.” She held the phone slightly away from her face. “Does anyone know if the hallways have cameras here?” No one responded. “No one knows but I’m sure we can find out.” She listened for a moment. “Oh. Okay. We’ll just wait for you. See you in a bit.” She hung up the phone. “He said we’ll probably get nowhere on our own, but a badge speaks a lot louder. He’ll take care of it when he gets here.”
Waiting is always hard but it’s especially hard when no one knows what to say. They didn’t fill the time with chit chat or even discussion of what had happened. They all just glanced at the walls, the floor, their feet, their hands…unless they were sneaking furtive looks at Charlie or each other to field how everyone was feeling or what everyone was thinking. As the detective predicted, Colin was a no-show on the request of Charlie.
When Brooks came into the room, it was as if there was a collective sigh of relief before several of them began to speak at once. He put his hand up to silence them. “I can’t hear you all. Give me a second. Listen, I’ve already requested footage from security cameras and time to talk to the orderly who was in charge at the time the person came to the room. So, now that I’ve said that, are there any questions?” He was greeted with silence. “Good. I’m going to talk to the orderly now. Eli, come with me. Kellie, stay with your sister. Everyone else, go to work…do your thing. We’ve got it from here and you aren’t adding any help in the meantime. In fact, you’re kind of in the way.” With that, he turned on his heel and walked out of the room. A startled Eli jumped up and followed with a questioning glance back to Charlie.
Kellie took the seat warmed by Eli. She looked up at Mitchell. “It’s okay. I know you’ve got to go on your trip. We’ll be fine.”
Charlie looked up distractedly at Mitchell. “Trip?”
He shrugged. “Conference. Four days in Houston. Terrible time, I know, but these things are planned a year in advance. I’m already packed…the bags are in the car…my plane leaves in just over two hours.”
Kellie gazed up at him. “You’d better go. Even with all the wonders of modern technology, the airport is still the worst.” She looked to Charlie. “Can I walk him to the car? Will you be okay?”
She fluttered her hands at them. “Go. Of course! Take care, Mitchell. Be safe.”
He took Kellie’s hand before she slid from around the bed. Kyle spoke up. “We’ll follow you out. I’ve got to get to work.”
Sabrina pulled from his grasp. “I think I’ll stay here for a bit. Wait for Kellie to come back. I’ll Uber a ride to work.”
He looked surprised but gave her a quick kiss on the lips. “Okay. I’ll see you later.”
Sabrina settled into the seat next to Charlie’s bed. When she looked up, she found Charlie squinting at her. “What?”
Charlie tilted her head at the door. “Moving kinda quickly, you think?”
She waved a dismissive hand toward the door. “All fun and games.”
“Seems like more.”
“Seems…but isn’t. He’s a bit of an odd duck.”
“What do you mean?”
Sabrina’s eyes shifted to the side while she considered her words. “It’s hard to say. He works weird hours, very passionate though, but doesn’t seem to want much more than I’m willing to give. You know how stand-offish I can be…very anti-relationship. He seems to be the same. I think we could walk away from each other tomorrow and both of us would be fine. It’s strange.”
Charlie’s face was a vision of disappointment. “So, it’s just about the sex?”
“Not entirely. But I would have to admit it’s at least seventy percent. Maybe it’s me. I’m broken.”
Charlie reached out and touched her friend’s hand. “No, you aren’t. And, if you are, we’ll just have to work on that. I want you happy.”
Sabrina raised an elegantly plucked eyebrow. “What about you? I know I’ve been out of hand with Kyle being around lately, but I know about Dean and I know things seem uneven with Eli right now. You’re both off-kilter.”
“What do you know about Dean?”
She smirked. “Pretty much everything.”
Charlie leaned back on her pillows forcefully. “Damn it, Kellie.”
“It wasn’t Kellie.”
Her eyes shifted to Sabrina while she still leaned back on the pillows. “Who?”
“Guess.”
“Craig.”
“Bingo.”
“Ugh! I guess he’s not quite the vault he claims to be.”
Sabrina leaned back in her chair and crossed one leg over the other. “Don’t be too hard on him. He was worried about you and wanted to know if there was something he should do to be better at helping you. He was kind of taking my usual role as the bestie who knows all. Which, I should say…you might not want to do to him too much. He really does have some complicated feelings for you.”
“What Megan said was true?”
She waggled her head from side to side. “To an extent. I think it’s not really romantic love but romantic admiration. If he could take his eyes off you for a few seconds, I think he’d see that Megan is what he wants and needs, and she has been all along.”
Charlie struggled to slip her legs beneath the covers and Sabrina hopped up to give a hand. She smiled up at her. “Why did life have to get so twisted? Things were so much simpler when we were younger. I think things really started getting messed up for me when Marla died.”
Sabrina settled back in her seat. “Not when your parent
s’ died?”
Flipping over onto her side to face Sabrina, Charlie pressed her lips together. “No. That was simple. We had everything taken out of our hands. It was all planned and pre-arranged. There was no thinking to it. Just grief and move on. Life was different but not more complicated. It wasn’t the same with Marla’s death. I was on the edge and having to make decisions. Dean’s parents needed me and her husband to do a lot of the planning for the funeral and such. She was so young so there wasn’t any kind of thoughts already in place about funerals or wills or any other end-of-life type of things. And then there was Dean’s sorrow. It was so deep. It was like a well with slippery walls. As soon as you thought you were starting to get close to the light again, he’d slip all the way back down but even deeper. That’s when the real decisions had to be made.”