Minutes later, Heather found a parking space in the large parking structure and made her way to the main entrance of the hospital.
She made her way past the familiar main entrance and stopped at the front desk where a young woman with long brown hair and white uniform greeted her.
“Welcome to Langston Memorial Hospital, can I help you?” The woman flashed her perfectly lined teeth at Heather.
“Yes, I’m here to see Michael Robbins. Can you tell me what room he’s in?”
The receptionist punched a few keys into the computer before answering. “He’s in the Burn Unit Room 648. You’ll take those elevators to the sixth floor and make a right.” The woman pointed a finger down the hall.
“Thanks.” Heather made her way to the elevator and pressed the call button. Minutes later, she stepped onto the sixth floor and followed the signs to Michael’s room. As her mind silently counted down the room numbers, her stomach began to ache. It seemed the closer she got to his room, the heavier her legs felt.
645 ... 645 ... 647 ...
Heather stopped just short of Michael’s room. Why was she so nervous? Didn’t she already decide nothing would stand between her and Michael? Wasn’t this the real reason God had brought her back to Crystal Cove? To be there for Michael during his time of heartache and struggle?
But as much as Heather tried to convince herself that God knew what he was doing, she couldn’t help wondering what Michael would say when he saw her.
Would he reject her offer of help, or worse yet, reject her love for him? Would he shut her out of his life, thinking no one could accept the marred human he had become?
The thought sent a nervous ripple down her back, and her heart began to pound as if someone had injected epinephrine into her heart. Was she doing the right thing approaching him so soon after the shock of the accident? Did Michael need time to heal physically and emotionally before tackling a relationship?
Heather tried to ignore the doubts that swirled around in her head. She needed to be strong for Michael, and nothing would stand in her way. Her body tensed as she rapped softly on the white door and held her breath.
Seconds later, she heard a raspy voice answer. “Come in.”
Heather’s lips moved in a silent prayer as she prepared for the worst.
God help me to love him as he is.
Then she sucked in a deep breath, pushed open the door and walked in.
Chapter 18
Michael stared with cold lifeless eyes at the hideous monster across from him. Patches of pink skin dotted with brown scabs covered its bald head like a modern painting from a museum. Its right ear was deformed into a shape similar to those found on an alien from a popular sci-fi movie. But the reflection Michael saw in the mirror wasn’t from a higher life form or the handiwork of a special effects makeup artist. Instead, it was just a pathetic example of a man who once had fame, fortune, and a face that drew women in for a second glance.
Michael forced his lips to smile, hoping it would soften the shock of his vile appearance. But the simple movement felt like a million needles had been stabbed into his face as his leathery skin stretched to its limits.
He still couldn’t believe there had been three perfectly timed explosions at his estate that night. One was centered in his room, the second in the study, and the third in the library. Whoever had planned the attack left no margin for error when it came to ending his life. There was no doubt in the detective’s mind that the lunatic had an intricate working knowledge of his estate.
Plus the facts provided by the police and fire department investigators stated that an explosive device using a gas can had ignited in his room. Their first suspicion was The Cove Thief was responsible for his attack.
But when they discovered the can had been taken from his own gardening shed, the investigation shifted to his staff. To everyone’s surprise, the police investigation led them to Henry, who was arrested shortly after they discovered a second gas can and several crudely made pipe bombs in his living quarters. The interrogation process yielded little information from the apathetic gardener who maintained his silence and refused to answer any questions until he was represented by legal counsel. It seemed no one would find out how the explosion happened until the case went to trial.
Michael backed his wheelchair away from the mirror and positioned himself in front of the small window with a view of the hospital rose gardens.
He still couldn’t believe that the quiet gardener he had hired to tend to his gardens could perform such a heinous crime. What subtle signs of lunacy did he miss? Of course he had noticed there was something odd about the gardener during his initial interview, but Michael chalked it up to Henry’s strange sense of humor and not the demented mind of a jealous murderer. At the estate, Henry had always kept to himself, never bothering anyone. He was a dependable worker who always completed his daily tasks on time, and Michael had even thought about recommending him to the neighbor across the street. There had been no reason for Michael to suspect there was a dark side to his personality.
Up till now, he still couldn’t figure out what he had done to offend the quiet man. He had always treated Henry with respect and even made sure his stay had been comfortable. How could the man repay his kindness with hatred?
Michael carefully shuffled himself in the wheelchair, being cautious not to trigger an explosion of pain through the patchwork of skin grafts on his back and legs. The fireball had caused third degree burns on his backside, injuring over sixty percent of his body. His surgeon said it was a miracle he had survived.
But Michael wondered if he would have been better off being buried six feet under than living the rest of his life handicapped, looking like some exhibit at a freak show. How could he face Evelyn like this? What would she think about him? He had been so worried about traumatizing his daughter that he refused Evelyn any visitation until the surgeons had completed twenty of the sixty surgeries needed to restore some resemblance of being human.
