Blood Haze

by L. R. Potter

  Chapter 3

  Arabella got up early the next morning, groggy from the effects of the sleeping tablets. Regrettably, her first thoughts when she forced her eyes opened, weren’t of the man she’d been with for more than ten years, they were of a man with piercing, dark eyes. She groaned as guilt washed over her. She deserved what Drew did to her… in so many ways. She wondered if Drew was regretting his decision from the night before. With a shake of her head, she slipped on her running shoes and set out for her daily run. She stopped to stretch before setting off. As she ran, she took in her surroundings. The beauty of upstate New York never ceased to amaze her. She sucked clean air into her lungs as her body worked double time. As she’d hoped, the run began to soothe her tattered nerves.

  Her daily route took her past the same small businesses and residential neighbors every day. She waved to Mr. Kyle who ran the bakery and old Ms. Mann who was getting her newspaper. She saw Meg Stafford setting out her fresh flower display in front of her shop. They all smiled and waved back at her - just like they did every morning. There’d been a time when she’d been exiled from these people, but that seemed a lifetime ago. Now she found she liked her little town for the most part and knew almost everyone who lived in it.

  She was surprised that out of all of the Rogan’s that apparently lived on the Night Shade estate, the only two she’d ever meet, or even heard of, was Karmyl and now Lynx. She was surprised that Karmyl had never mentioned her other siblings. How did they avoid town? It was strange. Maybe they’d only recently returned as Lynx had.

  Finishing her run, she headed back to her house to prepare for another catering job. She tried not to think about either Drew or Lynx. She was grabbing a much needed cup of coffee before her shower, when her doorbell rang. She opened the door to find Mike James from the Stafford Florist. He was holding an enormous arrangement of Calla lilies. They were beautiful.

  “Hey, Arabella. Someone must think you’re pretty special. This arrangement costs a pretty penny,” he said with a grin.

  Arabella knew immediately who’d sent them. Her heart skipped a beat. She signed the delivery receipt and sent Mike on his way. She lugged the huge arrangement inside and set it on her dining table. She inhaled their fragrance as she dug the envelope from their midst. Hesitating for just an instant, with unsteady fingers, she opened the flap.

  Arabella: The Calla-Lily originated from the Greek Goddess, Hera, and means ‘magnificent beauty’. They were the first flower to come to mind when I thought of you this morning. I so enjoyed our time together last night and look forward to our next occasion. With humble regards, Lynx Rogan

  Arabella couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across her face. The man was so impressive and he seemed to be interested in her. She wouldn’t be human if that thought didn’t salve her wounded ego. The smile slowly faded from her face. He would have to be avoided at all costs. She’d given him entirely the wrong idea.

  She knew she’d need to talk to Karmyl sooner, rather than later, about not singing at the Night Owl anymore. Grabbing her cellphone, intending to send her a text asking to see her, she inhaled deeply – her phone had died. She’d forgotten to place it on her charger the night before. She didn’t know what’d come over her. She’d never had anyone affect like Lynx Rogan before. Placing her phone on its charger, she shrugged off her non-productive thoughts, and turned her thoughts instead to what needed to be done for her catering job.

  She was just coming out of the shower, a towel wrapped snuggly around her body, when she heard a pounding on her door. She slipped to the window and peered out through the heavy drapes, sighing when she saw who stood there… Lynx Rogan. Slipping on a silky, black robe, she took a deep breath and went to the door. Her heart was fluttering and her stomach tightened. She could do this, she kept repeating to herself. Think about Drew… about what this would do to him… to them, if he decided to come back to her.

  Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she opened the door. “Mr. Rogan.”

  He stood on her front stoop, dressed in jeans again, but this time had on a black leather jacket and aviator sunglasses which hid his smoldering black eyes from her. “Arabella. I’ve been trying to reach you.”

  Clutching her robe a little tighter around herself, she shuffled her feet uncomfortably aware of the gorgeous man in front of her. “I’m sorry. I meant to call you earlier to thank you for the flowers, but my phone died…” she trailed off as he gave an impatient wave of his hand.

