Healing His Heart

by Sasha Goldie

  "I don't own anything valuable. The television isn't even that big." I was having a hard time taking it seriously. The guy hadn't done anything physically threatening, just messed things up a little. It was probably some bored kid.

  "Do you think it could have something to do with your accident?" Patrick scooted a little closer.

  "Like, whoever hit me did it on purpose?" I'd run over that possibility several times since I woke up from my coma but couldn't think of anyone that would try to kill me. Of course, the police had asked as well.

  He blinked. "Actually, no, I was thinking more along the lines of the person that hit you trying to make sure you don't name them."

  "I don't know who it was, though."

  "Yeah, but do they know that?"

  I hadn't considered the possibility that it was someone that might think I'd turn them in. I would turn them in in a hot minute, if I knew who it was.

  Reaching a hand across the bed, I laid it, palm up, for Patrick to put his hand in mine. "Thank you for taking me in, and not quitting when things got tough."

  He gripped my hand across the bed. "I've got your back," he said. "I care about you."

  "I care about you, too," I whispered.

  We fell asleep holding hands, which was the most saccharine thing I'd ever done in my life. The next morning, I called Brady to check in.

  "The staties didn't find anyone, the county didn't find anyone. The guy disappeared, or it's someone that lives in town. We're deputizing a volunteer to help with regular patrol so we can have the rookie keep eyes on your place. He'll be stationed in the diner unless you let him know you're leaving." So far, the intruder had only come when we were out of the apartment. "I'll text you his number. When you plan on leaving, let him know. Will you be able to set up your cameras and put a lock on your bedroom window?"

  "Yeah, we'll do it as soon as we get there." I'd ordered a couple more, and they were due to be delivered today. "We'll head that way, then."

  After quick showers and bowls of cereal, we headed for my apartment. "We can set up the cameras then go back to my place," Patrick said. "No reason for you to stay at the apartment where it might be dangerous."

  "I don't want to be run out of my home." I'd been through enough. I wouldn't be a scared victim, running away from every bump in the night. "We'll set up the cameras, the changed lock worked. He had to come in the window."

  "Yeah, and we can actually lock the window now that we know it's necessary." He pulled into the diner parking lot and around back.

  "If we lock him out, will they catch him? What if it makes him escalate?"

  Patrick looked up at the back of the apartment and my bedroom window. "I think you should do whatever Brady thinks is best. If he said lock it, then you should lock it."

  "Yeah. Good call."

  The extra cameras arrived as we finished setting up the first two. We faced them at the door, living room window and bedroom window. We hid them the best we could, behind books, behind my teddy bear. As I placed the one behind my stuffed bear, I gasped. "It was a camera."

  "What?" Patrick ran into the room. He'd been in my bedroom looking for a good hiding place.

  "I kept wondering what could've been behind this bear." I pointed to the camera I'd just placed on the shelf, then positioned the bear in front of it. "It was a camera."

  Patrick's jaw dropped. "I bet you're right. Is this some pervert?"

  "I don't know," I whispered as I wrapped my arms around myself. "This is so freaking creepy."

  Patrick stepped forward and pulled me into a hug. "You'll stay with me for a while. We'll make an appearance here now and then, and eventually, Brady will catch this guy."

  "He'll just figure out where I'm staying and come put you in danger." I had to bend over to do it, but I put my head on Patrick's shoulder. "I should make you go home and not come back."

  "That's not happening. As long as you might be in danger, two is better than one. I'll be here." He squeezed my waist, then rubbed his hands up and down my back.

  We spent another hour perfecting the camera positions, hiding them so that anyone walking in would never know they were there. They came with great batteries, and only recorded if their motion sensors were activated. They'd been expensive but necessary.

  I needed to get back to work, though. My savings, which I'd been building up before my wreck, had taken a major hit.

  "I'm starving, and we left all that food back at your house." I stared into the fridge, hoping something would appear. He'd brought up a load the day before, but it was all drinks.

  Patrick nudged the teddy bear, repositioning it. "Go out for dinner?"

