by Jenika Snow
He’s fine. The roads are just bad, and he’s taking his time. Maybe he got held up, and is talking with Maggie?
When he’d called her and said he had a lot to talk to her about, that he was with Maggie, she hadn’t known how to respond, what to think. She trusted Blake implicitly and knew he would never hurt her, but the way Maggie had responded when she asked what her feelings for Blake were had Poppy not trusting the other woman. Right now none of that mattered.
Please, I don’t care what he did with her or why he was at the cafe. Just make sure he’s okay. Please, just make sure he’s okay.
Pacing, pacing, pacing. That was all Poppy could do, but then she grabbed her phone, intent on calling the police department again and demanding they tell her something, anything. Just as she went to dial the number her phone lit up with an incoming call. She knew that number, because she was just about to call them.
Her hands shook as she slid her finger over the screen to answer to and pressed the phone to her ear. “Hello?” Sweat coated her palms, and her heart thundered frantically.
“Poppy Ellis?”
“Yes?” Tears already swam in her eyes because she knew, she just knew this call wasn’t going to be good.
“This is Officer Stevens form the Blithe Police Department. We’ve found Blake Ellis.”
Chapter Thirteen
Post-accident Day 1
“Ms. Ellis, Blake has suffered extensive head trauma. The CT and MRI showed brain activity, which is extremely positive when it comes to the outlook of his condition, but right now we are keeping him sedated to give his body time to heal and decrease the swelling around his brain.”
Twenty-four hours had passed since Poppy received the phone call about Blake being found, and she hadn’t been able to rest since. She thanked the group of doctors and watched as a sea of white lab coats left the room. They had to life-flight him into Anchorage due to the fact the small hospital in Blithe wasn’t equipped to deal with such severe injuries. So now it was just the waiting game. She sat in the chair beside his bed and took his hand. He felt warm in her grasp, and she turned his hand over so she could look at his palm. Poppy ran her finger along the lines that covered the smooth flesh. Placing her hand on top of his, she marveled at how small her hand was compared to his.
“I don’t know if you can hear me, but I want you to know I won’t leave your side until you open your eyes and smile at me. It’s kind of crazy that two years ago you were the one by my bedside, and now here I am, doing the same.” She kept her eyes on his hand and ran her finger around the edge of his fingers. “When I lost Jon I thought my life held no meaning any longer. I was scared to live, Blake, but then we started talking and I saw that my fear was irrational.” She lifted her eyes to his face and felt tears well in her eyes. He looked so peaceful, even with the tubes and lines coming out of him. The lines that normally graced his face were smooth and flawless, and she reached up and brushed the short dark hair from his forehead. “I’m not going anywhere, Blake, so please be okay so we can start our life.” Poppy dropped her head onto the bed and rested her cheek on their clasped hands. Nothing could pry her away from him. Nothing.
****
Post-accident Day 4
“We want you to be prepared that Blake won’t be the same when he wakes up. The incision we made on his scalp and removed the area of skull has helped significantly in the reduction of the inflammation, but we still need to keep a close eye on him.”
Poppy rubbed her eyes, feeling the lack of sleep taking its toll. Since they had brought Blake to the hospital four days ago there hadn’t been a whole lot of change with him. They slowly brought him out of the medically-induced coma, which was great news, but still frightened the hell out of Poppy. She had contacted both of their families, and they were filtering in from Ohio. Both of their sets of parents were a wreck, no doubt their thoughts on Jon’s accident like hers were.
“He may have permanent brain damage, have difficulty remembering people and simple tasks, and will require a lot of patience as he works through this.” The physician held a look of empathy, and Poppy hated him for it. He left, and she was once again alone with Blake. The tubes that had helped him breathe were now gone, yet he was still unconscious. Poppy had made sure to keep his face shaved, knowing that he wouldn’t have wanted to look like some caveman while people came in and out of his room. A smile formed on her lips at the thought.
“Honey?” Blake’s mother, Katherine, stepped into the room. She looked just as bad as Poppy felt. Red rimmed her eyes, and she held a tissue to her nose. “Why don’t you come with me and get some coffee?” At Poppy’s hesitation Katherine said, “I’d like to talk to you, and that will give Henry a chance to sit with Blake.” Blake’s father wrapped his arm around his wife’s waist and brought her close to his side.
“Hi, Henry.” Poppy offered him a watery smile. Just seeing them standing together brought back a wave of emotions.
“Hi, sweetie.” The tears in his eyes threatened to spill out, but Henry was a strong man and kept his emotions in check. “Go on and take a little walk with Katherine. I’ll watch over him.” He smiled, and a little bit of the stress in her faded. It was nice seeing the two of them again.