  “No. It’s well… Karmyl, she… I don’t know how to say this… so… there’s been an accident,” he finally said. “May I come in?”

  Her eyebrows creased as she tried to understand his words. Wordlessly, she stepped aside to allow him entrance. With care, he slowly closed the door and leaned against it.

  “Is Karmyl okay?” she asked, when he stood staring at her for a long moment.

  “What? Oh, no. I’m sorry, it wasn’t Karmyl. She was trying to reach you. It’s… your brother and … Drew Larkin.”

  Her hands fell away from her robe’s lapels to flutter down to her sides. “What… what do you mean? Are they alright? Why didn’t anyone call me?”

  “I think the hospital tried you first, and when they couldn’t reach you, someone at the hospital knew you worked for the Night Owl, so…” he trailed off as her face paled. He moved to her when she swayed on her feet. He wrapped an arm around her waist and cupped her cheek in one hand.

  She stared up blankly. “Are they… did they…” she couldn’t finish.

  “No, not yet. I don’t know how bad it is. If you’ll get dressed, I’ll take you there now.” He brushed his thumb against her cheekbone and it seemed to calm her somewhat. “Can you get dressed on your own or do you need help?”

  She blinked up at him as her mind seemed to be mush. She couldn’t put two complete thoughts together. Not again, not again, were the only words rolling around her mind. He gave her a little shake. Gently, he said her name, “Arabella?”

  Swallowing, she stumbled back from him and careened down the hall in a near-drunken stride.

  Lynx watched her stagger down the hall and sighed. From what he could gather from Karmyl, Ian and the other fellow, Drew, seemed to be the most important people in her life. He assumed Drew was who she’d been with the first night they’d met, the one flirting with the young blonde.

  He didn’t have to wait long for her to reappear. She was now dressed in jeans and a simple, cotton shirt. Her long hair, still wet from her shower, had been pulled back and fastened. Her face remained bare of any make-up and he thought she was just as beautiful without any artifice.

  “Are you ready?” he asked, holding out a hand to her.

  She looked at his hand for a moment before placing her trembling one into it and nodded.

  “Okay, let’s go,” he said tugging her gently forward.

  He made sure her front door was locked, then led her to his black sedan. He drove smoothly through the streets as she faced forward, silently. He reached over and held her hand. He’d like to tell her that everything would be all right, but he didn’t want any more lies between them… at least not any more than needed to be – their differences aside.

  They’d gotten about half way to the hospital, when she asked, “Do you know what happened?”

  “No, I’m sorry. I only know there were three people in the car and that they’ve all been taken to County General.”

  “Three?” she asked.

  “The two men and a woman,” he said softly.

  “Who was the woman?”

  “Margaret… something. Sorry, I don’t remember,” he replied gently.

  “Maggie,” she whispered.

  “Do you know her?” he asked.

  She gave a small shake of her head. “Not really. She works in Drew’s office, I think.” Anxiety made her stomach roil. The two most important people in her life had been dying or dead and her stupid phone had been dead. She clamped her hand over her mouth. “I need you
to stop… please stop… I think I’m gonna be sick,” she whimpered.

  Lynx slid the car to a smooth stop and she flung the door open and fell out of the car, to her knees, onto the gravel on the roadside. Inanely, the thought crossed her mind, she was glad she’d not eaten the night before so there wasn’t much to come up. In the far recesses of her mind, she became aware that Lynx had joined her and had placed his hands on her shoulders, keeping her from falling forward. When she’d thrown-up all she could and was only dry-heaving, she leaned her forearms against the metal guardrail and rested her sweat-drenched face against them.

  He let her sit for a moment before helping her to her feet. He placed cool hands against her heated cheeks. “Ready?” he asked softly.

  She swallowed, her throat raw and scratchy. “I should have been there. They needed me and I wasn’t there,” she said on a shuddering breath.

