Breaking Free

by Teresa J. Reasor

Zoe reached for her mother’s hand as she stood beside her in the elevator. “They’re going to take the feeding tube out tomorrow. He’s complaining about not getting any solid food.”

  Her mother’s eyes grew suspiciously bright. “We’re so very fortunate. God has smiled on us, Zoe.”

  Zoe gave the hand she held a squeeze. “Yes, he has.”

  The elevator doors opened and Zoe bent to pick up the huge basket at her feet and they stepped out into the hall. Three nurses at the station smiled and called out words of congratulation.

  Zoe placed the basket on the counter while her mother continued down the hall. She’d give her a few minutes alone with Brett before she joined them. “I baked some goodies just to celebrate and say thanks for all you’ve done for my brother. The guys downstairs had to have a few of the brownies, of course.”

  “If it was Roger Hastings, I’m surprised there’s anything left. He looks like a string bean and eats like he’s feeding leftovers down a garbage disposal,” Valerie Harris, one of the nurses said, as she came over. “I’m so jealous. I could gain five pounds just looking at a picture of these.” She shrugged as though saying who cares, and helped herself to a cookie.

  Zoe laughed. “I hope you enjoy them.” She nodded to Ensign Crammer.

  Derrick Armstrong stood next to her mother at Brett’s bedside. An electric current of fear raced through Zoe and her eyes went immediately to Brett to check his safety. Seeing Marjorie sitting in one of the few chairs in the room as well, Zoe breathed a sigh of relief. The chances the man would try something with his girlfriend in the room were slim.

  “Hey, Sis. Strong Man and Marjorie just stopped by to visit a minute.” He was sitting up in bed. The IV was disconnected but they had the feeding tube still in. Except for that small thing, Brett looked normal, as though nothing had ever happened.

  “Good.” She crossed to the other side of the bed and bent to kiss Brett’s cheek. Her mom’s eyes and nose were red from crying, but she offered Zoe a smile and turned her attention back to Brett.

  Zoe fought hard to control her expression as she approached Derrick and Marjorie. She offered Marjorie a smile and touched her arm, then nodded to Derrick.

  “Where’s Hawk?” Derrick asked.

  “He’ll be here in a few minutes. He had to stop downstairs to get some paperwork filled out so he can return to duty Monday.”

  Derrick nodded and adjusted the hat he had tucked under his arm. Dressed in the blue camouflage working uniform he looked impressive. “I’m on lunch break, I have to get back to base.” He turned to Brett and the two looped thumbs and grasped wrists in a handshake. “Glad you’re back, man. Gotta go.” He nodded to Clara. “Good to meet you, ma’am.”

  On the way out he brushed Marjorie’s lips with a kiss. “See you tonight, babe.”

  Marjorie’s stillness during the kiss, sent alarm jangling through Zoe and she frowned.

  Marjorie stood and went to the foot of the bed. “I should be going too.” She touched one of Brett’s blanket covered feet, the movement tentative. “I’m glad you’re better, Brett.”

  “Me, too. Thanks.”

  “I’ll walk with you to the elevator and give Mom some time to visit with Brett, Marjorie,” Zoe said, on impulse.

  The woman nodded. “Sure.”

  “How did the trip to San Francisco go?” Zoe asked as they walked down the hall together.

  “It was great. I think Derrick had as good a time as I did.”

  “Good.”

  Marjorie’s eyes shifted away. “He can be really sweet.”

  “I’m sure he can, Hawk can make me melt in my shoes.”

  Marjorie laughed. “I can imagine.” Her expression turned serious. “I know that Hawk talked to Derrick. I know you probably said something to him about my arm.”

  “Yes, I did. I was concerned for you.”

  Marjorie nodded. “I appreciate it. Derrick’s seeing a counselor, and he seems to be really trying. He is doing better with his anger.” Her tone wavered between defensive and hopeful.

  “I’m glad. I hope he’ll stick with it.” For Marjorie’s sake, Zoe really prayed he would.

  “Me too.” Marjorie fell silent for a moment then moved restlessly as the elevator doors opened. “I have to go.”

  The woman seemed so isolated, so alone. Zoe touched her arm. “I’m going to be staying with Brett for a month after he’s discharged from the hospital. If you should need to talk, or want to just get out for a little while and go shopping, call me.”

  “Hawk won’t mind?” The woman’s eyes searched Zoe’s face.

  “No, of course not. Why should he?”

  Marjorie shrugged. “I thought by now you two might have decided to live together, or something.”

  They already were. “We’ve been busy with Brett and a few other emergencies. We haven’t really talked about what we’re going to do once Brett is released.”

  Marjorie stepped into the elevator. “Hawk’s going to ask you to stay. I know he will.”

  Her reassurance helped to ease Zoe’s niggling feeling of doubt. Since her mother’s arrival he’d been--different. She couldn’t really put her finger on it. She raised her hand in farewell as the elevator doors closed.

  Was Hawk going to ask her to stay with him on some permanent basis? And if he did, what would she say?

  The second elevator door opened and the subject of her thoughts stepped out. He smiled, then frowned. “Something wrong?”

  “No, I was just saying good-bye to Marjorie. She and Derrick stopped by for a few minutes.”

  Hawk’s arm looped about her waist and she did the same to him.

  “She says Derrick’s doing better.”

  “Good. How’s your mom?”

  “She’s a little teary, like I was the first day, but she’s doing okay.”

  She looked up and studied his profile. “Do you think we need to say anything to her about us?”

  He frowned. “Like what?”

  Anxiety rolled over her like a tank leaving her breathless and weak. That’s what was different. He’d backed off since her mother’s arrival. He’d grown more careful with the easy gestures of affection she’d become accustomed to. Her voice sounded thin. “That we’ve grown close, and we want to see where it’s going to take us.”

  “You’ve been giving it some thought,” he said.

  “Since the first time we made love. Haven’t you?”

  “Yeah.” He smoothed back a strand of hair from her shoulder. “It might make your mom uncomfortable with me, if you come straight out and tell her we’ve been sleeping together.”

  She studied his expression. She tried to swallow but she didn’t have enough moisture there to complete the action. She wanted to say talk to me, Hawk, but the words stuck in her throat, and her face felt numb.

  She stepped closer to him to avoid a nurse pushing a mobile computer. “They’re going to do a more thorough neurological exam later today to see how much brain damage Brett’s sustained. I’ll have to stay with him for a few weeks after he’s discharged.”

  “He can stay with us at my house.”

  Zoe stopped. Would he be so quick to offer that if he were thinking of backing off from their relationship? Her heart pounded as though it might come out of her chest. God help her if he was getting cold feet, or tired of her. “We have to talk about this some more, before we bring it up with Mom and Brett.”

  “Are you worried about what they’ll think?” he asked.

  “Are you?”

  Hawk turned to face her, his gray eyes intent. “No, I’m not. I just know moms are a little protective of their little girls and well--it puts me in the position of having broken my word to look out for you.”

  Was that all it was? She’d have given her good leg just to feel a little relief. A moment passed before she could catch her breath. She smiled. “You haven’t done anything I didn’t want you to.”

  “I think your mom might have a different perspective on th
at, honey.”

  The door opened behind them and they looked up. Clara stepped out in the hall. There was a frozen look to her features, and she appeared pale. “Something’s wrong with Brett.”