  I sighed. "I'm getting tired." I still didn't have even half of the stamina I once did. "I'm not much feeling like it." I gave him a pout. "I'm sorry."

  He chuckled. "Lock the door behind me, keep Harry by your side. I'll go grab us some lunch." He grabbed his car keys. "Chinese sound good?"

  "You'd have to go all the way to Bend. Why don't we order up from the diner?"

  "I don't mind. Write down what you want. I'll be back in an hour." He handed me a sticky note, and I put my favorite Chinese meal on it.

  As soon as he left, I plopped down on the couch and turned on a soap opera. Patting the spot behind my legs, I called Harry to lay down with me. He snuggled in, warming my butt and before I knew it, the ringing house line pulled me out of a light slumber.

  I rolled off the couch to answer.

  "Hello?" I yawned and didn't catch who was calling.

  "I'm sorry, who?"

  "Yes, sir. I'm calling from Bend General Home Health."

  Patrick's company. "Oh, yes, how can I help you?"

  "Mr. Green, we hoped you'd agree to do a short phone survey about the care you received from Bend General Home Health about the care you received."

  "Well, of course. I'd love to." I'd give Patrick a glowing review. "But I'm still receiving care, does that matter?"

  "Um, let me check." The sound of clicking came over the line. Like he was typing. "I show your care here, six hours a day, ended yesterday."

  "Yesterday?"

  "Yes, sir. The caregiver was sent to wrap things up yesterday. Did he not come back?"

  "He did, yes, but can you clarify, six hours a day?" Patrick told me the insurance company had approved him for twenty-four-hour care.

  "Well, the time of day was to be decided between you and your caregiver, but he was paid for six hours, seven days a week."

  My heart shattered when I heard that. "Are you sure?" I whispered.

  "I'm positive. Sir, is that not the care you received?"

  "No." My voice broke, and I sucked in a deep breath as the pieces of my heart caught on fire. "Patrick told me he was approved for around-the-clock care. He's been here constantly." I left out the part about sharing his bed last night.

  "Sir, I'm sorry. If he returns, please ask him to leave, if you feel safe doing so. We will contact him as well and have him return immediately to the office."

  "Thank you." I placed the phone back in the cradle, then sank down onto the couch.

  Patrick lied to me from day one. How was that possible? He seemed so sincere and honest. My mind turned into a fuzzy place, and my thoughts didn't make a lot of sense.

  Then, anger set in. I had less than an hour to figure out exactly what I was going to say to him when he got back.

  He was a stalker. A creeper. How had I let him so far under my skin?

  Slumping down on the couch, I fell to the side and put my arms around Harry's neck and tried not to sob into his fur.

  I'd grown to care about Patrick a great deal. He was funny and smart, sexy as hell. How could he have lied to me like that? Was he the one arranging for me to be scared, to think I had a stalker breaking into my home, so that I'd be driven right into his arms?

  The sobs came, no matter how hard I tried to hold them back.

  12

  Patrick

  I balanced the bags of food in one hand
and grabbed the surprise carton of ice cream I'd stopped in to get at the Three Lakes Grocery. I planned to make milkshakes after we ate, then attempt to seduce Tyler. I hadn't just bought ice cream. There was a box of condoms in the bag, too. I planned to spend my night sleeping beside Tyler, in his bed. Not on the couch.

  My smile made my cheeks ache as I climbed the stairs. I tapped the door, my hands too full to use my key. "Hallooo," I called through the door. "Let me in, I've got nibbles."

  The door opened, but I didn't see Tyler. "You hiding?"

  I walked in and around to the left to put the food on the table.

  "Thanks. You need to leave now." Tyler's voice was flat and angry.

  "Leave? What in the world are you talking about?" After settling everything down, I turned to look at him. His face was puffy and red. "Have you been crying?"

  "Of course I've been crying," he yelled, pulling at his hair. "Did you think I wouldn't find out? That you'd just worm your way into my life, and then what? What was your grand plan?"

  He talked like he knew. But how could he possibly? "What are you talking about?"