How would she react when seeing him for the first time after the accident? How would her privileged friends treat her knowing how detestable he looked?
Even though the doctors promised him a significant improvement by the time the skin graft surgeries were completed, Michael still worried for Evelyn’s future and the effect his injuries would have on her peers.
His parents and staff had been supportive during his recovery, promising him that everything would work out over time. His parents had been praying fervently for him, especially his mother who stayed by his bedside every night the first few weeks.
But Michael knew things could never be the same. Retraining himself to function and walk again seemed about as easy as climbing Mt. Everest with a broken foot. He searched the recesses of his brain trying to remember anything unusual in his room that evening. But the events of that fateful night still remained a blurry shadow of images in his mind. Everything seemed normal and in its place. Besides leaving the patio doors to the balcony open, he hadn’t strayed from his usual bedtime routine. How could he have missed the fact that Harry had reversed the knobs on his door, almost guaranteeing his certain demise from the fire?
Michael closed his eyes and turned his thoughts to his business. What would happen to his company now that he was confined to a wheelchair and needed months maybe even years to rehabilitate? His father was too old to step in, and Andrew lacked the necessary business skills to keep the company on course while he regained his health. He worried that without his savvy negotiating skills and leadership, the business would suffer irreparable losses that could destroy his family’s legacy.
Besides trusting the future of his business to God, it seemed Michael’s only option was to have Kent, his vice president keep the company afloat as he focused on relearning the basic functions of life. Kent had been with his company for over ten years, and Michael knew he could trust him with the supervision of the company’s daily operations.
Michael opened his eyes and focused his gaze on
the rows of pink and red rose bushes that formed a symmetrical pattern in the grassy area of the hospital grounds. The flowers reminded him of the gardens back home, a place where he often sought refuge when he needed time to reflect. It was also where he and Heather had shared a special moment of tenderness together, a moment that he hoped she would never forget.
Michael ran his left index finger over the calloused mountains of skin on the right side of his face before stopping momentarily at the drooping lower lid of his eye. Even though God had preserved his vision, the anatomy surrounding his eye would never be the same. Michael’s hand dropped to his side.
The opportunity to win Heather’s heart and enjoy a lifetime of love had been ripped away from him. How could she love him, let alone be around him with the detestable scars that plagued his body like some flesh eating disease? While he knew Heather had a loving heart, he believed she was only human, a woman who could never accept him as anything more than a good friend. She would now categorize him as a friend, one who only needed her encouragement and support through a difficult time. He loathed the fact that he would only be nothing more than just another patient to her.
She’ll probably find some other handsome man to settle down with. I’m cursed to a life of being single. Why God, why did you let this happen to me? How could any good come from this tragedy?
Michael squeezed his hands tighter. Dampness formed in the corners of his eyes as he fought the urge to shed his emotions. All his life, he had prided himself on being able to control his feelings. But now his life had been turned upside down, and the second love of his life had walked out on him. As much as Michael tried, he couldn’t hold back the avalanche of emotions that left him in a useless stupor. At that moment, running a marathon with his battered body seemed easier than hoping for a meaningful existence.
Michael’s head dropped with submission, and his lips began to move.
“Dear God, I can’t see the good in what happened to me, but I know you never make mistakes, and that you will always love me, no matter how messed up I look. Please give me the strength and hope to carry on, to use this tragedy as an opportunity to share of your mighty power and grace. I’m pretty tapped out on faith right now, and I pray for your Holy Spirit to strengthen me so I can be a witness for you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
The sound of a woman clearing her throat startled Michael. Without hesitation, he opened his eyes and looked over his shoulder. For a split second, there was a glimmer of happiness in his stone cold eyes as he recognized Heather. But the hope faded as quickly as it came as he braced himself for the inevitable response to his appearance.
“Hello, Heather.” His voice sounded flat as his gaze returned to the window in front of him. “I appreciate you coming, but I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to see me like this.”
An unreserved smile broke out across Heather’s face as she pulled up a visitor chair and sat down next to his wheelchair. She gently wrapped her arm around his fragile body and studied the shotgun pattern of crusted scars that traveled from the top of his shaved head and disappeared beneath the collar of his white hospital robe.
Heather felt a sharp pain in her chest as she visualized the horrific suffering Michael must have endured before the firefighters could rescue him. How long had he been on fire? How badly injured was he? How close to normal would skin grafting restore his appearance?
Heather’s previous experience with burn patients had taught her the excruciating pain and challenges burn victims faced as they made the long road to recovery. She wasn’t sure how much willpower Michael had left, but that didn’t matter to her. God had shown her that he was her soul mate. The one person the Almighty had brought into her life that made her feel complete. And now that Michael was suffering, she suffered too. And even though they had never publicly committed themselves to each other, she was ready to commit her energies to helping him recover from his injuries. Her only hope was that with time and God’s blessing, their relationship would flourish and form an unbreakable bond that no calamity could sever. A bond that would prepare them both for a lifetime of commitment, a commitment that would flourish under the institution of marriage.
