I’m jealous of the ease with which she shows her affection. I could never do that. Until I’m one hundred percent assured I would always second-guess whether my demonstration of love is appropriate.
Again I’m surprised how different I am to Lilly. While she pours love over him I haven’t forgotten the days I suffered, the days I walked around like the living dead, trying to build a wall around my heart to stop hurting. I didn’t expect to want him to hurt as much as I have. Nobody has to tell me those thoughts and feelings are ridiculous. I’m not a moron. But I might be broken beyond repair.
“Don’t be silly, what you experience is normal. Once you tear down the wall you’ve built around you, you’ll be okay. You said you loved him.”
Have I ever mentioned that voices in the head can be a proverbial pain?
“Go away Sky. I know what I said. But I gave him my heart and wouldn’t survive to lose him. It frightens me that he is so important to me and has so much power over my state of mind.”
“You can’t blame the poor man for being in a coma.”
Did I ever say I love talking to Sky in my head? I take that back and wish she’d go away. I’m in no mood for the voice of reason. If he loves me as he said often enough, he should have … I’m not sure what he should have.
“Hey, you can’t be cross with Scottie. Fix it.”
I can hear the fear in Lilly’s voice and feel guilty. I don’t want to scare her or anyone of the Tribe. So I hold Scott’s hand and glance at him while she moves back into the tree house. It takes a while until I see a flash of recognition in his eyes.
“Elise?”
“Yes.” My feelings seem to merge with the remnants Lilly left behind. It’s hard to tell where she begins and I stop. I hesitate. Shall I first kiss him or hug him, or scold him for giving me such a fright? Instead, I clear my throat and hold his hand to my cheek.
“You’re back.”
He looks at me with eyes flickering from right to left. I can tell he’s trying to connect the dots.
“What happened? Where am I?” His voice sounds rough like sandpaper. He tries to lift his head. “The room is spinning.” With a groan, he sinks back into the pillow.
“You are in the hospital. Don’t move, you need rest.”
At least I think that’s what he needs.
“Hospital? What am I doing in a hospital?” He tries to lift his head and flinches.
“Getting better, I hope. You had a bad accident. Let me call the nurse.”
I push the call button.
“You look tired and pale.”
Did he just comment on my looks?
“Thanks for the compliment. You, however, look much better than you have for days.”
“How long have I been here? What happened?”
Before I find the words to give him an answer, a nurse comes into the room.
“I see our patient is awake. How are you? I’m your nurse, Isabella.”
“I’m hurting all over as if I fell under a truck.” He tried to smile, but it turned into a scary grimace. “Have I?”
The nurse laughed and took his pulse. “No, you’ve had a bad knock on your head. The rest will come back to you, I’m sure. Let me get the doctor for you.” With a last glance to his heart monitor the nurse leaves the room.
He reaches for my hand with such force, as if I was the anchor he needs to keep him steady.
“I’m glad you’re here. I’m trying to recall … what happened to me? You are very pale. Are you okay?”
I shake my head. “Yes, I’m okay now. But you’re not. You’re hurt. The surgeon said it’s pure luck that you are still with us. Pure luck.” I pause. “If Tom and I hadn’t found you when we did, you wouldn’t have made it. Don’t you remember?”
He shakes his head and closes his eyes. “Where did you find me?”
“About one hundred fifty yards behind your cabin.”
In my mind appeared the image of us finding him beaten up and lifeless leaning against a tree. I gulp and push the image away.
“To be precise, it was Prince who found you. Tom and I thought you had perished in the fire. I was sure I’d lost you.”
His eyes stare past me at the wall. His lips move, telling a silent story and a flurry of emotions appear on his careworn face.
“Fire?”
“What fire?”
He frowns and seems to try hard to remember what happened to him.
“Your cabin … there was a huge blaze.”
“I remember now … Five men arrived with pickup trucks … coming toward the house with petrol canisters … one of them had a crowbar and hit me over the head … I … I must have blacked out … next thing the fire was everywhere … I had to get out … make sure you are …” His voice fades, and his eyes fall shut.
After a long minute, he forces his eyes open again.
“I thought I’d never … I love you …”
He sinks back into the pillow and closes his eyes. Scott’s steady breathing tells me he has drifted off.
Chapter Fifteen
Lilly: 14 March 2017, Morning, Wright’s Homestead
The sound of the nearby stream dancing over the boulders in the riverbed joined with the crisp breeze tickling my face wakes me up. I bolt up and jump out of bed.
Scottie is coming home today.
There are days when you know from the very first rays of the sun that sneak through the morning clouds that it will be an exceptional day. Today is such a day. Scott is coming home.
I swear the sun is much brighter than on other days … as it ought to be. It lights up