  He wrapped his strong arms around her, drawing her into his body for comfort. She wrapped her arms around him tightly, refusing to give into the tears which threatened. She felt him press his lips against her hair an instant before he stepped back and helped her back into the car.

  He started the car and turned to her before shifting into drive. “Arabella, don’t borrow trouble. Okay? One step at a time.”

  She blinked rapidly before nodding jerkily. “Okay,” she whispered.

  They drove the rest of the way in silence. He pulled the car into the circle-drive in front of the Emergency Room doors and parked. She had her hand on the door-handle before she remembered her manners. “Lynx, thanks for coming to get me.”

  “I’m going to park, then I’ll be in. I’ll find you,” he replied.

  “I appreciate that, but I’ve imposed on you enough.”

  His reflective glasses mirrored her distraught features back to her. “I’ll be in shortly,” he repeated.

  Finally, she gave a quick nod and opened the door.

  ~X~

  Lynx finally found her sitting in one of the waiting rooms, shredding a tissue between her fingers. The vulnerability she exuded, drew him like nothing else. Moving silently toward her, he sat down before reaching over for her hand. “What do you know?” he asked.

  She bowed her head and studied their intertwined hands. “Not much. But it’s not good.” She took a shuddering breath. “Maggie was killed, thrown through the window of the car apparently. Ian is still in surgery and Drew is in Intensive Care. They… they won’t let me see him because I’m not immediate family. I’ve been with him since I was fifteen, and we were friends long before that and they won’t let me in to see him. I don’t know what to do. His mom is in a retirement home. I’m all he has and they won’t let me see him,” she said in a rush.

  “Arabella,” he said commandingly, “look at me.”

  She lifted her head and did as he said. She stared into the dark depths of his eyes and almost immediately began to feel calmer… stronger even. “You always make me feel better. How do you do that?” she asked.

  He gave her a small smile, “It’s a gift.”

  “Well, it’s a good one,” she murmured.

  “I want you to stay here and I’m going see what I can do to get you in to see him,” he said comfortingly.

  “Really?” she asked hopefully. “You’d do that?”

  In a familiar gesture, he brushed hair that had come loose from its fastening away from her face. “Of course,” he replied softly.

  “Thank you.”

  He lifted her hand and brushed cool lips against it. “It is my pleasure,” he said before rising.

  As promised, Lynx got her into Drew’s room.

  “You can stay for fifteen minutes,” the nurse, dressed in pink scrubs, with a name tag which read, Lottie, told her.

  “Thank you,” she replied automatically, as she stood outside his door. She shifted her eyes to Lynx, “I know I shouldn’t ask, but…” she trailed off.

  “I’ll be right here until you’re done,” he said in answer to the unspoken question.

  “Thanks… for everything,” she murmured.

  He gave a slight nod of his head. “You go now.”

  She turned and paused with her hand on the door-handle. Taking a deep breath, she slowly eased the door open, scared at what she’d find. The sound of machines beeping and swooshing met her ears first; the smell of antiseptic was the next thing to assault her senses. Tears sprang into her eyes when she saw Drew lying on the bed with tubes coming in and out of him from seemingly everywhere. His head was bandaged and an arm and leg were casted. He looked unnaturally pale and his eyes were closed. She pressed a fist to her lips to stifle a sob. Oh, God! What if he didn’t make it?

  Slowly, she made her way to him and placed her hand over his. She was reassured by the warmth he still exuded. She looked at his beautiful, but banged-up, face. “God, Drew. What have you done?” she murmured. “Please don’t die on me. I need you. You and Ian are all I have. Please don’t leave me!” she beseeched him quietly.