But would Michael feel the same way? Would he still want her? Or would he be sucked into the dark abyss of despair and depression, only to become a lifeless zombie that no one could connect with?
Heather fought the anxiety that grew inside. She wasn’t going to let Satan fill her head with doubts. If God had brought her back to Michael, she trusted that he would provide the strength and comfort they both needed to survive and triumph over his disability.
“How are you holding up?” she said with a soft voice.
Michael shrugged his shoulders and remained silent as he continued to stare out the window.
“I’m sorry things didn’t work out between you and Cynthia.”
“It was probably for the best. I should have broken it off earlier when I sensed she wasn’t genuinely interested in me and Evelyn.” Michael sniffed the mucous from his nose before continuing, “But I was a fool who didn’t want to disappoint my friends.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself, Michael. You were only trusting the good intentions of your friends. Sometimes it takes a while before you really know what someone is like.”
“Maybe. But I knew early on that I could never love Cynthia with all my heart. Not the way I loved ...” Michael stopped for a second before shaking his head.
Heather gently rubbed his shoulder. “It’s okay. Go on.”
A sigh escaped Michael’s lips as he shook his head with resignation. “It doesn’t matter now. None of it matters.”
Heather could sense the disappointment and hurt in his voice. “Michael, everything is going to be alright. God is going to help us get through this. I know it’s hard to believe that right now, but you will rebuild a new life.”
Michael scoffed at her words. “God is going to help us?” For the first time since her visit, he turned and gazed at her with eyes as barren as the Arctic tundra. “How could you be around this? I’m nothing more than a monster. Some freak show that belongs in a circus.” He shook a bandaged hand toward his body.
Heather studied the club-shaped fingers on his hand, a hand that had swollen to twice its normal size. She knew his hand would never function like a normal person and that he would need to relearn how to perform routine daily functions. And even if he did learn how to function on his own, he would still need supervision and assistance for the rest of his life.
Her gaze traveled down to his disfigured chicken legs which clued Heather into the magnitude of the explosion. How Michael survived was beyond her medical comprehension, and she truly believed God had preserved his life for a nobler cause, or better yet, so that she could demonstrate her love for him. Heather silently prayed that his ability to walk hadn’t been taken away.
“What did the doctors say about your legs? Will you be able to walk again?”
“With physical therapy, they say I should be able to get around okay. But I won’t be running any marathons in the near future.”
“Don’t worry, Michael, everything will be alright. I’m here now, and I’m going to take good care of you.”
Michael shook his head with disapproval. “No, Heather. I don’t want you to stay here. How can you waste your life taking care of an invalid? You deserve better. There’s no future between us.” His gaze bounced back to the window. “You belong with someone else.”
Heather reached out and wrapped his hand between hers. “I don’t belong anywhere else.” Her voice softened. “I belong here with you. God has shown that to me.”
Michael turned to look at Heather. She could see a glimmer of hope beyond his dark pupils and knew this was her opportunity to pull him out of the quagmire of despair. “I have a confession to make.”
Michael kept his gaze focused on her as he listened.
“The first time I met you when I came to Crystal Cove, I knew there was something special ab
out you. But I denied those feelings and buried them deep down because I was afraid to experience them. I was afraid of losing control, afraid of getting hurt. But as we got to know each other, my heart was drawn to you and that’s ... that’s when I got cold feet and decided I wasn’t going to let my emotions get the best of me. I had never lost control of my emotions before and you were bringing up uncomfortable feelings for me.”
Michael cleared his nose before speaking. “I never wanted you to be uncomfortable. I only wanted us to explore the attraction between us, to see where it would lead us. I really meant it when I said I loved you.” His eyes softened for a moment, and Heather couldn’t tell if his eyes were wet from emotion or from the effects of the fire. Then he retracted his hand and look away. “But that was before. Things are different now.”
The words stung at Michael’s heart. Deep down, he still loved Heather with all his heart, but his conscience wouldn’t let her waste her productive years taking care of an invalid. How could he live with the guilt of knowing he was keeping her back from living a full and abundant life? She was a wonderful godly woman with great attributes, and he knew any Christian guy with half a brain would seize the opportunity to court her.
Michael’s days of being an eligible bachelor had been stolen by the single selfish act of a jealous lunatic, and now he would have to accept being celibate for the rest of his life. Even though he couldn’t understand God’s purpose for his suffering, he needed to hold strong to the belief that God would use his tragedy for a greater good. Somehow God would use his miraculous story as a testimony of his power.
Heather took a swallow and continued, “Michael, nothing has changed between us. I realized after I left Crystal Cove how much I truly loved you. I just wasn’t ready to reciprocate when you shared your feelings with me that day. But now I’m ready. I know you’re disappointed with the way you look right now, but I promise the surgeries will help tremendously. And just so you know, my love for you won’t be affected by what you look like on the outside.” She rested a hand above his heart. “I love you for who you are on the inside.” Heather pressed her lips together and waited anxiously for his response.
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