“Good morning,Miss Cobham,” a male voice spoke as it entered the room. I turnedmy head to find a doctor, a short and balding man with a widesmile. “It nice to see you awake and responsive.”
“Yeah, I’m notsure I agree,” I replied and winced when I tried to move myarm.
“Best not tomove it for a few days, let the flesh heal before practicing anymobility,” he told me and rested his bottom on the edge of my bed.He pulled out a chart and began to examine the papers. “So, thesurgery went well. You should have a full recovery and most, if notall, use of your shoulder will return with lots of rest andself-care.” He paused and searchedmy face for a reaction. I could barely muster up a half-smile.“Dianna, aside from your shoulder, you were badly injured, dirty,and very confused when they brought you in. Can you tell me whathappened? Where you were?”
My mind racedas it scrambled for reasonable answers that would pass as sane. “I…I’d been out for a walk one evening and someone attacked me with aknife.”
He noddedthoughtfully. “And why were you dressed in strange clothing?”
I shrugged andwinced from the pain. “I have an obsession with old-worldstuff?”
The doctorhummed and hawed at my weak answers. “We thought, perhaps, you’dbeen under the influence of narcotics, but the tests came backnegative which was good, giving your condition.”
“Mycondition?”
He grinned andflipped to a new page on the chart. “Yes, dear, it was almost tooearly to tell, but you’re pregnant. Hardly two weeks.”
Emotionsboiled in my stomach and began to rise, forcing their way up to mythroat where a silent cry escaped my lips. I could feel the bloodpooling in my face as tears ran from my eyes. No, how could it be?Not only did I lose the love of my life, but I was stuck in adifferent time, far away from him, and pregnant with his child. Achild I could never give answers to when they asked about Daddy. Achild I would have to raise on my own. A child that Henry wouldnever get the chance to see, or touch, or kiss.
The doctorripped a few tissues from the small, yellow box on the side tableand handed them to me. “I take it you weren’t aware?” he said, andI just shook my head. “Well, Dianna, given your injuries and yournew condition, I highly suggest you stay here for a few days forobservation. But we’ve called your aunt and she’ll be heretomorrow, so at least consider staying overnight?”
“Okay, yes,thank you,” I sputtered out over tear-drenched lips.
“Excellent,”he replied and gently pat my leg before standing. “The police areoutside, they’d like to ask you a few questions about yourattacker. Is that alright? Are you up to it?”
“Yes,” I said,“Although, I don’t have much else to say about it. I never, uh,seen the man’s face or anything.”
Lies. Alllies. I’d never be ableto tell the truth of the adventureI had or the tragic loss I just experienced. It’s all a secretburden I’d have to carry with me for the rest of my life. Mystomach clenched as I realized the painful untruths I would nowhave to live with every single day.
The policecame in, two officers, a male and female, and they asked me aseries of questions that I gave short, vague answers to. Why was Iout so late by myself? Why was I wearing strange clothing? Could Idescribe my attacker’s face? What did the weapon look like? Ididn’t give them much to go on, but enough to keep them lookinglong enough to call it a cold case and just file it away.
After they’dfinally left, I laid my head back on the pillow and fell asleepwhile I waited for Aunt Mary’s arrival. It was a dark, empty sleep.No dreams. It was the best I could hope for because I never wantedto face the reality of what my life was becoming.
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ABOUTTHE AUTHOR
#1 Internationaland USA TODAY Bestselling Author, Candace Osmond was born inNorth York, ON.
She published herfirst book by the age of 25, the first installment in a ParanormalRomance Trilogy to which two others were published with it. TheIron World Series.
Candace is alsoone of the creative writers for sssh.com, an acclaimed Erotic Romancewebsite for women which has been featured on NBC Nightline and anumber of other large platforms like Cosmo. Her most recent projectis a screenplay that received anomination for an AVN Award.
Now residing in asmall town in Newfoundland with her husband and two kids, Candacewrites full time developing articles for just about every niche,more novels, and a hoard of short stories.
Connect withCandace online! She LOVES to hear from readers!
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