  "Your work called to do a survey. They wanted me to give you a glowing recommendation for the service performed here. For six hours a day. That ended yesterday." He picked up a pillow off the couch and threw it at me. I sidestepped it easily, but his action gave me a clear view of how angry he was.

  "They told you." I sank down into a kitchen chair, my heart falling around my knees.

  "They told me. Did you think you'd just move in here? But I don't understand for what purpose. I don't have money or anything that you'd gain by fooling me."

  "Don't be stupid," I hissed, outraged that he'd think that of me. "I don't want anything from you. I didn't do it to hurt you." How could he think I would do that?

  "Then why did you do it?" he roared, rising from the couch. “Are you behind the break-ins, too?”

  Facing him, I stood as tall as I could. "No! Because I love you." I held my hands out, begging him to understand. The right words wouldn't come to me. If only he would understand that I did it because he needed me.

  "How can you love me and lie to me?"

  His words ripped holes in my heart. "I was going to tell you," I whispered as tears rolled down my cheeks.

  "When?" He shook his head bitterly. "At our five-year wedding anniversary?"

  "No, no, you're getting it all wrong." I gasped and choked on a sob. "I..." My tears came more forcefully as I saw the joy in my life leaving me. "I..."

  "You need to leave," Tyler said through clenched teeth. "Now." He turned and picked up the suitcase. "I packed for you."

  Slamming it down beside the door, he stepped back. "Now."

  I nodded and stepped slowly toward the door. "Try to understand."

  "I understand we never had anything real. It was a lie." He opened the door.

  Picking up my suitcase, I looked at Harry. Standing behind Tyler, he wagged his tail sadly and whined. Like he knew something bad was happening.

  With one last long look at Tyler, I walked out and tried not to flinch when he slammed the door behind me. I hoisted my suitcase and stumbled down the stairs to my car. Pulling out of the diner parking lot, I got down the road just enough that Tyler wouldn't be able to look out and see me, then pulled to the side of the road and broke down.

  Sobbing uncontrollably, I prayed nobody would come by and see me crying and stop.

  "Why are you so stupid?" I screamed at myself, banging my fists on the steering wheel.

  Opening my suitcase in the seat beside me, I took out the first piece of clothing I found, pressed it against my face and sobbed.

  A tap on my window made me jerk upright. Shoot. I should've pulled somewhere private, and not the side of the damn road. It was Brady. I hit the button to roll down the window.

  "What's wrong, Patrick?" He leaned into the car, both hands on the door. "Are you okay? Is Tyler okay?"

  "Yeah," I replied in a watery voice, wiping my face. "I messed up really bad, Brady."

  He stood and looked around. "Anything illegal really bad?"

  "No." I stopped and thought. Was it illegal to stay with Patrick under false pretenses? I didn't think so. "I don't think so."

  "Okay, good. You wanna tell me what you did?"

  I thought about saying no and going home, but Brady had been nice to me. So had his boyfriend. Maybe talking about it would help me sort out what to do next. "I told Tyler the insurance paid for me to be with him all the time."

  "Didn't it?"

  "No. I did it voluntarily. I was only paid for six hours a day."

  He shook his head. "That wasn't smart. Why'd you do a fool thing like that?"

  "He needed the help. He didn't have the dog yet and insisted on moving out. The insurance paid for his nurse, but if I'd only stayed when I was supposed to, he would've had a seizure without anyone there to help him. Now how was I supposed to just walk away and let him be by himself?"

  "Well, why didn't you tell him up front?"

  "I don't know. Partly because he would've sent me away. And I was afraid he would think I was doing it for the wrong reasons."

  He scratched his head. "Well, were you?"

  My jaw dropped. "How could you ask me that?"

  "Your reasons were entirely because he needed more care than the insurance would pay for?"

  "No, I guess not," I said miserably.

  "Well, son, what else was it?"

  "In the hospital, I got to know Tyler, got to really know him."

  "How could you? He was unconscious."