“Yeah, okay.” She grabbed her purse and walked out with Blake’s mom, but she stopped and looked over her shoulder. Henry sat beside his son, the pain on his face clear. Her heart tightened at the sight.
“Come on, dear.” Katherine led the way to the small cafeteria.
After they got a cup of coffee and found a seat the silence descended. Poppy stared at her coffee cup and ran her finger around the rim. Exhaustion played heavily within her, but even if she could have slept she wouldn’t have been able to, not with her mind on a constant reel..
“Poppy?”
She lifted her eyes to Katherine. “Yeah?” She offered Blake’s mother a smile she didn’t feel.
“I just want you to know that I’m happy you and Blake found each other.” She took her hand across the table and held it tight. “I know Jon would have been happy that the two of you found comfort in one another.” Tears fell from Katherine’s eyes, which had Poppy crying as well.
After Poppy had told her mother about her relationship with Blake, he had told his parents. They had cried, and their concerns had been expressed. Though overall they’d seemed very supportive, Poppy hadn’t really felt their support until right now. Seeing his mother’s emotions and tears cemented Poppy’s relief that, yes, Blake’s family was okay with this. She hadn’t realized until right now how much their approval had meant.
“Thank you, Katherine. You have no idea how much that means to hear you say that.”
Katherine patted her hand in a very motherly way. “I’m glad Blake has you. Jon was lucky to have you in his life, and now Blake is.” She sniffed and took her tissue to her nose. “Anyway, have you heard any news about the woman who caused the accident?”
Deep breathe in. Deep breathe out.
“Maggie wasn’t harmed, and is in police custody. I’ve been too concerned about Blake to inquire what is going to happen with her.” She pulled her rats’ nest of hair up into a sloppy ponytail and looked at Katherine. When an officer came by the hospital room and explained that they had apprehended Maggie Harris, who had admitted to causing the accident, while she stood off to the side and stared at the wreckage. Apparently she had been mumbling about her love for a man who didn’t want her and if she couldn’t have him no one would. The revelation had come as a shock, but until she knew Blake would be okay she wouldn’t let that acid eat away at her. As long as Maggie was in custody and there were no plans on letting her go, Poppy would worry about her later.
When they returned to Blake’s room it was to see his father hunched over his son’s body, singing a low song. Katherine instantly burst into tears, and all Poppy could do was hold his mother and cry right along with her.
****
Post-accident Day 10
Poppy leaned ba
ck in the chair, her focus on the muted television and the sound of Blake’s IV pump droning on in the background. It was going on two in the morning, and the infomercial that played on the screen became blurred by Poppy’s lack of sleep. Katherine and Henry had stayed with Blake while she took a quick shower and changed into clothes her mother had brought her. She was so thankful for the support of their families and didn’t know what she would do if they weren’t here. Yeah, you do. You’d be a broken mess on the floor.
Blake slept peacefully besides her. With his hand in hers, she brushed her thumb back and forth along the smooth skin. Her attention faded until all she saw was his fingernails. They were long, strong fingers, and were attached to masculine, hands. Closing her eyes and resting her head back against the chair, she imagined the future, one where Blake wasn’t lying in a hospital bed. The slightest pressure on her hand had her snapping her eyes open and sitting up. Had she imagined it? Holding her breath, Poppy didn’t move as she stared at their conjoined hands. Yes! He clenched his hand again around hers. For so long all she did was blink back the tears and watch his face, hopeful. The lights were off in the room, but the glow from the nurses’ station through the window in the room illuminated his face.
“Blake?” Voice hoarse from unspoken emotion, Poppy moved closer to him and cupped his cheek up her other hand. No way would she let go of him. The world stopped as she waited for him to open his eyes, and after what felt like forever he finally did. His eyes looked dark in the shadowed room, but she could still see the intense hazel. “Oh God, Blake.” She could hardly see him through her deliriously happy tears.
For several long moments he didn’t say anything, just stared at her. The comments made by the doctors, about how he might not remember things, slammed into her brain. What if he didn’t know her? It seemed surreal, but the way he looked at her had her heart plummeting. “Blake? Please, say something.” She caressed his cheek, waiting for his first words in over a week. He closed his eyes, and she heard him swallow.
“Poppy, sweetheart.” Just the feel of his hand tightening its hold on hers had Poppy covering his chest with her body and sobbing into his hospital gown. She should go get the doctors and tell their families he was awake, but for just this small moment in time she absorbed the fact he was alive and hoped everything would be okay.
“I love you, Blake. I love you so much.”