  She rubbed her fingers gently against his hand, afraid she’d hurt him further if she applied any pressure at all. She dabbed at the tears which wouldn’t stop falling. She looked at the man who lay against the white hospital sheets and instead saw the boy she’d always known. The boy who’d held her hand and pressed soft, gentle kisses against her skin. The boy, who’d held her at prom as she’d cried at the craziness going on inside her own head. The boy, who’d sat beside her at her father’s funeral while the rest of the town sat around her and murmured about the shame of him taking his own life. The boy, who’d called the police everyday when her mother had been killed. This was the boy, who’d protected her… guided her… taught her… and loved her.

  “I love you, Drew. You have to know that. Please don’t die. Please come back to me,” she pleaded. Sinking down onto a hard-padded chair next to the bed, she ran her fingers lightly up and down the length of his hand - bargaining with whatever entity she could think of to save him… to save Ian.

  Before she was ready, Nurse Lottie came to tell her, time was up. Hating to break her fragile hold on him, she clutched the bedrails. “I’ll be back, Drew. Just hold on, okay,” she whispered urgently.

  Nurse Lottie led her out of the room. “He can get a fifteen minute visit every two hours.”

  “Thank you,” Arabella whispered, as she swallowed back tears and heartache. “Has there been any word on my brother?”

  “If you’ll wait, I’ll place a call upstairs,” she said.

  Lynx stepped away from the wall he’d been leaning against and once again took her hand. “You okay?” he asked softly.

  She pursed her lips and nodded. “It’s just a lot to take in,” she replied.

  Nurse Lottie appeared at her side looking uncomfortable. “What is it?” Arabella asked her.

  Looking between the two of them, Nurse Lottie, said, “The doctor would like to see you in his office. He’s on the third floor. His office is next to Room 325. There’s a sign posted, you can’t miss it,” she said with an over-bright smile that made Arabella uncomfortable. She glanced at Lynx who gave her a tender smile of assurance. She nodded her head and knew she should begin to move in that direction; but her feet refused to budge. It was almost as if they were glued to the floor. It took Lynx propelling her forward for her to move.

  As they rode the elevator up to the third floor, she leaned heavily into the dark-haired man she barely knew, and he wrapped his strong arms around her. “I’m scared,” she whispered into the shelter he’d made for her with his body.

  “I’m here,” he replied, as he brushed his lips against her head.

  When they arrived on the third floor, they made their way toward the doctor’s office. As they approached it, a doctor with a shock of white hair, and a kind face, stepped out of a nearby office. “Ms. Marks?” he asked.

  She hesitated, fear icing her veins. “Yes,” she replied finally.

  With an outstretched hand to her, he said, “I’m Dr. Benjamin. Please, step
into my office.” He looked over her shoulder to Lynx. “Are you family as well?”

  Grabbing his hand, Arabella pulled Lynx closer to her side. “He’s with me,” she said emphatically.

  The Doctor nodded his head. “Good, good,” he said as he extended his hand toward his office. He waited until both Arabella and Lynx were seated before he leaned back against his desk, sitting on its edge, and folded his arms over his chest. “Ms. Marks, there’s no easy way to say this, so I’ll just give you the facts. Your brother sustained a debilitating injury when his head hit the windshield. Surgery was required right away to relieve the pressure in his skull. Unfortunately, the damage was too severe. Your brother died from complications from the automobile accident. I’m sorry for your loss…”

  The doctor continued to speak, but Arabella had stopped listening to him. Her ears rang, her heart pounded, and sweat popped out on her face. Ian? Dead? Noooo! She screamed in her head. She began to breathe rapidly and her chest heaved. She lifted a trembling hand, wanting… needing for the doctor to be quiet. She didn’t want to know anymore. “Please, no,” she whimpered. “Please, dear God, no!”

  She jumped up from her chair and stumbled from the room and began to scramble toward the elevator, needing to place as much distance between her and the truth. She jammed the elevator button repeatedly with hands that trembled violently. Her vision blurred through a rush of tears. Ian… gone. Her chest burned as pain lanced her heart. Why hadn’t she seen it coming? All she’d seen was the beginning of the car accident. She should have been able to see who’d been in the car. She should have been able to save him… save them all.