  I chuckled and wiped some escaping liquid from my face. "You. You and Corey, his parents, his aunt and uncle. Talking about him, talking to him. You painted a picture of this man, this indescribably wonderful man, that I couldn't ignore."

  "You fell in love with him? Corey was right." Brady smiled at me.

  "Yeah, but I messed it all up. He thinks I'm some sort of pervert. And, he thinks I had something to do with whoever's been breaking into his house."

  Brady's eyes narrowed on me. "Don't worry, I had the same feeling. I looked into it. You were with Tyler during all of the break-ins. And I've got a strong suspicion about who it is. And it isn't you."

  He sighed. "Go on home, lick your wounds, and calm down. When you're calm, try to talk to Tyler again. Explain why you did what you did. Maybe some good will come out of all of this."

  I nodded. "Thanks, Brady." I drove on home, his words on my mind.

  Shuffling in the house, I stared at the couch for a few minutes, remembering the feel of Tyler’s body curled around mine. Sucking a deep breath, I walked to my own room and slid into the bed, on the side Tyler had slept in. I could still smell him on my sheets.

  I let the tears come again, hot and painful. "I was going to tell you," I whispered. "I was going to come clean."

  I cried myself to sleep but didn't sleep long. My house phone started ringing. Three Lakes had horrible reception, which meant every home needed a landline, unlike in Bend where all anyone needed was a cell.

  "Hello," I said in a thick voice.

  "Patrick, this is Helen."

  Her voice told me all I needed to know. He'd told them what I did.

  "You know what I did?" I asked in a soft voice.

  "I do. Do you have any explanation or defense?"

  "Oh, Helen. I fell in love with him. That's the only defense I have."

  She sighed. "Patrick, I had high hopes for you."

  "Yeah, me too." She didn't say anything for a second. "Hey, Helen, can I quit? I've never been fired before."

  "Sure, Patrick. I accept your resignation. Your final check will be deposited into your bank account as normal."

  "Thank you." I pulled the phone away from my ear to hang it up but heard Helen's voice.

  "Patrick, wait."

  "Yes?"

  "If your patient decides to press charges, I'll have to report it to the licensing board. As it stands right now, this is all unproven hear
say."

  "Understood." I placed the phone in the cradle and rolled over into the pillow Tyler used the night before, all cried out.

  Sleep took a lot longer this time, with the evening sun warming me through the window. I contemplated my options, thought about every moment Tyler and I had ever shared, and finally decided I had to move on.

  Tyler was quite possibly the love of my life, but I couldn't face him again. Not after the way I hurt him. The next day, I would go back to the hospital and ask for my job back. I'd tell them I didn't care for home health after all. Maybe I could get to them before they heard about what happened.

  I still had to prove to my parents that I could do it without them. I still had a life to live. Even if I lived it with my heart in a thousand pieces.

  13

  Tyler

  When a day went by and Patrick didn't call, I got mad. When a second day went by, I got furious. I wasn't allowed to drive, couldn't walk far, and no way in gay hell I'd call him.

  So, I went to the top of the stairs and threw the ball for Harry as far and hard as I could. He kept bringing it back, and I kept throwing it. By the time he was too tired to continue, my arm was too sore anyway.

  The next day, my anger fizzled into melancholy. My mom came by because I hadn't been returning her texts. She got me up off the couch and into the shower, at least.

  After that, they definitely worked behind my back, because somebody needed something from me every freaking day. If it wasn't Daisy needing help in the diner, it was Brady, wanting to talk about what I remembered. Then, Max called and asked if I could come sit with his new dog he was training. He had to go to some important appointment in Bend and couldn't take him, but it was a crucial part of his training.

  The small favors and jobs continued on in this way until I was busy, and soon realized my stamina increased every day. I asked Daisy to put me back on rotation at the diner, on short shifts.

  "That's a wonderful idea," she said, pulling me into her arms. "You don't know how glad I am to hear you ask for that."

  She put me to work right away, on two- and three-hour shifts. Before I knew it, I'd worked my way up to four-hour shifts. It only took about two weeks.