“I love you, too, sweetheart.” His voice sounded soft and hoarse, but the meaning behind his words was clear. “There is so much I want to tell you, wanted to tell you before all this happened. The whole Maggie thing—”
“Shhh, I don’t want to talk about any of that right now. I don’t care. All I’m worried about is you getting better so we can be together.”
She pressed a gentle kiss on his lips and forced herself to let everyone know that Blake would be okay. The nurses and doctors came in, asked him a series of questions and performed some tests. Then it was their families’ turn. A few had stayed in the waiting room, but the majority stayed at a local bed and breakfast.
After the tears of happiness, cries of joy, and hugs and kisses, Poppy and Blake were once again alone. “I didn’t know if you’d ever wake up, Blake.” Poppy pushed herself up and wiped the tears away. A small smile touched his lips, and when he trailed his finger over her arm she returned the sentiment.
“Sweetheart, there isn’t anything that would have kept me from you.” With that, he cupped the back of her head and brought her to him for a gentle, yet love-filled kiss. “Everything’s going to be okay now, I promise.”
She couldn’t help but laugh. Here he was, lying in a hospital bed after a massive car accident, and promising her that everything should be okay. “I should be the one telling you that.” She kissed him again. “How about we just take care of each other?”
“Sounds good to me.” Her hair fell around them, concealing them like a curtain. Only time would tell if there was permanent damage to him, but Poppy would be there every step of the way.
“You’re my life, sweetheart.”
“And you’re mine, Blake.”
Epilogue
Three years later
“Shiiiit.” Poppy snatched her hand to her face and checked the diamond on her ring. This was the fourth time in the last week that she had banged her wedding ring on something.
“What? What’s wrong?” Blake all but skidded into the kitchen, his eyes wide as he looked her up and down. He was in front of her a second later, the limp in his left leg slightly noticeable. His hands shot out to grip her waist, and he hauled her to his chest. “I heard you shout.” Poppy couldn’t help but smile at the concern on his face.
“I just banged the ring on the sink.”
“Again?” He cocked a brow at her as his lips twitched in amusement.
“You won’t think it’s so funny when I break the damn thing. Why did you have to get such a big rock anyway?” She was all talk. She loved that big diamond, especially when it sparkled in the sunlight.
“I can always take it and put a smaller diamond in it if it makes you feel better.” He made a move to take the ring off her finger, and she snatched her hand away. The chuckle that came from him ignited her own. “I thought you were going into labor or something.”
“Blake, I have like a month left, and besides we’ve already gone through this two years ago. You act like this is our first baby all over again.” He dropped to his haunches, and she was struck by how vulnerable such a big, strong man like Blake could look staring up at her. His hands landed on either side of her rounded belly, and she speared her hands in his hair.
“Every time you carry my child I’m going to be like this, sweetheart.” He kissed her protruding belly button. “People deliver babies early all the time. I sit up at night worrying that I won’t get you to the hospital in time.”
“You worry too much, Blake.”
“Yeah, well when it comes to you and the baby it’s all I seem to do.” The sound of little pattering feet running down the hall had them both looking in that direction. “Carson Jonathan Ellis. What is all over your face?” She went over to their little boy and scooped him up. His little hands rose and started patting his face at the same time his grin widened.
“Momma, we was coloring pwetty pitchews for you.”
“Oh, my sweet little boy.” Poppy laughed as she took in Carson’s marker colored face. Blake came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her belly. He kissed the side of her neck before leaning forward and kissing Carson’s head full of dark hair.
Since Blake woke up in the hospital his rehabilitation had been slow but had been progressing well. He had a limp in his left leg, and the doctors still didn’t know if it would ever be completely functional. Aside from that he had made a total recovery. The rehabilitation had been hard on him, but Blake was one of the strongest men she knew. Now, three years later, they were married, had a healthy and rambunctious little boy, and were expecting their second child, a little girl. Their family was supportive of their relationship, and their wedding had been held in front of them all back in Ohio.
Maggie had been sent to a maximum security prison for attempted murder, and they were told she would be there for a long time. Apparently she had a long standing record, under a different name, and had gotten her into trouble in three other states before she settled in Blithe.
“I love you, you know.” He whispered against her neck. She could feel him smiling, which had her smile growing across her face.
“I wuv you, too, Momma.”
She kissed Carson on the cheek and knew she’d have blue marker on her lips, but she didn’t care. “And I love my two boys most of all.” At her words Blake tightened his hold on her.
Life may have turned upside down for her, but it had righted itself and now only gave her the happiness she had thought she would never see again. Things were looking good, and from that point on she would never let the past dictate how her future would play out. Blake and her family didn’t want
that for her, and she knew neither would Jon if he was still alive. She felt the certainty of that in the bottom of her heart.
The End
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Other Books by Jenika Snow:
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